Broken transmission? Broken cv?

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supersisu
Diesel Freak
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Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by supersisu »

1980 Caddy, newly installed 5-sp conversion from 4-sp, one year (8k miles) on new clutch: Driving in first gear down a city street, over a speed hump: a feeling of popping out of gear and no power to the wheels. Coast to a stop on the side of the road. No super loud strange noise, clutch pedal feels normal. Stickshift feels normal. Truck just doesn't move when the clutch is let out. I thought that maybe driveshafts fell off? Shift linkage works, goes into gear. Engine running normal.

Shifting into gears and letting out the clutch: 1st is pretty quiet, 2nd is a bit rumbley, 3, 4, 5th louder. Could something have broken in the transmission? Like a drive gear shearing from a shaft?

But now as I'm writing this, I'm wondering if a cv broke: The boots have been broken for a year and I've just be stuffing more grease in them. If one side completely failed, all the power would go to that shaft and the other wouldn't move? I should check if a shaft is spinning while in gear with the engine running?

This just happened tonight, it was dark and my ice cream was melting. I called my sweetie and she picked me up. She is getting used to it by now. Got the truck pushed into a legal spot, 20 ft. uphill no problem!
1981 Rabbit "Rosebud" (smashed-up parts car)
1980 Caddy 4 spd "Buttercup"
1983 Jetta 5 spd
wmasscaddy
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Re: Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by wmasscaddy »

Yes to your CV joint thought. One side spinning is the sign. Hope for that, it's cheap and easy.
82 pickup 1.6 n/a
350,000 + miles lost to broken odo
11mm block, 12mm head
TylerDurden
Turbo Charger
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Re: Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by TylerDurden »

I had the same symptoms on my Caddy... I forgot to tighten the inner CV bolts. :oops:
Have a nice day.


'91 Jetta ECOdiesel TD - clean & complete (less motor/tranny) for sale

'82 Westy Vanagon 1.9 N/A - 23.5mpg
'86 Jetta TD - 45-50mpg
'81 Dasher Wagon 1.6 N/A - 52mpg
'84 Wasserboxer - DOA, parts donor
'94 Passat wagon VR6
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supersisu
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Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:38 pm
Location: Chicago
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Re: Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by supersisu »

Checked it out this morning; passenger side driveshaft just spinning merrily away. I figure that means that the outer joint failed.
1981 Rabbit "Rosebud" (smashed-up parts car)
1980 Caddy 4 spd "Buttercup"
1983 Jetta 5 spd
supersisu
Diesel Freak
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:38 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by supersisu »

Yup, broken inboard cv. Easy fix but now after replacing the driveshaft it's really really hard to turn the steering wheel while driving. Feels very strange, no self-centering. I'll get it back up on jackstands in a couple days but any thoughts about what would cause this?
1981 Rabbit "Rosebud" (smashed-up parts car)
1980 Caddy 4 spd "Buttercup"
1983 Jetta 5 spd
TylerDurden
Turbo Charger
Posts: 1285
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:01 pm
Location: Michigami, USA

Re: Broken transmission? Broken cv?

Post by TylerDurden »

Very rare... I have never seen firsthand an inner cv fail. I have a box full of good ones taken from axles where the outers failed.

Steering thing is also weird. I'd be checking motor mounts to ensure the whole drivetrain is not jacked.
Have a nice day.


'91 Jetta ECOdiesel TD - clean & complete (less motor/tranny) for sale

'82 Westy Vanagon 1.9 N/A - 23.5mpg
'86 Jetta TD - 45-50mpg
'81 Dasher Wagon 1.6 N/A - 52mpg
'84 Wasserboxer - DOA, parts donor
'94 Passat wagon VR6
'03 Jetta TDI wagon 230K, 52.3mpg
'89 Jetta N/A - 51mpg
'82 Caddy 1.6 N/A - Sold
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