Fifth gear still pops out after tightening nut

[sentientbn]

My car is basically stock, it is a daily driver with 160k miles and I drive 400+ miles a week. It is a 1g 2.0 with a five speed. Two weeks ago I was driving home going about 70 and my tranny pops out of fifth gear. I freak out, this is my only car and I can think of nothing but the worst. I put it back into gear and discover it will stay in gear as long as I hold it in. When I let off of the gas, then the shifter returns to its normal orientation. If I press on the gas especially going up a hill or when the car is under a load then the shifter will push back until it falls out of gear.

I read all of the forums and found the locknut problem with the fifth gear. I took off the cover of my transmission and the nut was tight already. I went ahead and loosened it and then retorqued it since I was there. I have always had alot of movement in my shifter in fifth gear, it would rock backwards when I press on the gas and then rock forwards when I let off. I was wondering if my problem could be shot motor mounts or is that just wishful thinking. Any help would be appeciated.

By the way when I drained my tranny fluid it was not silvery, it was dark compared to the new stuff I put in and the fifth gear outer syncro fell out in my hand and it did not look bad. Not that I have any experience with transmissions.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[sentientbn]

Hey guys I need some help. What else besides a loose retaining nut on the fifth gear would cause my tranny to pop out of gear in fifth when I accelerate. I have checked the nut and it was fine. I don't know much about transmissions but I was thinking maybe motor mounts????? Any ideas would be appriciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[sentientbn]

Ok guys I've got a problem. My car is a 1g 2.0 N/A with a five speed. Two weeks ago I was driving home going about 70 and my tranny pops out of fifth gear. I put it back into gear and discover it will stay in gear as long as I hold it in. When I let off of the gas, then the shifter returns to its normal orientation. If I press on the gas especially going up a hill or when the car is under a load then the shifter will push back until it falls out of gear. It only does this in fifth gear.

I read all of the forums and found the locknut problem with the fifth gear. I took off the cover of my transmission and the nut was tight already. I went ahead and loosened it and then retorqued it since I was there. I have always had alot of movement in my shifter in fifth gear, it would rock backwards when I press on the gas and then rock forwards when I let off. I was wondering if my problem could be bad motor mounts or play at the shift cable ends or is that just wishful thinking. Any help would be appeciated.

By the way when I drained my tranny fluid it was not silvery, it was dark compared to the new stuff I put in so I was hoping it wasn't missing metal in the trans. The fifth gear outer syncro fell out in my hand and it did not show obvious signs of wear. I don't know anything about transmissions but I have been driving it for two weeks now and it has not gotten worse although it is a pain having to hold the gear shift in while driving

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[x camaro owner]

not the motor mounts and tran mount, if it was it would sound like you took it out of gear with out useing the clutch. so its not pulling slack on it. for some reason this sounds familiar, and you have to take the side of the case off the tranny and retorque a nut if i remember. i am pretty sure i read about this on the internet before

post this thread in the tranny section there is quite a few guys in there that really know there s##t

although replaceing those mounts really helps the shifting. its like night and day after putting polly mounts in. only takes a few hours and is well worth it. people say it causes to much vibration in the car. ya those same people who don't have them drove my car and didn't know i had them till i told them, all they knew was that my car was shifting a lot easier. if you have big cams then you would notice excessive vibration but what do you expect after putting in bigger cams

defiant will probably know the site he has the entire internet indexed in his head

 

[sentientbn]

not the motor mounts and tran mount, if it was it would sound like you took it out of gear with out useing the clutch. so its not pulling slack on it. for some reason this sounds familiar, and you have to take the side of the case off the tranny and retorque a nut if i remember. i am pretty sure i read about this on the internet before

post this thread in the tranny section there is quite a few guys in there that really know there s##t

I have already taken the case off and retorqued the nut. It did not make any difference.

 

[x camaro owner]

sorry then can't help thats the one thing i have left to learn is how to rebuild trannies

 

[sentientbn]

Thanks anyway, I have posted on the drivetrain forum and will hopefully strike paydirt.

 

[pneumo]

It sounds like it could be a motor mount problem. Also check your shift cable adjustment. It's also possible that the engagement splines on the sides of fifth gear are getting worn down.

 

[jesepes]

Yes, I would try what pneumo said. Then, you could have a bent shift fork. Maybe someone else drove your car recently or you shifted into fifth and it didn't want to go? I think the shift fork thing is unlikely since you seem to drive your car reasonably. Oh, if you are back in the trans. maybe check the bushings that are on the shift fork, they get worn and could allow that to happen also. I hope this helps out.
Good luck,
-Jesse

 

[jasonlee]

one other possibility is the shift fork "wear pads" could be worn to the point where it doesnt fully engage 5th gear...

or... when you remove the side case of the trans.... check to make sure the "wave spring" is in that cover... thats what holds the synchro onto 5th gear.. if that is missing or no longer has the 'spring' effect.. that could be your culprit.

good luck!
J

 

[cbellsondsm]

not sure if you checked this out yet, but go to vfaq.com and click the "drivetrain" link

a little down the page click on the link for "Shifter Movement fix"

 

[Redmachine]

synchros are going bad