Have a 89 honda accord 5 speed, was driving in town going about 15 mph when the car shuddered to a stop and died. Acts like the tranny locks up. Car starts and will shift into any gear but will only go about ten feet or less forwards or backwards before the car transmission? binds up. . I was able to coax it into a parking lot but it took some time. I jacked the front end up off the ground and the problem is definitely in the drivetrain and not the brakes. Can anybody tell me what is likely the problem?

 

Could this be a cv axle problem?

 

With the front in the air - safety - and you put the car into first and let the clutch out.....what happens?

 

motor starts, clutch engages the transmission tires spin, then after a few seconds or up to a minute the shudder starts and motor dies.

 

Only does this if the trans is in gear?

 

yes only when in gear, if the clutch is ingaged the shudder stops

 

That's pretty definitive; time for a new, used, or rebuilt transmission.