I have an '71 SuperBeetle autostick that will not move, even with the transmission in gear and the engine running. The lady I bought it from said that it made a cracking sound while driving and then leaked transmission fluid. It would not move from where she parked it on the side of the road. I have removed the engine and the torque converter does not seem to be cracked or anything like that. The inner shaft on the transmission seems to move like it should, but the outer one will not move at all. Is this normal? If not, what else could be causing this?
Hi,
looks like you have got a lot to get through but I would take it from the top. The semi is basically a manual but with the extra bits added on so the fact is doesn't move when running and in gear is good and bad. Good as the engine is probably ok, bad becuase the gearbox sounds like its had it. It's probably not anything to do with the fact it is a semi due to the fact as you said it can be in gear and running but still not move. Sounds def like a gearbox problem.
Bit worrying that it is chucking out ATF as it is on a seperate circuit to the gearbox oil. Is she certain it was transmission fluid and not gbox oil.
Because there are not that many moving parts to make the semi run apart from the gearbox I think it would be a good move to remove the oil/atf pump and make sure it is ok (if the engine is out this is not too hard) but I do think you are looking at a gearbox problem.
Sorry but good luck with it.
cheers
I think my gearbox is ok because the shaft moves like it should in each gear when the car is pushed. I think it is leaking ATF because it is coming from the torque converter area. I will check the pump, but the ATF seems to be coming from the torque converter area. Are the splined pieces in the torque converter suppose to move independently?
sorry mate I really don't know.
I'd give a gearbox specialist a call to find out. A VW specialist might be able to shed more light on it. Just bear in mind a semi is a normal (ish) setup with bits added to it.