I'm driving and get a low grinding sound from the front of car. Lasts 2-3 seconds then goes away. There was a slight loss of power to wheels for the same 2-3 seconds. Sound stops and car is back to normal. Couple of minutes later repeats the grinding noise repeats and power loss returns except this time after the noise stops, the power does not return. I press the clutch in and car coasts to a stop with the engine still running. Try to shift to 1st to get going and to see what will happen but transmission won't shift; gear shift lever is locked in 4th and will not come out of gear. Call the tow truck and bring it home.
I start working on it. I get the car out of gear but when I put it in 1st or 2nd the gear, shift lever hangs up and I am unable to move it. I free gear shift by grabbing the front of the car and rocking it back and forth, then I climb back in the car, press clutch and put shifter into neutral. Shifter lever locks up most times I put it in 1st and 2nd but not every time.
With trans in neutral, I start it. Car moves forward in all forward gears and backwards in reverse. When gear shift lever hangs up I shut it off and get out to rock car by hand to free shifter.
With car engine running, trans in neutral, I release the clutch and I get a fairly loud rubbing sound coming from the trans. I am assuming it is the clutch rubbing but not sure. This is an entirely new sound.
I have fluid in the clutch fluid reservoir and I ruled out the cables and shifter as the problem by disconnecting the cable attachment at the trans and the shift lever moved freely in all directions.
I am sure my clutch pedal free play adjustment is out of spec as the clutch starts to catch very close to the floor (definately not the recommended 6.93-7.17"). I plan to adjust that tomorrow.
FYI: Trans is a stock 94 GS 5 speed.
Ideas/suggestions as to what's going on?