1990 Turbo Diesel, no engine mods, no injection pump mods, just a mandrel bent down pipe and 2.5 inch no-cat exhaust.
Canadian car, with 480000km or 298000 miles on it. Rebuilt head, original block original pistons.
Great car, really great car. First car i've ever considered wanting to restore.
Driving down a highway doing about 90km or 55mph while the tranny was sitting in 5th, where all of a sudden the transmission decides that it doesn't want to be in 5th.
Kind of startled me, so i clutched in, shifted out of 5th into neutral and put it back in 5th slowly let out the clutch, and it started to grind.
Okay. Put it into 4th and leave it there so i can get home.
Get home, park it into my car port and didn't know what to do. The car drives fine from first to fourth, well i had to go through town after exiting the highway.
Leave the car in the carport and later that evening, i had to run to the bank......clutched it in, started the car, starts fine. Put the shifter into neutral, and let the clutch out and it's starting to make a whirring sound, louder than having the clutch engaged normally when in neutral.
Drive the car, and it's started to make more of a mild grinding sound. [music off, HVAC fan off window down slightly to hear it running]
Drive to the bank, and drive home, attempted 5th to see if it was the sloppy shift linkages, and still no engagement.
This morning. I'm up, get to the car, pull out the enrichment lever, turn the key to warm the plugs up, start the car with the clutch depressed, put the shifter into neutral, and let the clutch out.....mega sounds coming from the transmission.
Drive it, drive it, drive it, and the sound goes away, still only getting usage of 1 through 4.
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within the last week, I had my mechanic [a vw specialty shop
http://www.shiftautosport.ca/ FANTASTIC guys btw] tell me after an oil change/vehicle inspection, that my shift linkages are sloppy. The bushings need replacing, and the ball/cup area is all worn out.
I knew this, but it didn't really bother me TOO much at the time. As I've already driven the car plenty before hand. ie: Vancouver BC to SF California, BC to alberta canada trips etc. And it's been totally fine.
I don't know anything more than what I've been told by my mechanic, but am I safe to presume that transmission fluid and OR the shift linkages/bushings are to blame for this? or could it be more severe like inside the transmission itself?
I have a feeling this transmission is going to pack it in, so I'm already on the hunt for another turbo diesel tranny, but I'm probably going to get the shop to do a full rebuild with a new clutch, taller 5th gear for hwy cruising and most likely an LSD to keep this car more fun.
All and any help greatly appreciated.
and a picture of my car for good measure