Super sloppy transimission? (added #3 :P)

[denious]

5spd manual tranny problems:

1)Everytime I shift I have to make sure, by crazily wobbling the shifter around as there's no defined space or feel, that I'm in neutral.

2)Even though I'm in a gear, any gear, I can still move the shifter around and only when I move it past the closest to it gear (!) it starts to slightly grind...

3) While in neutral, half the time the shifter rattles very loudly, but moving it either right or left gets rids of the noise...

4)And last but not the least, the shifter doesn't necessarily go into gear, I have to put it in the exactly right spot and push hard...

So! I will change my oil for sure, but I was also wondering if changing all the bearings would help? At RockAuto the tranny bearings are super cheap...

They have: diff bearing ($7), input shaft ($31), output shaft (left - $7, right - $15) plus a wide variety of seals.

Opinions? Maybe I should just get a new tranny?

PS: Is the speedo cable the fat black one going from the cluster area into the tranny with plastic on the end?

[stefan]

its most likely the shifter bushings. when i got mine the shifter had about 12" of play left to right in gear. i suggest not going to ford. i got 2 bushings from them and it cost me $30 and i need 2 more for the other end

As for the bearings in the tranny im not sure how easy that would be to do... i havent head much about people servicing the insides of their trans

[Damkid]

i havent heard much about people servicing the insides of their trans

probably cause it'd be cheaper to buy a new one...... if you think it's the tranny thats cooked, i'd just buy a new one, i got one from a junkyard for $75

[GenevaDirt]

you can use door hinge pin bushings for like a chevy van in place of originals....not perfect but much better then totally worn out....I got a bulk pack at autozone and used the ones for the best fit. cheap option to try.

[freshtiva]

1...2...4 ?? You would have to split the cases to install the fore mention bearings. I had a hard time finding the some of the seals for my car RedFord.

[Axlander9289]

Chances are, if there's not any ominous noise coming from your transmission your bearings are fine. It sounds like you have a shifter linkage problem. Your bushings are most likely worn out. Also there's a bar that runs from the base of the shifter assembly under the car to the tranny case, more or less parallel to the shift linkage. that appears to just be there to keep the shifter assembly stable. This is secured to the transmission case by a rubber bushing, if this bushing rots or is missing it makes the shifter feel really sloppy. Make sure that is secure. I ran into trouble with it on my '92.

[denious]

probably cause it'd be cheaper to buy a new one...... if you think it's the tranny thats cooked, i'd just buy a new one, i got one from a junkyard for $75

I'll try to get one too, just thought it'd be cheaper to just repair this one.

It sounds like you have a shifter linkage problem. Your bushings are most likely worn out. Also there's a bar that runs from the base of the shifter assembly under the car to the tranny case, more or less parallel to the shift linkage. that appears to just be there to keep the shifter assembly stable. This is secured to the transmission case by a rubber bushing, if this bushing rots or is missing it makes the shifter feel really sloppy. Make sure that is secure. I ran into trouble with it on my '92.

And where do I get those bushings? :S I checked in all online stores with no success, so if it's possible to get a part number or anything I can always try a Ford stealership.

[stefan]

ford has em, just ask for festiva shifter linkage bushings. I think you can also get the same thing from a mazda dealership if you ask for mx3 bushings, and from what ive heard their not as bad price wise.

[Tim]

I took the bushings off a Aspire that shifted smoothly and put them on my Festiva. It cost nothing and works great!

[freshtiva]

^ Tight wad !! I love the free fixes, esp if it saves a trip to the parts store !!!!