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Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:47 pm

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? What else could be causing this?

Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:52 pm

These guys be of help - Volkswagen Autostick Registry. Lots of tech info, a troubleshooter, and forum section.

Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:44 am

Someone correct me if I am wrong but that could have something to do with the fact that you don't just shift an autostick. I think a servo or some sort of vacuum system actually shifts the tranny and that might be the problem but I haven't really dug into mine yet.

Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:40 am

You shift it the clutch action is controled by the servo.
http://www.stickshift.de/

Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:15 am

It shifts fine and I can hear the servo working. The problem is that the car will not move no matter what gear it is in. It also leaks ATF.

Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:00 pm

Where's the leak?

Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:49 pm

you would have to first find the fluid leak... fix that... check the vacuum hoses and electrical connections specific to the autostick. if the car starts then part of your problem is already eliminated.... if you really need it, i can take pics of the guts of an autostick and you can see whats in there... i'm gonna say start with the leak as that is the root of your prob.

and if you decide to convert to 4spd let me know and i'll take your autostick parts :-D

Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:13 pm

1 thing you didnt mention is are the wheels free to turn? have you mooved it? the rubber brake lines are notorious for internally colapsing & holding pressure on the brakes which will cause car not to moove.. I may be off base but just first thing that poped in my mind.

Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:52 pm

ahh the good 'ol autostick. so many different systems working in something resembling harmony to move you down the road. it's a three speed gearbox lubed with 90w gear oil. coupled to a clutch that's operated by a vacuume servo. getting it's power transferd to it through a torque converter lubed with ATF. all controled by a set of often failing and most likely mis-adjusted set of electric trigger points mounted in the shift leaver. wheew (what a mouth full) :shock:

ready to run away screeming into the night yet? #-o any one of these highly interdependent systems fail your dead in the water. the horror the horror. :wink:

Quote: The inner shaft on the transmission seems to move like it should, but the outer one will not move at all. Is this normal?

yes it is. the part that does not move is the stoddard support for th tourque converter. (it holds the torque converter up) :wink:

Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:28 pm

Thanks for the information. It seems that both splined shafts in the torque converter move together and will not move independently. Would this mean that the torque converter could be bad? The car rolls fine and the transmission shaft turns as it rolls. The leak seems to be coming from the torque converter area and the ATF looks like it has not been changed in a very long time.