Car will not go into gear while on......not sure what happened.

[Big Bald]

I was at the track a few weeks back. While in third gear at 9k I went to shift into fourth to no avail. I tried again but instead of going into fourth gear, car went into second gear. The engine then spun out to 11550 according to my log. I took the car out of gear when I realized what happened, but by then it was way too late. I suffered some head damage from this. I had the car towed home and the head then fixed.

Fast forward to today.....after getting the car all set and started, I go to shift into first and it won't go. I try other gears and it will not budge. I try reverse and the car grinds like hell. I then try to start the car in first gear and it cranks very slow and tries to move a bit but will not start. When the car is turned off, I can go into any gear I want.

None of this was an issue before this track incident. My question is what could have possibly happened by spinning the car to 11550? The car has a Fidanza Flywheel, ACT 2600 Pressure Plate, 6 Puck Clutch Disk, Upgraded TOB, new Slave Cylinder with about 2k on it and Shep Race Tranny. I am really just looking for suggestions as I am stumped on this. I can't see why anything in the drivetrain would go wrong from the engine spinning that high.

 

[yokotabrat]

Definitely sounds like the clutch. Most likely the disk is damaged in some way. A local guy did this exact thing (only he luckily didn't damage anything in the head), and his problem ended up being a couple of missing springs from the disk, if I remember correctly. The fact that you can put it into any gear when the car is off is a key indicator that it's something with the clutch. Hope this helps.

 

[NewTurboTuner]

Maybe the slave cylinder or master cylinder?

Also I once had a rear motor mount come loose.... and when I pressed on the clutch pedal.... it made the engine/trans move juuuuuuuust enough ...that I couldnt get into any gear. I could see the engine/trans flex about 1/2 inch when a friend pressed the clutch petal for me. Maybe check that out.

I'd say do a quick check to see if everything looks solid.
Then look at the slave cylinder.


...hope that helps a little

 

[Big Bald]

Guess I should have updated this. I pulled the tranny..turned out the clutch and PP were shot to shit. Not sure what caused what but the end result was me buying a new FW friction plate, and Fidanza clutch kit.

The slave and master cylinder were fine.

 

[SeeYaAWD]

I did the same thing on the interstate a coupla months ago. Only turned 9600RPM, but hey - what's an extra 2 grand?

 

[this_tsi_8urV8]

Huh, sounds like my problem too. I have a 1g, and one day after getting out of the hwy. getting to work, I came to a stop. Suddenly, my car would not go into ANY gear. I tried putting it in whatever gear and it would grind. I shut the car off and it goes into any gear. I then put it in 1st gear, start the car, and it would automatically start moving. So, I drove it like that for a couple of blks. I can get it into any gear when its off, but as soon as I start it and wont go into gear, only if the car is off. Basically I can only drive in the car in one gear. What can it be?
Half a year or so ago, I replaced the master cylinder, w/a "New" one from Borg-Wagner. I also replaced the slave cylinder, but w/the used one that came w/my used JDM tranny. What can it be? Clutch? OR slave cylinder?
P.S. my flywheel is stock, resurfaced, w/a ACT 2100.
THanks.

 

[boosted spartan]

i had the same problem as you..i was out tuning it and i did a 3rd gear pull..infront of my house, i stop infront of my driveway to put it in when it wouldnt go into any gear...turned it off, went into gear fine...i checked under the car and found that last bolt behind the engine gone...i have an extra one..tried putting it in...that sob is stripped!!..now i gotta take the tranny out and heli-coil that sucker...anybody know what thread size it is??...its that 12mm that goes behind the engine.

 

[this_tsi_8urV8]

OK, I replaced the slave cylinder and bled w/a vacuum sys and pedal felt fine. Was going to go for a test drive and same problem, but now at least the pedal felt normal. What bolt exactly are you ^^^ talking about?

 

[boosted spartan]

That bolt behind the engine that connects the motor to the tranny...i have a fwd so its behind the engine untop of the cv halfshaft...its a 12mm....mine was gone and it made my pedal feel all soft..i went to the dealership and ordered all my bolts brand new, also ordered both of those shields...brand new too...the ones that go between the tranny and the engine....they are all messed up.

 

[this_tsi_8urV8]

I see, mine is AWD and I did look at the bolts all looked fine. My clutch pedal was going all da way n spongy when it went all the way down, but I bled and felt normal. Too bad I wont find out what's really wrong.

 

[boosted spartan]

can you tell me what the thread size is for that bolt...that way i can get the right heli coil?
mine is stipped...it made my transmission go out of aligment with the engine making it feel all fudged up.

god...my parts come in till friday..oh well....hope you get your car running good bro.