348 gearbox locked

I'd cautiously offer you some good news here.... If I were to guess (and I'm new here), I'd say this sounds like a linkage problem, not a transaxle problem. It's equally annoying, but not nearly as expensive to repair. From what I've read, the 348 linkage is not well loved, so your symptoms and history both point to potential linkage trouble.

 

I agree. There is a procedure that you can do to "re-set" the linkage. My guess is that the gearbox itself is fine. If the car had a resent major or work that involved the removal of the linkage I would bat that's the problem. Also check under the shift gate. There is foam in there which you will have to remove. It is possible that debris got in there and jammed up the works. Keep us informed.

--Mike

 

Well, if you put it that way, I recall reading FatBillyBob saying it was about $17,000 for a new gearbox (not sure if he meant brand new, or to rebuild every gear).

I recall that it was in Steve's (TheOnlyest) gearbox saga, there are about 2 or 3 threads with Steve's rebuilding of his gearbox and that is where I saw the $17,000 estimate.

 

There are of course a few possibilities and I would check the "easy" ones first relating to the shifter and cables.

It is possible that one of the several forks inside the gearbox has slipped on it's shaft just enough so it doesn't line up anymore. This could make shifting a "no-go".

 

James: I have a 1990 348ts, and I'm up here in Milton, near Tacoma. Over the past few years, my car has stuck in gear a few times, usually right in the driveway when I'm barely moving. Other than that, the transmission works fine, makes no usual noises, leaks no fluid, had no apparent visual problem with the bottom cover removed, etc. The only time it has ever locked up out on the road was a couple of months ago, when I took Brian ("Cavallino Afficianado") for a ride. I was accelerating from a stop and the shift lever locked between first and second gear

In each case, I have been able to get it moving again just by slowly releasing the clutch pedal until the tranny "unlocked" itself and started moving again. I wish I knew what was wrong, but I don't. I feel that the problem must be in the cables, like they have selected two gears at once, but I haven't taken the time to pull it all apart and check. I can tell you that I DID find a mashed quarter down at the base of the shift lever a couple of years ago, but removing it didn't cure the issue.

Good luck in your search.

 

Washington ehh? You steelhead fish? maybe we cna work something out. Anyway you could have an infinate number of problems and there is no way to guess. I have seen used gearboxes in the $5000 range and rebuilt FNA gearboxes in the $17K range many many years ago. So far I have not rebuilt one that cost more than $4k. With 348 gearboxes all bets are off. I have seen so much crap in there from bad case bearings, broken transfer gears, ripped pinion drive, cracked cases, broken shift forks, pitted out lay and main shafts. Any and all parts are capable of failing on 348 gearboxes. However, once gone through I think they are very bullit proof. It is possible that the independant had no clue of what he was doing. Even FNA has been suspect in my eyes. Also, the number of shortcuts I have seen taking in the name of fixing these gearboxes is down right criminal! Oh and cables in 348's are suspect.

 

Well get it on the lift, and start taking pictures already.

 

I've got the same problem with my 348, i could not get him higher than 3 th gear, when i switched to 4th it came back into 2nd gear and a lot of ugly noises when downshifting.
It looked like a big problem, but was fixed in 30 minutes. Problem with the cable linkage.

johan

 

Hello Johan,

could you please tell me how do you fixed the problem with the cable linkage?
I have the problem if the car is in the 5 th gear I can not switch to 4th or neutral.

Grazie

Sven

 

Don't overlook an object(s) falling into the shifter. I had a quarter and penny snuggled in there. Removed the knob and plate and found this out... glad it wasn't anything major.

 

Bought mine with a broken tranny. Nice discount. Bought another used tranny and put it in. Fine since, 8 years.

 

I had a mondial t and had simular issue, turned out the synchros were worn and somehow caused a major failure breaking 5th gear it made a popping sound almost like a defective wheel bearing. Once the tranny oil was drained it was clear there was a problem as gear fragments fell out. Took about 4 months but located a new one and had no problems cost was high though around 15 grand for a new used one I think there was a brand new one available but it was 25k from the mother land.

Good luck I feel your pain it this is your issue.