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TR Tranny Problem

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by btownv12, Aug 19, 2004.

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  1. btownv12

    btownv12 Karting

    Nov 6, 2002
    85
    #1 btownv12, Aug 19, 2004
    Has anyone with a TR experienced any transmission problems? On the way to Monterey last Thursday my car starting making a popping noise anytime I would start moving from a dead stop. This was accompanied by what felt like something (weight) shifting in the rear of the car. On Friday morning I was able to get the car on a rack at a monterey repair shop. We looked it over and could not see anything out of place. I took the mechanic for a test drive and the transmission locked up as we were entering Highway 101 (Yes I was the red TR with the two CHP cars and three tow trucks parked at the side of Hwy 101 Friday AM) The car would not shift into any of the gears.

    The mechanic determined that it was not the linkage but rather something in the transmission. They are going to remove the transmission on Monday (8/23) to make the final determination. Needless to say this certainly put a kink into the whole Monterey week.
     
  2. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #2 f355spider, Aug 19, 2004
    If you check the archives, there is a known issue with the "pinion" or something failing...but this usually results in having all "neuterals"...so no forward or reverse possible..... it will go into gear...but the engine just free revs. I know the 512M had a beefed up transaxle over the earlier cars.

    Here's a quote from someone:
    #3 04-12-2004, 08:58 AM
    tr328
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    "The first owner of my TR purchased a complete rebuilt transmission and had it installed. I purchased the car a couple of years later and had the transmission rebuilt for the second time. It is my understanding that there are some improvements with the newer transmission vs. the early year TR's. I have a 1985 TR with a updated transmission. I know two other people that have had their transmission rebuilt also. As you know, the major service is costly. No other problems with my TR, knock on wood! I have 44,000 miles on mine. It runs great!"
     
  3. henryk

    henryk Formula Junior

    Dec 9, 2003
    479
    Door County, WI
    #3 henryk, Aug 19, 2004
    My 88 TR had the differential replaced 6 years ago, at about 44K miles. The PO had the dealer install a 512 TR type differential. The dealer did tell me that the differentials are weak.

    I now have over 65K miles on the car, and no problem.........of course, I don't track the car.
     
  4. btownv12

    btownv12 Karting

    Nov 6, 2002
    85
    #4 btownv12, Aug 20, 2004
    thanks for the feedback. My 1989 car has only 16k miles on it but I am the fourth owner so I don't know how the car was driven previously. At this point I am in a waiting mode until early next week to find out the degree of damage.
     
  5. Ron328

    Ron328 F1 Rookie
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    #5 Ron328, Aug 20, 2004
    Pls. give us a follow-up on this. Am interested bec. a TR is on my wish list and I have heard that they have weak tranny/transaxle(?) and it is just a matter of time & it will break. A very costly ordeal.

    Good luck.
     
  6. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #6 Smiles, Aug 20, 2004
    Could it be the clutch?
     
  7. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 tbakowsky, Aug 20, 2004
    Your diff has gone to diff heaven my friend. This an't going to be a cheap fix. What you are describing is the nosies a blowen diff makes. Very common to happen on TR's. I have personaly done 4 of them.
     
  8. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #8 f355spider, Aug 20, 2004
    This happened to a friend and club member here in Seattle on his 512TR, the dealer recommended the strengthened 512M transaxle...this took three months to get, and cost in the low to mid 20's if my memory serves me right.....

    I wonder if the transaxles can just be rebuilt with the 512M parts? Or is this not possible? (different case?)
     
  9. Ron328

    Ron328 F1 Rookie
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    #9 Ron328, Aug 20, 2004
     
  10. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 MS250, Aug 20, 2004
    Ron, I am the 3rd owner on my 86TR and hit 50K recently and have the car for 5 yrs now. So far all is good, I have also heard of these problems, but my experience is constantly tranny/diff oil change, and no burnouts. Should give more life to the car.
     
  11. atheyg

    atheyg Guest

    #11 atheyg, Aug 20, 2004
    The Boxer shares the same trans as the early Trs but doesn't have this issue, Trs weigh more and have stickier tires so the reason for failures is typically abuse via burnouts, I would think if you didn't abuse the trans at low speeds the trans would hold up fine.

    Sorry to say this TRs diff sounds like its had a serious failure, not something as simple as the output shaft breaking.
     
  12. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #12 Rifledriver, Aug 20, 2004
     
  13. btownv12

    btownv12 Karting

    Nov 6, 2002
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    #13 btownv12, Aug 20, 2004
    I replaced the clutch plate when I purchased the car two years ago. I have been given a price range of 4K for the labor and worst case 14k for an entire rebuilt replacement. (I also verfied the cost range with a second mechanic) The drive shaft breaking was their initially diagnosis. They will open the car up and Tuesday and I will let everyone know what they find.
     
  14. Ron328

    Ron328 F1 Rookie
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    #14 Ron328, Aug 20, 2004
    Thanks Rick and Brian.

    I don't mean to hijack btownv12's thread but this topic really interests me. So in short, Brian (or anybody for that matter), is it safe to say that if a TR is not "driven hard," this transaxle problem is not likely to happen?

    Ron
     
  15. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #15 Rifledriver, Aug 20, 2004
    We have a man in the bay area with an early TR with 200k miles. Only time the motor has been out is for routine maintnence.
     
  16. btownv12

    btownv12 Karting

    Nov 6, 2002
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    #16 btownv12, Aug 27, 2004
    The mechanic just called to tell me that he opened up the tranny and the only item that appears broken is a gear that is attached to the drive shaft. He said all of the teeth were sheared off. He working on getting the parts and pricing.
     
  17. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 WILLIAM H, Aug 27, 2004
    Ferrari gearboxes are notoriously fragile compared to say GM or Porsche or MB. The verticla gears & the input shaft are common failures. This is why you never ever do burnouts in a Ferrari, unless you really like doing trans work also

    Ive exploded a few TR trans but then again I put them under Severe stress
     

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