Looks like my tire tech f***ed my transmission, advice?

[talljordan]

(Warning, bit of a rant coming) So I ran over a nail and had a slow leak.

Not a big deal I think, these are my junk tires, I have 3 spare good ones in my garage. Ill just bring it to Kal-Tire and they can switch it over for me. Now I think to myself, Kal-Tire is more expensive than Fountain Tire (a reputable auto repair shop), and they are less experienced, but if I bring it there I will have my car back within a few hours. So despite the fact that last time I went to Kal (2 years ago) the tech didn't know you had to clutch in to start the car and nearly burnt out my starter and ignition switch, I caved.

Bring it in and speak to the assistant manager, young guy (still older than me though), says he is restoring a charger himself. Great I think to myself he will know what he is doing. Walk around the car, he tells me the tire needs to be replaced. I hand him the replacement and he says it'll be $45 for mounting and balancing and to come back in 2 hours.

2 hours later I get the call and come in, the car is sitting nicely on the lift and they are fiddling around. I wait, the head manager (also a young guy) comes out and tells me they are having a hard time finding the torque spec. I tell him doesnt matter, torque it to 40 and I have my own torque wrench in the trunk, Ill torque it after I google the setting (I want this thing back ASAP).

Fine, they torque it up and the tech doing the work hops in and starts the engine, and proceeds to sit there and appears to fiddle for a few minutes (apparently looking for reverse) the manager tells me "Huh, looks like he is having a hard time driving your car". Uh oh I think to myself, last time I heard that here my starter nearly was ruined. FINALLY the guy finds reverse and backs out, and proceeds to stop and not move for a few minutes. Scared shitless I run out there and see whats going on.

The ALSO young tech looks scared shitless, I tell him to kill the engine and I hop in. The shift knob is 3 inches behind where reverse normally is. F***. Sure enough, its stuck in some weird position and I can only move it there, or if I push down I can get to where neutral usually is except the stick only moves an inch or so. No matter where the stick is, if I let the clutch out the engine starts to stall (wont turn the wheels).

Here is a vid
Link


What do I do??? Try and force the gear stick? The tranny was brand new 2 years ago. I feel kind of bad for them, I told them depending how bad it is they may have to pay the ACVW specialist in town to replace the tranny (and I suppose they will need to get me a rental car). Do you guys have any ideas what is going on or how to fix this? I already tried taking the shifter off in case it was the lockout plate, couldn't move anything...

The poor tech looked like he needed a fresh pair of boxers, I felt terrible for the guy, but at the same time my balls are in a vice. I don't have $800 laying around to get a new transmission installed professionally cause they screwed up.
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1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!

Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end

[cseay1]

I would first pull the cover under the back seat and look at the coupler
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Chris

1968 Karmann Ghia coupe - build log here: Chris' 68 Ghia Build Log - From the Woods back to the Street

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[Wolfgangdieter]

$6 shift rod coupler broke after 40 years. Remove inspection plate under rear seat and check it.

$45 to mount and balance a tire your supplied? $12.50 at Walmart.
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[talljordan]

Watch the video, the coupler is brand new and intact. The shifter wont move.

Edit: link was busted. Sorry, fixed now
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1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!

Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end

[goober]

Not sure if this applies but read this thread (especially Bruce). Bruce has a trick with a screwdriver.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=491333&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Tim Donahoe]

First off, I only let old people at shops drive my car. They know how to shift a VW.

I think you're stuck in two gears at the nose cone.

There's a trick to get it out, but I can't remember how. Hopefully, someone will chime in.

Tim

[talljordan]

Thanks Tim, I really appreciate it.

Do you think there is a chance that this may have damaged either the cone or the tranny? Especially with me trying to let the clutch out. If so I may want them to pay for a trans inspection...
_________________
1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!

Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end

[BUGGED11111]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me

What I see in the video it looks like the shift coupling is completely detached. Am I the only one seeing that?

[talljordan]

[BUGGED11111]

[talljordan]

[DuaneL]

it also looks to me like the coupler is not hooked up to the rod to the transmission (hockey stick) look at the last few seconds of the video
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1971 std bug, 1776, ACN Super Stock 34-3, dvda dist, 27x8.50 14 tires

[Mudpump]

[talljordan]

Ok guys, I am 100% certain it is attached properly to the shaft, the thing ran fine before the tech forced the shifter around weird. I installed the coupler in June. I took the video and looked at it 4 hours ago. I grabbed the rod by hand and tried to detach them and couldn't. It is attached.

I know that the issue is from the nosecone or behind
_________________
1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!

Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end

[Mudpump]

Ok you win.
BUT we're not saying it looks like the coupler is detached from the shift rod, We're 'saying the coupler is not attached to the rod that goes to the tranny. The screw would be holding it on that. I don't see the rod moving when you shift.

But your 100%sure it good so case closed=onward

[BUGGED11111]

[ashman40]

Could be the "hockey stick" and sliders are not aligned.

In neutral the slot for the three gear sliders should line up so the stick can rotate between them.

Sometimes the sliders will get out of alignment and the stick will get stuck. Something like this:

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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[hitest]

Aside from the video not looking like it represents the problem described, having a Youtube video titled "Kal Tire screwed my..." will probably not result in much help from them. Frankly, here in ID- I'd tell you to take a flying leap after posting that title. Publicity like that is more easily remedied than dealing with a customer who escalates conflicts that way.

I'd slide that rod (maybe with coupler removed if poss.) as far forward as you can- and just work that hockey stick with a pair of channel locks. Good luck.
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[ach60]

First off, calm down.
Second, the very end of your movie is showing me that the shifter shift rod, and coupler are completely detached from the hockey stick.
Third, now for the really bad news, he didn't break your car. This was going to happen sooner later. I mean really, you have a 40+ year old car, things are going to happen.
Start at the coupler, and re-check, reinstall the coupler, and this time don't forget the safety wire.
Then check the shifter and shift bushing, and EVERYTHING else in line before you give up and pull the transaxle, to check for bent broken stuff there.
Sorry for your frustration but this is life with a 40+ year old car. Your rebuilt transaxle still has a 40+ year old hockey stick and selectors.
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Good Luck
Al

[johnnypan]

Change the coupler

next time remove the tire yourself and take it to the shop,that way nobody drives your car but you.