Opel GT Trans Will Not Engage

MICAH1 · 07-07-2003

After starting the car the trans will not accept any of the gear positions. Positions 1-4 will not move and if I engage reverse I get that sound when we forget the car is running and attempt to engage the engine again. However, when the car is off all gear positions are accepted. I saw a thread similar to my problem. Is it time for a new trans or is this a workable repair ?

mr. bill · 07-07-2003

I just went through the exact same problem.

Thanks for OGTS for providing several solutions.

My problem turned out to be 2 loose (upper) bolts that hold
the gear box to the bell housing. I also had 1 bolt which
had vibrated out. One bolt has been missing since I bought
the car several years ago.

Solution in my case is to use lock washers and/or lock tite
to keep bolts from vibrating out.

good luck.

MICAH1 · 07-07-2003

Thanks Mr. Bill for your reply. I will check for missing or loose bolts tomorrow and also reference OGTS if your solution is not mind. Will keep up informed.......

kwilford · 07-07-2003

The problem probably isn't the transmission. The clutch is not properly disengaging, or at least the transmission input shaft is not being disconnected from the engine.

If you start the engine with the transmission in gear and the clutch pedal depressed, does the car lurch foreword? If it does, the clutch is REALLY not releasing. If the car will start in gear with the clutch depressed, but it just won't shift into gear after being in neutral, it may just be dragging. Let's start with the clutch not releasing.

First, check that the clutch cable retaining e-clip (in front of the firewall) is in place, and that the release fork is being pulled forward in the bell-housing when the pedal is depressed (that is, the cable is functioning)

If the cable is OK, it could be that the friction disk has become rusted to the flywheel/pressure plate (which often happens if the car has been sitting in a damp location for a time). Sometimes you can "break" it free (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally) by jolting the drive-train with the clutch depressed. My favourite way? Have four of your strongest friends lift the rear end so that the wheels can spin, start the engine while in fourth gear, rev the engine a bit, depress the clutch, and (while pointing the car in a safe direction!) drop the rear wheels. Don't try this while pointing the car at your home!

Other reasons the clutch is not disengaging? The pilot bearing may be piled up (which can also cause the input shaft to drag), or the release forks on the pressure plate are worn away.

If it is just a "dragging" problem, it can be a blown disk (they separate if the rivets are worn through), the aforementioned pilot bearing is damaged, the driven disk is sticking to the transmission input shaft and not "centralizing" when it is released, or the clutch is simply out of adjustment. Read the following thread:

http://opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=924

HTH and let us know what you find.

kwilford · 07-07-2003

And ALSO check the transmission bolts! GOOD ANSWER! YIKES! If the bolts are loose or missing, the transmission drops down a bit and the driven plate won't release. But worse yet, the transmission will leak, and (speaking from a horrible experience), your transmission will grind itself up into little unrecognizable pieces!

MICAH1 · 07-07-2003

Yes if OPEL is started in gear it will jump forward so I will proceed with the first three paragraphs from your first response, and then check those bolts. If that does not conclude the issue I will consider the remaining portion of your thread. Hey I just had a visual in my head of Four strong arms lifting the car with the wheels spinning and upon touchdown the car slamming into the...
funny then painfully sad.

MICAH1 · 07-19-2003

Hey Kwilford, Sorry to take so long to reply to your last thread but guess what. we have lift off. I got back around to working on the GT and thought about the scenario you presented about the strong guys dropping the car in gear....... Didn't go that far but I did start the car in first a few times and it broke loose (friction disk possibly frozen to the flywheel/pressure plate). Thanks a bunch. You are "THE MAN" .

07-07-2003	#1 (permalink)
MICAH1 101st Airborne Vet V.N. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fort Washington, Maryland Posts: 643 Real Name: Thomas Johnson	Unanswered: Opel GT Trans Will Not Engage After starting the car the trans will not accept any of the gear positions. Positions 1-4 will not move and if I engage reverse I get that sound when we forget the car is running and attempt to engage the engine again. However, when the car is off all gear positions are accepted. I saw a thread similar to my problem. Is it time for a new trans or is this a workable repair ?

