We have a '23 Coupe that just the other day stopped moving while driving.
There was a strange new "clunk" noise while engaging low, but not high gear. Later during the same 1/2 mile drive, the same noise occurred in both gears...this time more like a "bang bang bang. Then it came to a quick stop.
It wont move forward or backward with the pedals, and it wont roll in neutral either. I had to be towed home.
Can anyone please tell me what happened?!?
We are somewhat new to the T world and since we bought this coupe last fall, this is the first problem we have had.
Please help!
Thank you, John and Matt

You might have become a new member of " The Two Piece Crank Club" !

Matt,

Could be a broken crank but I'm betting on a burst transmission drum or a magnet let loose.

Please pull the transmission inspection cover and look at the drums.

Do a search on this forum under the topic of cracked or shattered transmission drum. There have been several discussed here over the years.

Good luck and let us know what you find.
Larry

It's a little hard to tell but I don't think it's the engine Steve. When Mathew says it won't move with the pedals I think that means with the engine running, which sounds more like a rear end failure to me.

Mathew: When it won't move with the pedals does that mean with the engine running? When it won't roll either, can the engine be turned over and/or started?

So, it sounds like you're saying the motor still runs but something broke somewhere between the transmission and the rear wheels? Something like a u-joint, key in a pinion gear, rear axle, or maybe the thrust washers in the rearend gave out or something along those lines?

Matthew,

I think something went "bang" in the rear end.

Will the engine run and does it sound o.k.?

Thanks Henry, you say it much better than me.

The engine was running just fine. The seizure occurred while starting off on a green traffic light. Got up to about 2mph then...@#$%
We haven't tried to start it since, however, after removing the access panel, everything looks OK, but we accidently hit the starter button (factory installed on the floor) and it made a somewhat scary sound.
Probably important side note...the starter stopped working a couple weeks ago. We have had to crank start the last couple of drive times.
Accidently hitting the starter while inspecting the trans and hearing that not quite right noise made us think the starter might somehow be the issue.
Does this make sense?

Mathew,
You said "was running just fine", which doesn't tell us what it's doing now. If you pull the emergency brake lever all the way back, then with the key off, can you turn the engine with the hand crank?

Try jacking up the rear, and see if the wheels will turn . It could be your pinion bearing.

Without more specific information about the details, several of the suggestions above are valid. Here's the one that seems most likely to me so far.

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG79.html

Here is what a broken low drum looks like. This happened when I pushed the low pedal. The car stopped and could not even be pushed in neutral. It didn't cause any problem with the crankshaft.


It could be a problem in the rear axle, but a rear axle problem is more likely to cause the car to go into free wheeling.
Norm

Norm is right that free wheeling is more likely in the rear axle, but in my case it locked up the wheel with broken brake parts.

Matthew,

Please answer the question, "will your engine turn over and run fine now?". Kind of sounds like the answer is "no", with the bad sounds after hitting the starter button.

Remove your trans cover and have a peek.

Drain the oil and see if there any teeth there. We had one that broke the out put gear , no neutral, with pedals out (high) the engine will turn over when you push it. If the engine turns over or runs in neutral, it is not this. It probably is in the rear end.

What did you find, Matthew ????