Manual Transmission issues

[bfdd]

Have a 92 Camry commuter with a MT. Now it's dead in the water. I'm not sure if it's the clutch because it feels like the clutch still engages, but when I shift into gear all I get is grinding. It felt like a cable or bolt or something snapped. Basically what happened is I eased out of a parking spot in reverse, put it into neutral and then braked to a stop when I got out of the spot. Engaged the clutch, shifted into first like usual, after about 5 feet and getting up to 2 or so MPH I got a rumble like the car was going to die then the RPMs shot back up(which wasn't due to me pressing the gas) and then I heard a metal snapping sound. I have a buddy who's going to come take a look at it, but did I fuck up the clutch or some cabling in the gearbox?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

my guess is the input shaft is fubar

 

[bfdd]

my guess is the input shaft is fubar

Second person to tell me that based on what I've said. I was pretty sure it wasn't the clutch because the clutch is relatively new, about 6 months with only about 2 or so months worth of light driving on it.

Are these a bitch to fix or get a hold of? I'll have to do some research into the transmission I have. I haven't done a lot of work on car transmissions. My mechanical expertise lies with large machinery.

 

[bfdd]

Bleh sounds like serious breakage. I wish I could rip it out at my place, maybe I'll get it towed to my dads and him and I will have a project to do along side redoing his backyard.

 

[natto fire]

Have you inspected the axles? So the car does still go into gears fine, but when you release the clutch in gear it doesn't move?

Not sure how the junkyard situation is in your area but a good website to check their inventory, if they use the pinnacle inventory management.

 

[bfdd]

Have you inspected the axles? So the car does still go into gears fine, but when you release the clutch in gear it doesn't move?

Not sure how the junkyard situation is in your area but a good website to check their inventory, if they use the pinnacle inventory management.

it GRINDS like a motherfucker when it put it into gear and it doesn't move. It feels like the gear isn't engaged. I haven't been able to inspect it, I'm at work at the moment.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

1) Toyotas dont have clutch cables. Try checking the clutch fluid.

2) Try starting the car in gear, and see if it moves. If so, it'll be the clutch.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i once had a vw jetta that broke a cv joint - the open differential transmits no power and grinds the shit out of the joint

i also had my mom's taurus snap the input on an automatic. seriously, without abuse, there was a red light up hill and the thing let go the instant a load was on it.

 

[Harrod]

i once had a vw jetta that broke a cv joint - the open differential transmits no power and grinds the shit out of the joint

Ha ha, I found that out also, on my integra I drove for about a 1 year on a clicking cv joint, only to have it fail as I was going to lunch one day. I always thought that if one broke the other would have power, well that turned out to be about a 140 dollar lesson, 50 for a new cv joint and 90 for a tow.

 

[brainhulk]

i once had a vw jetta that broke a cv joint - the open differential transmits no power and grinds the shit out of the joint

i also had my mom's taurus snap the input on an automatic. seriously, without abuse, there was a red light up hill and the thing let go the instant a load was on it.

Yeah the cv joint broke on my old civic in high school did the same thing. But that was after my boot tore and I just had pep boys repack it and put new boot on. Lesson learned, don't go to pep boys and instead just replace axle.

 

[PlastikSpork]

Have a 92 Camry commuter with a MT. Now it's dead in the water. I'm not sure if it's the clutch because it feels like the clutch still engages, but when I shift into gear all I get is grinding. It felt like a cable or bolt or something snapped. Basically what happened is I eased out of a parking spot in reverse, put it into neutral and then braked to a stop when I got out of the spot. Engaged the clutch, shifted into first like usual, after about 5 feet and getting up to 2 or so MPH I got a rumble like the car was going to die then the RPMs shot back up(which wasn't due to me pressing the gas) and then I heard a metal snapping sound. I have a buddy who's going to come take a look at it, but did I fuck up the clutch or some cabling in the gearbox?

Sounds like you broke your CV axle. If one side completely breaks your differential in the transmission will just spin that broken axle side and will not put any power down to the good side. Kind of like when one tire is on ice and the other side is on tar the ice side will spin. That is also why is feels like your clutch is still engaging because it still is. I rebuild transmission for several years at my last job.

 

[natto fire]

Yeah that is why I said to check the axles, I have replaced one on a similar vintage Camry also with a MT, although a bit of Googling does not show it to be a common problem. The one I changed was grenaded pretty bad, but after I fixed it, I noticed the lady was not the best at driving stick and chalked it up to that plus the mileage...

 

[bfdd]

1) Toyotas dont have clutch cables. Try checking the clutch fluid.

