This REALLY isn't good...

jacketfan89 · 11-05-2009, 01:58 PM

Okay Guys,

It's been a while since I posted, but I have some even worse news. I Finally got my reference sensors, so I was able to put everything back together finally. I tested the car with the clutch housing starter and slave cylinder on, and it was starting okay...It sounded a little weak, but I just figured it was due to the cold and it not being started for a while.

So I recruited some teenagers to come help me get the transmission in. The torque tube slid right into position with the clutch depressed. The transmission took some maneuvering and a new $90 jack, but we got it in and all lined up and bolted on. We attached the cv joints and exhaust and everything.

I was a little worried because before I STARTED the job, when I Turned the rear wheels, the drive train turned, whereas AFTER, If I turned the wheels the CV joints spun, but the drivetrain did not.

We put the wheels on and started the car on the jackstands.

The car would turn over and then sound really weak like the battery was dead and then the car would start up but immediately die. I did it 5 or 6 times and the car died every time.

I was starting the car in neutral, and at one point I was able to give the car enough gas to stay running, but in NEUTRAL the back wheels were turning. I'm thinking I either have the linkage or the shift lever adjusted incorrectly.

I tried to shift to first when the car was running in neutral and it felt like the shifter went into first, but it grinded and when I pushed the accelerator the real wheels didn't go any faster.

Worse of all, as I was pushing the gas, smoke started coming in to the cab...I turned the car off and under the hood white smoke was bellowing from somewhere. Looking at the front of the car, the smoke was coming from the left side (passenger side) all the way back towards the firewall and what looked like below the engine. I looked at the exhaust (where the oxygen sensors screws in and where the gaskets attach) and it didn't look like the smoke was coming from there...and I couldn't tell if it was coming from the clutch housing.

What should I do next? I'm going to try to readjust the linkage...Something may be binding, but does that explain the smoke?

The shifter (after everything was bolted and attached) felt REALLY tight...it was hard to find the gears and it was even hard to find neutral even sitting with the c ar off.

I will have my phone all day and I can access the forum from it so I can answer any questions you guys have as far as the symptoms relatively quickly. Thank you SO much for the help.

Matt

P.S There was NOTHING wrong with the engine before I started this project.

krystar · 11-05-2009, 02:06 PM

what did the smoke smell like? acrid like oil? or stale like burning clutch?

ilikemy944 · 11-05-2009, 02:09 PM

Where are you located?
Is this a new or the same transmission?

jacketfan89 · 11-05-2009, 02:22 PM

I'm not really a good smell identifier...lol. Someone who was there said it smelled like oil, but I thought it smelled like clutch.

I'm located close to Atlanta...and it is a USED transmission, BUT the tranny was fine before I started the project.

It's weird though because before I started, I could shift through all of the gears with the car off with no problem...Now its really hard to find the gears (first doesn't seem to be in line with second its like up and to the right of where you'd THINK it'd be and then I have to go down and to the left to hit second)...and I can barely find neutral.

Its almost like the transmission is stuck in gear. Maybe the linkage is binding? Something in the shift lever just doesn't feel right. It was so smooth before I started and now its way tougher.

When the tranny was out of the car I could turn it, and like at first only one of the parts where the CV joints connect was spinning, and then I turned the other one with my hand and they both started turning together.

It's really weird. I just hope its nothing in the clutch housing because I'd hate to have to redo all that crap again.

V2Rocket_aka944 · 11-05-2009, 03:10 PM

definitely check shift linkage. also just a note that when the trans oil is really cold, even in neutral the input shaft is spinning and that pushes the trans oil around and it can make the wheels turn slowly. it doesnt do that when the cars on the ground because theres too much weight/resistance.

ilikemy944 · 11-05-2009, 03:20 PM

So what all got changed? Did you swap the slave cylinder? The whole clutch?

944Ross · 11-05-2009, 03:56 PM

"When the tranny was out of the car I could turn it, and like at first only one of the parts where the CV joints connect was spinning, and then I turned the other one with my hand and they both started turning together."

Normal for a non-limited-slip tranny, except that when turning one axle the other should spin the opposite direction.

If you can have someone push in the clutch, in neutral, e-brake on, with the car in the air; reach in thru the access hole where the coupler is, see if you can rotate the shaft easily, with no movement of the axles. If not, either something is hosed, or it's not in neutral.

RedRose · 11-05-2009, 08:04 PM

Power steering pump is back there-ish in the engine. Got a leak?

Grandpa#3 · 11-05-2009, 10:47 PM

No, The smoke is more likely oil dripping down from the rear cam gasket onto the
exhaust pipe and burning off. Check the gasket. The bolts are only torqued 6 ft lbs. It sounds as if the trans linkage needs to be readjusted. Pull the shift boot and check that you put it back together properly and work back to the trans.

Cheers,
Larry

jwade944 · 11-07-2009, 11:57 AM

Drips from the rear cam housing don't typically "billow" smoke. Something is wrong inside the clutch bellhousing and it is binding. Did you replace the rear main seal and pilot bearing?

