One of my Fieros is an 86 with 4cyl manual tranny. It runs fine and shifts fine while sitting in my driveway. But as soon as I try to drive I get about 2 or 3 feet and it feels as if I hit a brick wall. The gears feel like they lock up. This happens in reverse also. I have tried to take off in other than first gear with the same results. Once it locks up I just let it roll back and it will go again until it locks up in 2 or 3 feet. I have never driven this car. It was like this when I got it so I dont know much else about it. Oh I can take it out of gear as in neutral and push or pull it fine.
One more thing, When I shift through the gears it feels as if I have a five speed. Is this possible or is it really a four speed? Thanks for any help.

First guess I would think that maybe the tranny has "seized" up. One or more of the gears has seized to the center shaft, which is causing the problem. Check and see if the tranny fluid is low, or better yet drain it all into a catch pan and see how much was in there and what it looks like.

If only one gear has seized, you should be able to drive it in that one gear without problem, but if it is one of the higher gears it may be hard to get it going from a stop. If two or more gears have seized, it will not move in any gear, because you can't drive the output shaft at two different speeds at the same time.

Just a quick guess, don't take this as gospel.

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Gerald Storvik
http://www.8shark.com/

[This message has been edited by shark93726 (edited 09-06-2002).]

Shark is VERY LIKELY correct with his diagnosis. Sounds like the linkage and synchros are OK since you can push it. Unless, by some miracle, it is just a lubrication problem, you have to drop the tranny and open it up. Repairing it may not be cost effective, but do not underestimate the amount of help that you will receive from people on this forum. You don't need a whole lot of tools to overhaul it, and it would be a great learning experience.
Good luck
Cliff

quote Originally posted by fiero77: One of my Fieros is an 86 with 4cyl manual tranny. .... But as soon as I try to drive I get about 2 or 3 feet and it feels as if I hit a brick wall. ...Once it locks up I just let it roll back and it will go again until it locks up in 2 or 3 feet. I have never driven this car. It was like this when I got it so I dont know much else about it. Oh I can take it out of gear as in neutral and push or pull it fine. One more thing, When I shift through the gears it feels as if I have a five speed. Is this possible or is it really a four speed? Thanks for any help.

"Oh I can take it out of gear as in neutral and push or pull it fine."

how far?? you didn't mention anything about brakes so I assume that you checked those out.. The 86 iron duke came with a 5 speed.. someone may have swapped in a 4 speed and botched the linkage adjustment procedure or the transaxle may be shot ...PC

From experience , I also wouldn't rule out the small possibility that one of the bearings could be bad and causing one of the shafts to bind up with the other gears, being that you can roll it some in gear until it locks up. Don't take this as gospel either, but as a small suggestion. Good luck and please let us know what you find. Good day...