autostick help please. I lost reverse-in 2 days all.

[Tim]

The car shifted fine and then I lost reverse. Two days later I lost everything. The vacume seems to be working fine. I can hear it kick in when I push the shifter down. I know it's not much to go on. Can anyone help me with some trouble shoot procedures please? I can shift it in all the gears the car simply does not move.

[volkenstein]

Tim,
     Not sure what you've checked thus far, but let's do some obvious stuff first.

How's the ATF level in the tank on the passenger (LHD) side of the engine bay?

Take out the rear seat and there is an inspection plate on the tunnel there.
Undo the screw, remove the plate and check that the gearshift coupler is all there, all done up properly and when you "shift" check the movement.

What you are checking is that your shifter is actually trying to select a gear at the box.

Feel like getting dirty/oily? If you have a box with the drain plug, drain your oil and check for metal fragments.

This "seems" almost the symptoms of a broken "hockey stick" or selector inside the box rather than a clutch/servo related problem as you have no forward movement at all. The only other thing that would prevent forward movement would be a totally stripped/stuffed torque converter and splines.

Do the first two checks for sure, the third if you want and post again. Mike (Bookwus) and Lee (68AutoBug) hopefully can shed more light as I'm not familiar with the box innards at all, just seen the diagrams.


HTH
Volkenstein

[Tim]

I will follow the three steps it should be simple enough. The interior is not yet in the car. My wife and I have re-worked the seats, panels, new rug and now the headliner for the ragtop.  The headliner looks like quite a challenge. The engine was rebuilt by someone back in 88. The car has been garaged since then. Also the engine was taken out of a 66 and put in this autostick 69 shell. It's a strange story. Someone really wanted this car to be an autostick. I'm new to the site and when I figure out how to post pics I will send them.(once done) My first was a 1970 squareback that I rolled over as a kid and actually drove it home once it was back on 4 wheels.  Anyway the autostick is what I have no experience  in. Thanks for welcoming me I will let you know how I make out.

[volkenstein]

Tim,
     A 66 donk out of what? And did they put all the necessary parts on?

Pics would be good...an easy way is to use a photo hosting site like www.photobucket.com, upload them there and cut 'n' paste the links into a post...(the "IMG" ones from photobucket...)


Volkenstein

[Tim]

The engine came out of her 66 bug that fell apart acording to her. They (her and her husband at the time) put that engine in in the 69 autostick bug by grinding out the bellhousing and some other stuff. I know it sounds vague but I can only go by my wifes account. I did check the numbers on both the inside floor after the rug was gone, and I checked the numbers on the engine. I can verrify that the years are acurate based on my book. I will post the pics over the weekend of where I started and what I.m up to at this point. Thannks again. Oh I checked samba for an emblem, nothing so far but I can continue to check.

[volkenstein]

Tim,
    Page 2 of a classifieds search...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=284332

Don't stress, they tend to come in cycles. A month ago there were plenty up for grabs, three months ago...nothing...


Volkenstein

[Tim]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/DCP_0587.jpg           http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/DCP_0589.jpg            Here is a couple of before pictures I have more somewhere and some after too. I really need to get better at keepining track of my files. I cant wait to show you the the upholstry job we did

[Tim]

Not the most recent I have the bumbers and lights on now. Also the servo is working fine, and the ATF fluid is fine, and the linkage to the tranny is fine too. The little pump under the engine compartment worked fine too, because when I turn the key off an on I can hear it. I disconnected one of the wires and I ground gears moving the shifter around. So I can get it into gears just fine I just cant move at all. First reverse went then a couple days later everything? any ideas.        http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/bugpick20052.jpg       http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/bugpic20053.jpg          http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/bugpic20051.jpg          http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/tack40000/bugpic2005.jpg

[volkenstein]

Tim,
     Looking schweet now...

OK, In neutral, start the car and pull off the ATF reservoir cap and see (with a torch, and be careful of the fan belt!!) if oil is squirting back into the tank...or you could undo the line fitting so it's loose and will dribble...that'll check if the ATF oil circuit is pumping from the converter.

Do the same at either the exit side of the ATF pump on the engine, or at the connection in the rear tin. A guy here on the forum had a broken shaft in his pump...best to eliminate that as a cause...

After beer and ciggies...look underneath at the servo can and see where the clutch arm is sitting and try and push it back into the servo, listening for sounds in the bellhousing. It should take a firmish push to do this. If it goes back too easily (almost a finger push) I'd say your problem is with the clutch plate....

Also..just to be safe...make sure the converter bolts are still attached. You can check this through the trans inspection windows (one is near the starter....They probably are (imagine if one was rattling around your bellhousing!!) but what the hell....since you are under there by now :lol:

After this...well, I'm out of ideas besides yanking the engine and visually checking the converter etc....before partial disassembly/yanking the trans as well.....you'll be up for a new torque converter seal if you have to go this far...

Anyone got any other ideas??


Volkenstein

[Cobey]

Interesting thought on the torque converter bolts.  I mentioned the TC to him in an email as well.  If the TC was never bolted in, would it have ever moved?

He mentioned he could see the servo moving, so I also suggested that he check the vac line to it from the control valve, in case it was loosing enough vac to make it unable to do the actual clutch function.  Also suggested to check the adjustment on the servo itself.