At running temp, car acts like its in neutral, in any gear including reverse

[mcwop239]

Two years ago, I had the engine fully rebuilt including a new clutch. I got the car back, engine ran great, shifted smoothly, all good...heard grinding from the rear. Pumpkin was bone dry, and the gears were shredded. So I swapped out the diff with a wavetrac and put in new, 3.55 gears.

The car started and ran great for about a mile. I put the car in 5th gear, and pressed the accelerator, no response. I thought I missed the gear and the car was still in neutral. So I went to 4th. No issue... I downshifted to 3rd , then 2nd. Pressed the accelerator, the car accelerated about 5 mph, then total loss of power. The car rolled about 1.5 miles, luckily to a side road. Where I went through every gear, including reverse, the car just revved. But didn't move at all. I shut the car off, and again, didn't matter what gear it was in, the car rolled like it was in neutral.

I had a flatbed take the car back to my house. the next day, I went to rolled the car around the garage and the car works again, all gears. I called the garage that installed the wavetrac and they said the car did the same thing to them, but them specialize in rear ends, not vipers, transmissions, etc...

My brothers.... anyone have an idea what's going on????

 

[daveg]

So I am assuming the driveshaft is spinning when in gear, Yes or No?

 

[99RT10GTS]

Clutch not releasing?

 

[mcwop239]

So I am assuming the driveshaft is spinning when in gear, Yes or No?

the driveshaft does spin, with the tires.

 

[mcwop239]

Clutch not releasing?

Clutch is releasing

 

[Ramtuff]

Pressure plate is probably sticking open when hot or slave is sticking holding it open.

 

[Old School]

I'd try bleeding the clutch slave/master cylinder.

 

[mcwop239]

Pressure plate is probably sticking open when hot or slave is sticking holding it open.

The only contradiction is. When the car is off, the car can still go into gear. But again acts like its in neutral

 

[Goggles Pizano]

the driveshaft does spin, with the tires.

Question is, does the driveshalf spin when the car is acting like it is in neutral through the gears.

And that shop that did the diff is s h i t as they didn't tell you of the issue.

 

[Ramtuff]

The only contradiction is. When the car is off, the car can still go into gear. But again acts like its in neutral

That’s not a contradiction, that’s exactly what would happen if the clutch is being held open and not engaged. It has no bearing on the engine running or not.

 

[daveg]

Question is, does the driveshalf spin when the car is acting like it is in neutral through the gears.

^^^^^^^^^