11-05-2009, 01:58 PM	#1
jacketfan89 User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 37	This REALLY isn't good... Okay Guys, It's been a while since I posted, but I have some even worse news. I Finally got my reference sensors, so I was able to put everything back together finally. I tested the car with the clutch housing starter and slave cylinder on, and it was starting okay...It sounded a little weak, but I just figured it was due to the cold and it not being started for a while. So I recruited some teenagers to come help me get the transmission in. The torque tube slid right into position with the clutch depressed. The transmission took some maneuvering and a new $90 jack, but we got it in and all lined up and bolted on. We attached the cv joints and exhaust and everything. I was a little worried because before I STARTED the job, when I Turned the rear wheels, the drive train turned, whereas AFTER, If I turned the wheels the CV joints spun, but the drivetrain did not. We put the wheels on and started the car on the jackstands. The car would turn over and then sound really weak like the battery was dead and then the car would start up but immediately die. I did it 5 or 6 times and the car died every time. I was starting the car in neutral, and at one point I was able to give the car enough gas to stay running, but in NEUTRAL the back wheels were turning. I'm thinking I either have the linkage or the shift lever adjusted incorrectly. I tried to shift to first when the car was running in neutral and it felt like the shifter went into first, but it grinded and when I pushed the accelerator the real wheels didn't go any faster. Worse of all, as I was pushing the gas, smoke started coming in to the cab...I turned the car off and under the hood white smoke was bellowing from somewhere. Looking at the front of the car, the smoke was coming from the left side (passenger side) all the way back towards the firewall and what looked like below the engine. I looked at the exhaust (where the oxygen sensors screws in and where the gaskets attach) and it didn't look like the smoke was coming from there...and I couldn't tell if it was coming from the clutch housing. What should I do next? I'm going to try to readjust the linkage...Something may be binding, but does that explain the smoke? The shifter (after everything was bolted and attached) felt REALLY tight...it was hard to find the gears and it was even hard to find neutral even sitting with the c ar off. I will have my phone all day and I can access the forum from it so I can answer any questions you guys have as far as the symptoms relatively quickly. Thank you SO much for the help. Matt P.S There was NOTHING wrong with the engine before I started this project.

11-05-2009, 03:56 PM	#7
944Ross Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rio Rancho NM (ABQ) Posts: 519	"When the tranny was out of the car I could turn it, and like at first only one of the parts where the CV joints connect was spinning, and then I turned the other one with my hand and they both started turning together." Normal for a non-limited-slip tranny, except that when turning one axle the other should spin the opposite direction. If you can have someone push in the clutch, in neutral, e-brake on, with the car in the air; reach in thru the access hole where the coupler is, see if you can rotate the shaft easily, with no movement of the axles. If not, either something is hosed, or it's not in neutral. __________________ '84 944/1 No longer a clutch virgin! '86 944/2 '52 Ford F-1 '91 H-D FXRS-C '69 Triumph Bonneville

11-05-2009, 08:04 PM	#8
RedRose Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Iowa, USA Posts: 468	Power steering pump is back there-ish in the engine. Got a leak? __________________ Joel Mason 1984 944 -- Needs new paint and bodywork!

11-05-2009, 02:06 PM	#2
krystar Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 1,700	what did the smoke smell like? acrid like oil? or stale like burning clutch?

11-05-2009, 02:09 PM	#3
ilikemy944 Going with the pack is quite monotonous. Rennlist Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 2,729	Where are you located? Is this a new or the same transmission?

11-05-2009, 02:22 PM	#4
jacketfan89 User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 37	I'm not really a good smell identifier...lol. Someone who was there said it smelled like oil, but I thought it smelled like clutch. I'm located close to Atlanta...and it is a USED transmission, BUT the tranny was fine before I started the project. It's weird though because before I started, I could shift through all of the gears with the car off with no problem...Now its really hard to find the gears (first doesn't seem to be in line with second its like up and to the right of where you'd THINK it'd be and then I have to go down and to the left to hit second)...and I can barely find neutral. Its almost like the transmission is stuck in gear. Maybe the linkage is binding? Something in the shift lever just doesn't feel right. It was so smooth before I started and now its way tougher. When the tranny was out of the car I could turn it, and like at first only one of the parts where the CV joints connect was spinning, and then I turned the other one with my hand and they both started turning together. It's really weird. I just hope its nothing in the clutch housing because I'd hate to have to redo all that crap again.

11-05-2009, 03:20 PM	#6
ilikemy944 Going with the pack is quite monotonous. Rennlist Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 2,729	So what all got changed? Did you swap the slave cylinder? The whole clutch?

11-05-2009, 10:47 PM	#9
Grandpa#3 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hawkinsville / Perry, Georgia, RETIRED USAF GO BLUE Posts: 184	No, The smoke is more likely oil dripping down from the rear cam gasket onto the exhaust pipe and burning off. Check the gasket. The bolts are only torqued 6 ft lbs. It sounds as if the trans linkage needs to be readjusted. Pull the shift boot and check that you put it back together properly and work back to the trans. Cheers, Larry

11-07-2009, 11:57 AM	#10
jwade944 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 110	Drips from the rear cam housing don't typically "billow" smoke. Something is wrong inside the clutch bellhousing and it is binding. Did you replace the rear main seal and pilot bearing?