1st Gear, 2nd Gear, and Reverse!

[Apeximprt2nr]

Ok I just bought a stock 95 GSX with 32k miles on it. Sometimes the shifter just doesn't go into first. I have to put it back into neutral then go again into first. This happens sometimes, not all the time. That's that. Now 2nd gear. Going from 1st into 2nd, when I shift I'll be like halfway through getting into 2nd when I hear and feel a loud clunk sound and feeling in the shifter. It sounds liek it's right under the shifter.As well this happens only sometimes, not all the time. Lastly, reverse. Sometimes it just doesn't go in. I always put it into 3rd and 1st before going/ trying to go into Reverse. It will either A. Go in fine with no problem. B. Go in like 1/2 way, I go to let out the clutch and give it gas and it sounds like a sandpaper type scraping noise. Then I will put it into neutral then put it back into reverse. Or C. It just won't go in. I haven't changed the tranny fluid yet but will very soon. (No money right now) Will tranny fluid help any of these problems? And what tranny fluid should I get? I hope none of this is serious yet I'm expecting the worst...What can I do?

 

[Pure92TSi]

Welcome to a DSM transmission. These are common problems although more so for 1gs than 2gs but still. Tranny fluid will help some of that. I would reccomend BG snychroshift or pennzoil synchromesh.

 

[clipse-T]

haha yea..5 spd gst/x trannies suck, mine was grinding 1st and reverse..i put a new clutch fork,pivot ball, act2100, and BG tranny fluid and it drives like a dream..

 

[SixBolt_16G]

Its happened with all 3 DSMs ive had... Although ive never had the 1st to 2nd problem.. Thats just a DSM tranny. The problem really didnt go away even after i put the Syncroshift in either.. Its just become second nature to me when going in reverse.. When going into first gear and it doesnt catch... I either just go back to neutral and do it again.. or.I just slip the clutch out a little slower while pushing forward and it will just fall right into gear with no effort.. If i dont do that. then some times itll pop back into neutral. Ive just learned to deal with it...

However that doesnt mean that you shouldnt change the tranny fluid.. I highly recommend the BG Syncroshift II cause the shifting just felt smoother anyway.

 

[jerahoe]

get act1200 put in you will love it then,maybe a short shifter...

 

[Pure92TSi]

get act1200 put in you will love it then,maybe a short shifter...

It has nothing to do with the clutch. It's the way they were built. They were notchy from the factory.

 

[SkyLineGtR-R34]

Manual Galants have the same problem as DSMs with transmission.
Welcome

 

[jongreene]

gotta love it!

 

[kraka]

Yeah, even tho I just gave you my advice on AIM, Ill repost here just because...

Altho trans fluid has to do with it, just beware of the effects of the cold weather on dsm's...My 91awd has trouble going in reverse now that it's still freezing out...It may come as a suprise to you, since your not used to it, but have no fear...In nicer weather, or after the car warms up, the car will go into gear just fine

 

[Apeximprt2nr]

Thanks a lot guys. I'll def. get the tranny fluid as soon as I can. I talked to a shop today about it, and he said it's probably the clutch not fully disengaging and the hydraulic system like the Slave cylinder or master cylinder. When I get the tranny fluid I would bleed the system obviously. Could any of those things I listed be the problem?

 

[greytalon26]

To get in into reverse, a thing that I've found that works the best is if you:
1. Try putting it in reverse
2. If you don't feel it catch in reverse put it in neutral and let out the clutch
3. Put the clutch back in and try putting it in reverse again (this almost always works)

 

[Pure92TSi]

If the master or slave cylinder were to blame it would most likely be leaking fluid. It's just something your gonna have to get used to. God knows the rest of us had to.

 

[femmeDSM]

Yeah, like everyone else said, tranny fluid might help. I use Redline MT90. Worth the extra $$

Also, check your shifter linkage/cables, both under the shifter and at the transmission. This is a common problem in 1gs; I assume it's likely the same concept in a 2g. Occasionally the shifter cables or bushings will get worn, and can even start to fray. Replacing these or adjusting them will help smooth out your shifting quite a bit. There are aftermarket shifter bushing kits that work wonders on 1gs (as I said, I assume a 2g would follow the same concept)
I'm actually having a similar problem w/ my gsx at the moment...I know what the problem is (misaligned shifter cables at the trans end), I'm just too lazy/cold to fix it at the moment. My car likes to "lose" the bottom gears, though (2, 4, R)

 

[Apeximprt2nr]

Femme DSM, How would I go about checking to see if it is in fact the shifter cables/ bushings? What do they look like in good condition, and in bad condition?

