Hello,

I can really use some info regarding my 89 240 5 speed. It has 213k miles and I bought it a week ago. It was running fine until yesterday. I was shifting, maybe going about 35 mph, when suddenly the car filled with a burning smell, and I couldn't shift into any gear. The car had to be towed. The clutch goes to the floor without any resistance, but it does spring back. When depressed, the gear shift will not move. Is this a blown clutch or something else? I would appreciate any info. Thanks, John

 

Will the transmission shift into gear with the engine turned off? Try it with the clutch and without. I had a problem similar to that a few years back, i don't remember my clutch going soft though. Were you pushing the car hard when the problem first occured (high revs)?

 

I can't get it to shift with it running or not. I was driving up a very slight incline when it happened, and couln't get it to shift. I let it roll back tothe side and from there it was towed.It rolls freely so I don't think it is stuck in a gear. Thank you for responding.

 

It sounds to me like the tranny went bad. The problem i had was similar in that the stick was very hard to move and it would not go into any gear. With the engine off i kept trying different gears and working the stick back and forth and eventually i was able to get a few of the gears to work again. If i remember correctly i never did get 1st back, but i drove it anyway like that for about a year before replacing the tranny.

I don't think that it's possible for the clutch to go bad and freeze the tranny, and i doubt that your trans mount is to blame but who knows. I'm no pro mechanic so i would definately seek a second opinion but i have the exact same car so i feel your pain.

Does anybody else have any insight?