1st, 3rd, and 5th gear fighting me

[TorqueEffect]

This is really starting to tick me off, but 1st, 5th, and especially 3rd gear fight me. They just refuse to engage sometimes, 3rd gear almost 90% of the time. Like 3rd won't even go in if I try to muscle it in. Nothing is wrong with the gater as far as I can tell, they all seem to drop into their gates just fine, but 1st, 3rd, and 5th just don't seem to want to engage all the way.

I just drove less than a mile to pick up some food, and ground 3rd gear like 6 times, and on the way home, I had to flat out skip 3rd gear because it wouldn't even go in with muscle.

I looked for bushings up by the transmission and I don't see any, all I see is what looks like a small ujoint before a dust boot. Also the Civic short shifter I am using has built in bushings and is only like a couple years old, so I don't think that is the problem.

Any suggestions?

[big_kid2]

Sometimes it's as simple as an fluid change (repeat ... sometimes). When is the last time that was done?

[jason_]

Double clutch the input shaft will tell you if it's synchs.

Heavy fluid will make things miserable if brass is gone.

Car off parked can you detent each gear? Rock car will they detent and engage?

If it's detenting while off/parked, I'd call brass issue, especially if double clutching helps.

If double clutching doesn't help, I'd say tear down time. If you do get it in gear and it pops out with torque, too much meat is gone on the main gears. (regardless how much synchronizer is left)


Test brass by trying to bump into 1st when doing 40mph, you should hear that input just a WHIIIRRRLLling when you try and push into first. , that's the synchs trying to mate input shaft speed to cluster/output shaft.

Try the problem gears. Don't get hog wild, just try and encourage friction to see if there is any synchs left



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[Icedawg]

The other possibility is that it is the clutch. When the pressure plate fingers get bent or start to fail it can do weird things to the shifting that seem inexplicable, or when the throw out bearing fails badly. Still means removing the tranny to check the clutch. But check the tension and pull on the clutch cable too before that.

[TorqueEffect]

I certainly hope it isn't the syncros going.
But why only the gears that require the shifter to be thrown forward? I have absolutely ZERO problem with 2, 4, and Reverse.

Also I have never had any problems with it popping out of gear once it is engaged, not once have I ever had that happen.

Fluid change was about 10k miles ago? Switched out the ATF for Pennzoil Synchromesh.

I do have a phantom oil leak from somewhere that I cannot track, always have oil dripping off the bottom of the transmission, but every time I check the fluid level, it is exactly where it needs to be. I thought it was a rear main on my B3 (which is was bad), but after switching to a B6 with a perfectly good rear main, the leak is still there. But it is so slow it doesn't leave spots on the driveway. I have looked around the axles and don't see leaks from those seals at all. I can only guess there is a crack in the case somewhere covered with gunk, or the speedo gear o-ring is bad. But regardless it hasn't lost enough transmission fluid for that to be a problem.

i'll try everything you guys suggested tomorrow.

Also the transmission does have 323k miles on it. So it is a high miler.

[Movin]

endplay excessive. rebuild.

[WmWatt]

I only have a 4 speed but excessive wear in the shift linkage was positioning out of line and making it hard to get
into 1st and 2nd. I don't know if the configuration on the 5 speed would do the same for the gears that are giving you trouble.
If so replacing shift linkage bushing solved my problem. There are threads in this forum which describe bushing replacement.
I made a substute out of copper pipe and documented it on Photobucket.

[Movin]

I only have a 4 speed but excessive wear in the shift linkage was positioning out of line and making it hard to get
into 1st and 2nd. I don't know if the configuration on the 5 speed would do the same for the gears that are giving you trouble.
If so replacing shift linkage bushing solved my problem. There are threads in this forum which describe bushing replacement.
I made a substute out of copper pipe and documented it on Photobucket.

He said those were new.

[skeeters_keeper]

I looked for bushings up by the transmission and I don't see any, all I see is what looks like a small ujoint before a dust boot. Also the Civic short shifter I am using has built in bushings and is only like a couple years old, so I don't think that is the problem.

There are bushings inside that little "u joint". Also a rubber bushing for the stabilizer bar where it attaches to the trans. is there much play in your shifter when it's in gear? I kinda doubt this is your problem but it's worth checking first. If you can't get enough travel out of your shifter it won't engage all the way.

[TorqueEffect]

Well it won't let me move the selector to 1st at 40mph, you sure there isn't some kinda 1st gear lockout at speed?

Also just sitting still the gears engage just fine. I am starting to think it is a problem with the syncros. =/

Well I guess I will drive it as long as I can stand it. Starting to get tired of throwing money at this car. Rather get something newer, like a used Miata, anything small and with a 5 speed, and a heater that actually works in less than 15mins.

[Movin]

what wymwatt said and the short shifter may not move as far? Could be and easy to check

[nitrofarm]

Well it won't let me move the selector to 1st at 40mph, you sure there isn't some kinda 1st gear lockout at speed?

A down shift into first @ 40? The reason you cant is because these tranny's don't have 1st & reverse syncros.I'm looking for a B6 swapped Festy please pm me if you decide to get a Miata. Nitro

[TorqueEffect]

I think the tranny is about completely shot. I put the stock shifter back in today with brand new bushings, and it still doesn't want to engage those gears unless it decides it feels like it.

Got underneath and pulled at the shift rod to put it in and out of gear, and nothing looks loose at all by the transmission, I tried forcing things around to see if they will wiggle and nothing does. It's gotta be something internal.

[Movin]

There was a bracket inside the transmission that cracks on some of those. It can be welded and reused. Or mainshaft endplay excessive. All of it does sound internal.

[TorqueEffect]

Yep, it completely broke whatever it was. I tried to force it into 5th since it wasn't even grinding, and there was a noise, and then the shifter felt like it wasn't even attached to the linkage anymore, but I crawled under it and looked and everything is still attached.

Looks like I will be looking for another 5-speed, or a 4-speed if I can't find a cheap 5-speed.