 

[femmeDSM]

Femme DSM, How would I go about checking to see if it is in fact the shifter cables/ bushings? What do they look like in good condition, and in bad condition?

Here is a VFAQ for checking the cables at the shifter end. This link is for a 1g, but your 2g will probably look similar.
http://vfaq.com/mods/shifter3.html

Follow the cables to the top of the transmission and pull the little rubber boot back. A bad cable will look frayed (kind of like a bad wire). Mitsu used El-Cheapo rubber bushings on the cable ends. If yours are rubber, you might want to replace them. There are several vendors that sell upgraded metal bushings. Just ask about any differences in fitment for 2gs vs. 1gs.

 

[Apeximprt2nr]

Oh funny, I was just looking at that VFAQ as you posted that link. So are you saying I should go and do that adjustment link you sent me? It seems tough but I'll do it if it's gonna give me a chance at "fixing' or helping the potential tranny problems. Also, are these the right bushings I'm looking for? http://www.extremepsi.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=17328&cat=571&page=1

 

[femmeDSM]

Oh funny, I was just looking at that VFAQ as you posted that link. So are you saying I should go and do that adjustment link you sent me? It seems tough but I'll do it if it's gonna give me a chance at "fixing' or helping the potential tranny problems. Also, are these the right bushings I'm looking for? http://www.extremepsi.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=17328&cat=571&page=1

Yeah, those look good. Like I said, I'm not sure how much your shifter cables differ from mine, but on a 1g, adjusting the cables is not very difficult. You just remove the little cotter pins and slide the cable arm up over the little nut that holds them on. Maybe someone w/ more experience with 2gs can chime in, but it's a fairly straightforward process.

Try changing the transmission fluid, and if you're still having problems, you might want to adjust those cables and check the bushings Good luck.

 

[talondude4]

ehh i'm just going to spend the money on a shep tranny.

 

[femmeDSM]

ehh i'm just going to spend the money on a shep tranny.

Haha....That's one way to approach it

 

[Apeximprt2nr]

Alright I'll check them both out. What exaclty do the shifter cables and bushings do?..I know real newb question .

 

[femmeDSM]

Alright I'll check them both out. What exaclty do the shifter cables and bushings do?..I know real newb question .

Shifter cables are what actually enable the shifter to go into and out of gear. We have a cable-driven gearbox. Have a friend shift through the gears with the car off, and go look on top of your transmission -- you'll see two cables attached to the top of the trans. When you go through the gears, these cables move backwards or forward, depending on the gear selected.

Bushings are fairly straightforward. DSM used the cheapo rubber ones as a "noise and vibration" dampener. They basically keep the shifter cable from being able to move around on its own and work itself out of alignment. It would only stand to reason that after 10+ years, *rubber* will begin to deteriorate and will need to be replaced.

Once again, I don't know how helpful this will be w/ your 2g, as *most* of the bushings kits, etc, that I have seen are for 1gs. Hopefully, though, if you understand how it works, you'll be able to figure out the problem

 

[Steelnation36]

im guessing this is a common problem as ive had the same issue im gonna change the tranny fluid and i adjusted cables but it didnt do anything

 

[jwcardy]

im also battling a 1st and 2nd gear tranny issue...i wana try everything i can before i tear the tranny out...
-wes

 

[GearheadJ]

wow... looks like i'll be buying some redline mt90 to start tomorrow...
My newly acquired 95 talon tsi awd is giving me hell with 2nd gear.. can't even get it in with the car running. and typical reverse spits it'self out if not held in.

glad I read this thread before pulling my freaking hair out and buying another trans !!!

Gotta love the

 

[bewstin]

Couple things, first of all, I had the same problems with 1st and reverse. Turned out to be bad shift bushings on the shift cables for the tranny, i recommend getting the solid brass replacement ones, helped a ton!

Also, get into the habbit of Rev matching when downshifting, and try not to downshift into first unless you are crawling.