Manual trany FAQs
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2002 12:51 am
Q: Why does my transmission grind gears when shifting? A: One possibility is worn transmission syncros. On higher mileage cars the synchos may begin to wear out, causing grinding or difficulty shifting. This is most likely the problem if it occurs only when the drivetrain is cold (winter mornings) or in just one or two of the gears, such as 1st or 2nd. Problems with worn syncros can be temporarily masked by switching to another gear oil (USE A GL4 GEAR OIL ONLY!). But in the long run this will get worse and can only be fixed with a transmission rebuild. Double clutching can also prevent grinding if the problem is bad syncros. For more information, or for other possibilities consult the Technical section on drivetrain Troubleshooting. Q: Why does my transmission grind going into reverse? A: This is fairly normal. Unlike the forward gears there is no synchromesh to prevent reverse gear from grinding. While this is normal behavior it likely isn't very good for the transmission, but there are ways to prevent this from occurring. Waiting 2-3 seconds after the car has stopped moving to shift into reverse usually helps. Another technique is simply to double clutch. Depress the clutch twice before shifting into reverse. Grinding will not occur at all if the engine is not running, so shifting into reverse before starting the car to back out of a parking space will also reduce this from occurring. Q: Why does my transmission leak oil? A: The side gear shaft seals may be worn out. There may be too much fluid in the transmission. The input shaft bearing retainer may be broken or loose. The input shaft bearing retainer o-ring or lip seal may be damaged or worn out. The neutral and reverse switches may need replaced. Q: Why does my transmission slip out of the higher gears? A: You may have clutch problems (see clutch) or it may be the clutch slipping. The shift linkage may be worn, not adjusted right, or binding. The transmission may be loose. The input gear bearing retainer may be broken or loose. There may be contaminants between the clutch cover and the engine housing. The shift fork may be worn out. Q: Why is my transmission hard to shift gears? A: Your shift linkage may be binding. You may have clutch problems (see clutch). The gear oil may need changed. The syncros may be wearing out, particularly if the problem is in just one or two of the gears. Q: Why is the transmission noisy in all the gears? A: You may have the wrong fluid or the fluid may be too low. The bearings may be worn out. The input or output shafts may be damaged or worn. Q: Why is the transmission noisy in neutral while the engine's running? A: The input gear bearing may be bad. The clutch release bearing may be bad.