'73 VW Super - Not shifting

Check your clutch. It sounds like it's not disengaging all the way.

Charles of Kankakee

Is this 4-spd Manual or an AutoStick??

Speedy Jim

Hi Jim,

This is auto stick. When the engine is not running, the gears shift just fine.

Thanks,

Donna

excellent...next test...simple to do...start car in neutral in your driveway...let idle for a few seconds to build vacuum.....shut off engine....open door and then listen as you move the shifter(key on please) from nuetral to any gear...you *should* hear a "sucking sound"(similar to stepping on the brake pedal of vehicles with power brakes....swooooosh) and also hear the clutch servo actuating the clutch linkage. if you do *not* hear this sound you need to check the contact/breaker points located in the lower part of your shifter. they need to be clean.... you can manually jump the clutch control solenoid(located on left side of engine firewall) by placing a ground signal to the wire from the shifter. i can't recall at this point if the power supply for the solenoid was fused or not, so checking for fuse problem should be done also... if you are actually getting the sound when you first do the "test" above, listen...you should get the sound, the sound of the lever moving the clutch, then it should get quiet as long as you hold the shifter still...if you continue to hear a "sucking" sound or the servo can't "hold" vacuum on the clutch linkage you have a vacuum supply problem...either busted servo "boot" or possibly a bad line from the intake to the vacuum storage tank under the left rear fender...in some extreme cases i have seen rust holes in the tanks themselves, or even punctures from road hazards....

Joey said it much better than I could :-) Jim

My autostick does that sometimes too. It usually works after sitting for a minute. Alot of the time though, my battery terminal is loose or corroded. It's a new battery also. I had just drove to the end of the driveway yesterday. Shut it off, tried to restart it and it wouldn't shift. Tried again, battery was dead. Charged the battery, started and then shifted fine also. That solenoid is powered, so it may be that too.

I just started it and let it run a bit. Turned off engine - no swoosh sound.

When I try to put it into reverse, the gears grind. No other grinding sound from trying to shift to low, 1 or 2.

Grrrr.

If it was sitting for a while, the clutch disk can get rusted to the flywheel. It will work fine when off and won't disengage when running. Try put is in 3rd or 4th and rocking back and forth. OR put it in gear, and then start the engine - make sure you are aimed safely away from everything.

Worked for me.

Fweem.

Dave

Hi Dave,

This car just had a new battery installed. Back near the battery, I see

3 connectors one is plugged in back by the rear behind the battery, but 2 coming from the same place are not plugged into anything. Could this be the problem?

I wish I could start the car in 3rd or 4th gear, but it will NOT. Any way to force it to start?

Thanks.

Donna

Dave Tosi wrote:

1) Extra wires behind battery are for the Diagnostics (not used). Look on my web site here: down to "What is this plug in my engine bay?"for full details. Anyway, that is _not_ the problem. 2) I think I posted this before: is the wiring on your year car for the "Neutral safety switch".E17 is the safety switch and wires on Term #50 are for the starter.The switch is located on the front of the transmission.(Bypass it at your own risk...) 3) The "real" problem is very likely the controls for the vacuum servo on the clutch. This could be: a) The contacts in the shift lever. VERY common for this to fail. b) Fuse S-11 blown as shown on the diagram. c) Vacuum hose(s) leaking. d) Servo diaphragm leaking or clutch needing adjustment.

Try this test: Key ON. Lightly press on the shift lever as if you were going to shift. Have a helper listen at the engine for a "click" from the vacuum control valve (left side of engine bay). If there is _NO_ click, the shift lever contact is not working or fuse blown or similar simple problem.

Post back what you find out.

Speedy Jim

Hi!

There is no click.

Fuse is where?

donna

On '73, I believe it is on the fuseblock under the dash. Fuse #11.

Jim

Jim!

What a great site - Thank you, but I think it is back to the mechanic for this one.

donna

The fuse is not in a separate fuse holder by the ign. coil, like the reverse lights fuse? Darn, I don't see type 1s much anymore. :-(

later, dave (>> Hi!

Before '73 the fuse was off the Coil. Then they made the fuseblock bigger and moved it. Jim

Well that just means that I am still learning! lol thanks Speedy Jim. later, dave (One out of many daves)