2) Try starting the car in gear, and see if it moves. If so, it'll be the clutch.

Tried 2 after it happened, didn't work.

Going to check the axel, ffs feel bad for taking another work from home day.

 

[5150MyU]

May as well get(tow)it to where you're gonna fix it if it isn'the axles.
Axles have to come out to pull the tranny.

A dealership would just put it on a lift and run it to see if they could pinpoint the noise-if not put it on the ground, block the rear wheels and put the front end on jack stands(under lower control arms)to kinda line up the axles as they would be in normal driving situations.
WARNING:BE VERY CAREFUL-running a car on jack stands can be dangerous.

EXAMPLE:Tire vibration in the front-so you jack up the front end and put jack stands under it-have the wife get it up to 45mph.
Vibration causes one or both stands to flip-now you're a part of the garage wall(or the floor).

 

[bfdd]

Yeah, I have a friend who's a mechanic told me to get it towed to him if it's something I can't handle. I'd love to rip it all apart, but honestly now thinking about it I just don't have the time.

Any tips on checking the axels? Everything looks ok from what I can tell externally.

 

[Evadman]

I am about 90% sure that you broke one of the CV joints. The reason the engine almost died is because the joint bound, The RPM's shot up when the joint grenaded.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

im confused about exactly when it is grinding. At what point in this sequence does the grinding begin?

1. Car is running in neutral.
2. Push in clutch
3. Move stick into gear.
4. Release clutch
5. Should be moving.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Yeah, I have a friend who's a mechanic told me to get it towed to him if it's something I can't handle. I'd love to rip it all apart, but honestly now thinking about it I just don't have the time.

Any tips on checking the axels? Everything looks ok from what I can tell externally.

Usually the axles have a cv joint with boot, so you can reach up and shake the axle to figure it out.

But IMO.. from what you've said, and how you've stated the problem, just get it towed to your buddy's place. It's definitely not something simple, if you couldn't start it in gear (IE it was grinding if you put it in first and try to start it) then it's not the hydraulic clutch system and not anything simple.

Please keep us posted!

 

[natto fire]

Usually the axles have a cv joint with boot, so you can reach up and shake the axle to figure it out.

But IMO.. from what you've said, and how you've stated the problem, just get it towed to your buddy's place. It's definitely not something simple, if you couldn't start it in gear (IE it was grinding if you put it in first and try to start it) then it's not the hydraulic clutch system and not anything simple.

Please keep us posted!

Agree on the towing. Especially after reading the thread more carefully. You eliminated all the possible easy fixes unfortunately, but it's all part of the process. It's possible you might get some clues by checking the play in your half shafts, and draining the oil. Good luck!

 

[bfdd]

im confused about exactly when it is grinding. At what point in this sequence does the grinding begin?

1. Car is running in neutral.
2. Push in clutch
3. Move stick into gear.
4. Release clutch
5. Should be moving.

at step 5 it just grinds.

Shook the CVs no issue, talked to previous owner said he had the same thing happen to him though the mechanic fixed and replaced his clutch he said. Talked to my buddy, he said just to get it towed to him and he'll take a look.

 

[natto fire]

Could still possibly be the clutch disc. I'm assuming you've tried all the gears? Any grinding when you release the clutch in neutral?

If you find bits of metal in the oil, it might be worth it to take the axles out at the inboard side (if the suspensions allows, I forget how lenient those MacPherson fronts are) and see if you peek at the ring gear on the differential. Either way it is sounding like you will likely need to split the case if excessive metal shavings are found in the case, or just find a junkyard part and swap them.

I would hope for clutch disc, no matter how unlikely, it should be cheaper than a transmission (unless you go to a U pull it place) and definitely easier than splitting the case to start messing with shift forks, the differential, or the input/output shaft.

Last transmission I messed with was a '98 Frontier that destroyed it's front input shaft bearing. Just ended up swapping because it is so easy to drop RWD manual transmissions. Had one out of the U-Pull it place in 2 hours with a nice fiberglass truck cap and 1 year warranty cost for $280, and swapped it back in the same day.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

My guess is bad throwout bearing..

 

[bfdd]

My guess is bad throwout bearing..

I was just googling some info on that since you posted it. I actually had a similar sound to this guy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWlK3sVXPyk but it wasn't as profound. really minor, but very similar. obviously this was before the snap bam boop. still going to get it towed tho. there's a pick a part place across town might try to get out of work early(by going in early) so I can go by there and see if they have anything as well. rebuilt trannys are like 500 bucks for this thing, getting it put in as well, well I might as well just sell the broken car and buy a new one at that point.