07-07-2003	#4 (permalink)
kwilford Über OpelGT.com Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,087 Real Name: Keith Wilford Provided Answers: 4	The problem probably isn't the transmission. The clutch is not properly disengaging, or at least the transmission input shaft is not being disconnected from the engine. If you start the engine with the transmission in gear and the clutch pedal depressed, does the car lurch foreword? If it does, the clutch is REALLY not releasing. If the car will start in gear with the clutch depressed, but it just won't shift into gear after being in neutral, it may just be dragging. Let's start with the clutch not releasing. First, check that the clutch cable retaining e-clip (in front of the firewall) is in place, and that the release fork is being pulled forward in the bell-housing when the pedal is depressed (that is, the cable is functioning) If the cable is OK, it could be that the friction disk has become rusted to the flywheel/pressure plate (which often happens if the car has been sitting in a damp location for a time). Sometimes you can "break" it free (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally) by jolting the drive-train with the clutch depressed. My favourite way? Have four of your strongest friends lift the rear end so that the wheels can spin, start the engine while in fourth gear, rev the engine a bit, depress the clutch, and (while pointing the car in a safe direction!) drop the rear wheels. Don't try this while pointing the car at your home! Other reasons the clutch is not disengaging? The pilot bearing may be piled up (which can also cause the input shaft to drag), or the release forks on the pressure plate are worn away. If it is just a "dragging" problem, it can be a blown disk (they separate if the rivets are worn through), the aforementioned pilot bearing is damaged, the driven disk is sticking to the transmission input shaft and not "centralizing" when it is released, or the clutch is simply out of adjustment. Read the following thread: http://opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=924 HTH and let us know what you find. __________________ Keith Wilford working on my '71 GT and '75 SportWagon

07-07-2003	#5 (permalink)
kwilford Über OpelGT.com Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,087 Real Name: Keith Wilford Provided Answers: 4	And ALSO check the transmission bolts! GOOD ANSWER! YIKES! If the bolts are loose or missing, the transmission drops down a bit and the driven plate won't release. But worse yet, the transmission will leak, and (speaking from a horrible experience), your transmission will grind itself up into little unrecognizable pieces! __________________ Keith Wilford working on my '71 GT and '75 SportWagon

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07-07-2003	#2 (permalink)
mr. bill Opeler Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 21	I just went through the exact same problem. Thanks for OGTS for providing several solutions. My problem turned out to be 2 loose (upper) bolts that hold the gear box to the bell housing. I also had 1 bolt which had vibrated out. One bolt has been missing since I bought the car several years ago. Solution in my case is to use lock washers and/or lock tite to keep bolts from vibrating out. good luck.

07-07-2003	#3 (permalink)
MICAH1 101st Airborne Vet V.N. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fort Washington, Maryland Posts: 643 Real Name: Thomas Johnson	Thanks Mr. Bill for your reply. I will check for missing or loose bolts tomorrow and also reference OGTS if your solution is not mind. Will keep up informed.......

07-07-2003	#6 (permalink)
MICAH1 101st Airborne Vet V.N. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fort Washington, Maryland Posts: 643 Real Name: Thomas Johnson	Yes if OPEL is started in gear it will jump forward so I will proceed with the first three paragraphs from your first response, and then check those bolts. If that does not conclude the issue I will consider the remaining portion of your thread. Hey I just had a visual in my head of Four strong arms lifting the car with the wheels spinning and upon touchdown the car slamming into the... funny then painfully sad.

07-19-2003	#7 (permalink)
MICAH1 101st Airborne Vet V.N. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fort Washington, Maryland Posts: 643 Real Name: Thomas Johnson	Hey Kwilford, Sorry to take so long to reply to your last thread but guess what. we have lift off. I got back around to working on the GT and thought about the scenario you presented about the strong guys dropping the car in gear....... Didn't go that far but I did start the car in first a few times and it broke loose (friction disk possibly frozen to the flywheel/pressure plate). Thanks a bunch. You are "THE MAN" .

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