BIG drivetrain problem

well, maybe not that big, but either way my car won't go into gear. i was driving and came to a stop, tried to shift into 1st, it wouldn't go until i finally forced it in. Then, when i started to accelerate and let out the clutch, it wouldn't grab until it finally caught really fast and died. Started it again, and it still wouldn't go into gear. If i released the clutch while in neutral the car died. when we first pushed it to the side of the road, it was hard to push and made a grinding noise. I finally got it driving, and then it just stopped abruptly (like if you were in an automatic and someone shifted into PARK). Then when i started it up and tried to go in first, it wouldn't grab at all, and just died out. When we finally go to push it into a garage, i held in the clutch and i don't know if that solved the grinding, but it didn't make the noise.

one of the guys helping me out says he thinks it is either the clutch or the pressure plate (both of which i had replaced less than a year ago). Now i just got hte car back from the shop after they replaced hte motor, so could they have possibly not set it all back up right? i need any and all input ASAP, as i'm 3 hours from home (where they did the work) and in 2 weeks i have to go back up for my dad's retirement ceremony from the Air Force (21 years).

Honestly it sounds like the tranny is toast. A buddy of mine about a year ago in a 88 civic dx, was driving down the freeway and shifted to 5th and then the tranny would not go into any gear. He pulled to the side of the freeway and the car still did not go into any gear and grinded alot. He finally had the car towed home and found out all his syncros where toast. So he bought another tranny. Sounds similar to what is wrong with yours.

another scenario......shifter fork is toast....broke off in the tranny and got into some gears.....the weak point i the l3 tranny no way of getting around it right now...

maybe try and drain the tranny fluid and check the oil for metal pieces and stuff or take it apart. but it sounds like your tranny is gone. go look for a new one

ok i'm gonna go out and drain the oil today, maybe that will shine some light on the problem.

also, could this have anything to do with it? http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t131980.html

<sigh> and of course the day after this happens i get my short shifter in hte mail...

oh no you get a new toy and you cant use itright now....sux...i was thinking....ive had a prob once where the srings in the clutch hub popped out.....same scenario. but damn its still hard to tell what could have gone wrong in htere without pullin the tranny of draining the oil...i know ive been haveing major problems with 2nd gear on the mainshaft shearing off.....im on #3 tranny in 6 months.....

a similar thing happend to me when the diff pin in my saturn failed.

like most peeps said your better off just finding a new tranny, as it sounds like your shit exploded in there, try the fluid drain and see what if any metal particles come out.

i still need to get out to my car and check the oil (i've been so friggin busy, but i'm gonna do it today), but someone gave me another idea for the problem. he suggested the shift linkage. could that cause the problems i'm having? and what should i look for when i'm under the car?

Your prolly goin to have to get a new tranny and clutch

ok went out and drained the oil... all like less than a cup of it, there was nothing in there. and it was black and stinky, so i know it was old and not refilled by the shop who did my engine. so i think i'm gonna call them up tomorrow morning and bitch at them. they should owe me a fixed tranny right? if not, i'm gonna get a ride and go pick up that 50 bucks tranny i found.

one thing, when i got the little bit of oil out, i didn't see any shavings, so could it just not be moving b/c there is no oil, or is it locked?

also, is there anything that could be wrong with the linkage?

uh oh.......tranny is toast!