so my friend had a 87 v6 beretta that was popping out of first gear. then it started popping out of fifth. then he drove it 2hrs away from home, and the the thing stopped moving entirely when he got there. he says the stick is loose and not moving anything in the transmission. i.e. he can move the stick but it wont even grind the gears if he doesnt have the clutch pressed... so, that would be a linkage possibly?

 

it sucks because it was a good car but he just abandoned it in a parking lot because he was sick of it. now he wants to go and spend 600 dollars on a POS , but i'm wondering if we could get it running again for less than that.

 

anyway, any ideas what maybe happened to it? i'd appreciate some suggestions.

now he wants to go and spend 600 dollars on a POS

 

And here I *thought* that about a Beretta.

 

Look, you can't really diagnose a shifter/tranny problem by remote control, it could be either, as either/both could be worn out.

 

You are just going to have to look, taking someone with you, to move the shifter, while you crawl around checking to see if it is doing anything.

 

If you have movement/action, then it's transmission time.

 

I have not worked on a front wheel drive GM car since the mid 80's, then it was not uncommon for me to have 50+ cars apart, transmissions out, on stands/blocks, waiting for parts. A fellow gets pretty jaded under these type of conditions and I haven't touched a GM car since (2.2 hour R+R and recondition times didn't help much).

 

The parts are common all across the GM line, any GM car of the same size/year has identical parts (transmission/shifter) in it.

If you were nearby I'd tell you to bring it by and we'd crack it open.

thanks, its a little bit academic now, because he did go and buy himself a not too bad nissan pickup for 900 bucks. By now his car is in the impound lot for sitting in a public parking lot with no plates, and he wont be paying the impound fee. i'm actually worried that he's going to get a hellacious bill for ditching his car. maybe i can get it for nothing at the auction eventually.

 

it was kind of a *************** to work on the transverse engine setup, but it still hurt a bit to see him just toss his car like that.

it was kind of a *************** to work on the transverse engine setup

 

I did mention the warranty time was 2.2 hours, out, rebuilt, back in, and road tested.

Disconnect the stuff from the top (shifter, wires, bellhousing bolts)

Jack up car, pull drivers side axle, release pass side axle, drop 1/2 the front sub frame, undo remaining bellhousing bolts, drag out transmission.

Put in transmission holding fixture (or on work bench).

Take 5th gear assembly apart (under 1st outer cover)

Split transmission case for the rest of transmission.

Inspect what you have, ordering new stuff as necessary.

Reassemble with Anaerobic gasket stuff

Stuff in the same way you took it out.

If you snag it quick, you might be able to get it for the tow/storage bill.

 

BTW I always did like the way Berettas looked.