Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

On odd occasions I find I can't engage gears well in my 90 944T.

From start up and and stationary 1st just won't go in, no noise but I can't push the stick forward. 2nd to fifth will engage but it is stiff. Again no noise and the clutch pedal feels fine and bites half way or so as usual. Reverse won't engage but does grind when you try.
You can stop the car and when you come back to it all is well and it works fine.

It is getting gradually more frequent so I will need something done before it stops altogther! I don't really want to be changing the clutch - its too expensive! but I don't really feel it is the clutch, there's no slipping or pedal travel.

Anyone come across this?

Thanks
David

I would check your shift lever, and the join there for play. In addition to that, check the rear bush on the back of the gearbox.

On Peugeots anyway, changing the rods (balljoints fail in them) make a massive difference to the shifting. And quite a few '44s are sloppy shifters compared to modern cars due to wear in the joins.

It could be linkage but still sounds to me like a sticky clutch plate. Which isn't what you want to hear. Try this:- will it get first with the engine off? If it does but won't engage with it running then it is clutch plate spinning. Also check if you can get gears (not reverse ) whilst it is rolling along.

I can drive the car as long as I don't want reverse or 1st. I have to pull away in second and then its fine if a little stiff.
Yes all the gears will engage when the engine is not running.
It seems odd that it can be just fine or not - nothing inbetween. I haven't had a clutch fail but I expected poor take up of drive and whirring and gnashing of teeth.

My Scimitar clutch did exactly this after I got stuck on an accident on the M25. The gearbox seal peed oil over the clutch & stuck the plate to the flywheel. The worst I've ever had!

So is there a way to unstick it?

Clarks seems to suggest just a new clutch for difficult engaging of gears!
Are there instructions on how/where to check the linkages gearbox end.
I'll have a look as far as I can before giving in and taking to the experts - I can at least still drive it.