@#$% Need help ASAP

C

cbarr300

Member
Jun 6, 2006
746
0
17
goose creek, SC
#1
my shifter is stuck in neutral. It won't move up, down, or side to side.

Also, it is stuck in fourth gear (if that makes any sense). Basically, it's in the neutral position, but still in gear.

I tried starting it and then letting off the clutch to see if that might break it loose....but all it did was move forward. The clutch assembly is in perfect working order.

Background: I jacked the car up, finished the wire hiding I was doing, and then lowered it back down. I heard to rather loud "pops" when I was lowering it...but I thought that was just tension in the suspension. Also, when I had it jacked up, I moved the shifter from 4th, to neutral, and back to 4th. Other than that..nothing else was done. The car didn't even move.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated,
Clay


EDIT: I doubt the transmission could have messed up...but if it did.....then it's a perfect time for a t56 swap :D :D :D
 
#2
Clay, I wouldnt really know what to do. I'd probably remove the shifter itself to see if it moves freely when off the car.

Otherwise, parts from under the car are going to have to come off I fear.

That wasnt any help but more for morale support.

Good luck bud.
 
#3
yeah, that was what I was thinking, too :(

I just don't see how it could work fine and dandy...and then 20 minutes later be stuck in neutral and still be in gear. I mean...the thing didn't even move, lol. Well...I take that back, there was some vertical movement...like a foot maybe.

who knows....maybe it'll fix itself :shrug:

I can say this much though...if I have to go through the trouble of taking the 3550 out....a diff one is going in (hopefully)

thank ya
 
#5
I wouldn't think that it would happen without a load on the tranny, but it sounds just like the problem my cousin and another friend of ours had with their T5s. The little 'keys' that the shift slider ring detents across drop on one end. Either the snap ring spins or it breaks and lets it happen. But both of those happened at the strip, so I have no other ideas. Hopefully it does fix itself. lol Good luck!!

Scott
 
#9
cbarr300 said:
haha, nice.

well, took the shifter off (pain in the ass btw on a 3550), and the shifter is good to go. Could a bent shift fork cause this? I don't know how it'd bend...
Click to expand...

I think oyu might have top pull the tranny. :(

Check the cables and everything, Im pretty sure you already did, but the fork is all I can think of.

Check to see if the bell housing or anything is cracked.
 
#10
Clay, it's Friday afternoon - I'd call D&D/Walsh Racing in Wixom, Mi or Hanlon and run this by them before they close. They might have some insight for you!
 
#11
looks like I'm pulling the tranny tonight....the apartment's gonna love me lol. I'm also gonna inspect everything one last time before I pull it.

I guess I'm gonna go to a junkyard and pick up a T5...and see how long it puts up with the supercharger. I just need to get the car moving again. The apartment likes threatening to tow people, lol.

I've never been inside a transmission before. I have a pdf off of tremec's website...but I think I'm gonna try to disassemble it and see if I can see anything obvious. Anyone got any good links with regards to disassembly of a tranny?

thanks
 
#13
well, called D&D up...and he was puzzled too lol.

He told me to turn the input shaft one way and the output shaft the opposite way and that might unlock it.

I'm a newb when it comes to trannies....so do you think I can just pull the e-brake up and stand on the breaks...and then pop the clutch?

that seems like it'd accomplish something similar.

or better yet, should I push it backwards going at a decent speed, and then pop the clutch with the engine running. Doing it this way, the output shaft will be spinning one way, and when I dump the clutch, the input shaft will be spinning the opposite way (until the car stalls that is.

sound like a plan?
 
#15
hey,

The clutch pedal works like just fine. It engages where it usually does. I'll check it over once more before I pull it though. Thanks for the info.

btw, moving backwards and then popping the clutch did nothing but move me back 10 feet....Then burning the clutch up for a quick second trying to start out in 4th and get back to the parking space.

If everything obvious checks out ok, I'm just gonna pull it tonight and take it to a trans place and have them figure it out.
 
#16
It could be a damaged shift fork, or if your really unlucky the shaft the forks are on. And if you are lucky, (I dont know much about the 3550) but the shift fork tabs could just be whats damaged. Which If you are competent enough to get the tranny down and out should be no big deal for you to replace. Either way like everyone else said. That tranny is coming out. Once you get it out and post some pics of its guts, I can help you much more.:D I am really starting to love overhauling these 5-speeds.:D
 
#18
well, 3 hours to pull the tranny and get the car off the jack stands....the apartment people will be none the wiser, lol. Car was about a foot and a half off the ground. Not too shabby for one person...though the tranny almost cut my friggin finger off....

I'm gonna pull the inspection covers off and see if I can see anything...if not I'm taking it to a tranny guy tomorrow morning.

thanks for the help guys
 
#19
YESSSSS, I decided to mess around with it a bit. I looked at the inside to see how the rail system worked. Then I got the 3/4 rail, got a prybar, and pried it towards the back of the tranny...effectively putting it in the REAL neutral....not the neutral position that was still in gear. After it broke loose, everything was good to go.

Now I just have to get around to put the beast back in the car....friggin heavy ass tremec. On the bright side, I don't have to put the bell/clutch crap back on.

so anyhow, thanks a TON guys. Ya'll are awesome

btw, for all the abuse this thing took...it looks like it's in excellent shape.
 
#20
Sheesh, nicely done Clay. Did you see anything wrong with it (or what could have caused this to occur, or keep it from happening again)?

Anyhow, that's awesome that you figured it out!
 
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