grinding a little in second gear

[WhiteVoid]

I own a '92 Eclipse GS-T, it has a few problems but I've been able to figure almost all of them out except one. When I shift into second gear it grinds a little bit, none of the other gears do it. In fact they shift almost like butter. here's the thing that throws me for a loop, if i shift really low in speed/RPM's its fine and if i let the car warm up it doesn't grind either. I've had people tell me everything from i need new transmission fluid to new syncros to a whole transmission rebuild and before i do anything I figured I would ask you guys any ideas?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Well that one gear could be bad.

 

[WhiteVoid]

but if the gear was bad wouldn't it grind even after it warmed up?

 

[slanTeyeZ]

2nd gear syncros going out. Common on early 1g fwd trannys. Time for a rebuild! Put in Double syncro 2nd gears. Jacks, TRE, Shep, Dogbox Racing do awesome jobs!

 

[WhiteVoid]

Crud, i was really hoping that wouldn't be the problem. oh well, guess its time to start saving my pennys.

 

[90dsmboy]

I wonder if on the 1g they come double syncroed also stock.. sounds like that's your problem

 

[pauleyman]

all 93 up are double synchro 2nd.

The the OP, synchro engagement changes with temperature (fluid viscosity). If it's worn it's worn. Clutch could be dragging making synchros work harder than they should and/or the synchros are worn. They can be replaced all by themselves. Ask yourself am I qualified/knowledgeable enough to replace them on my own?

 

[WhiteVoid]

Could it also be the tranny fluid? i know it hasn't been changed in quite a while.

 

[pauleyman]

It never hurts to change the fluid but generally no that isn't the root cause. a 92 eclipse today would be like driving around a classic 66 mutang in the 80s. It was and is a classic. It's 20 years old. You may just have to tear into it. Mileage? Do you know how to check a synchro? Are you familiar with how the systems work so you can properly diagnose the root cause?

 

[DSM1G90]

Webb City - by Joplin (is Joplin doing their best in rebuilding from last year's tornado attack?)

I call it 2nd gear syncros are tired and getting done.

But, if you want to do a fluid change, a good synth fluid (Redline MT-90) for starters might ease things.

I had the same issue - light grinding in 2nd, but a fluid change with MT-90 cured the light grinding.

 

[Token11b]

on my AWD talon it does the same thing but ONLY when i downshift from 3rd to second. Sometimes it goes in smooth if im going the right speed, but sometimes it grinds hard and others it just grinds a bit.

 

[buhay6]

My 92 fwd eclipse does the exact same thing going into second gear, but it does it warm or cold. Was hoping to trouble free driving for a while to come but I guess not.

 

[Chill Kill Kult]

add me to this list. +1 for the Redline MT-90. got a new slave cyl. and working on shifting all helped, actually almost cured. I just need to borrow some time while putting money aside for a rebuild and deciding on a "stage"

 

[Boostified]

I have the shep stage 2 trannt. I love it man.

 

[cord]

yes this is one of the most common problems with the early years, at least you dont have to worry about crank walk! and yes it is your syncro. gears wont last if you continue to grind them. long slow shifts help and learning the rpm that it "likes" to shift at a given speed.

 

[Blindmouse]

yes this is one of the most common problems with the early years, at least you dont have to worry about crank walk! and yes it is your syncro. gears wont last if you continue to grind them. long slow shifts help and learning the rpm that it "likes" to shift at a given speed.

or learn the shiftin' with double clutchin' it works.
some year ago i was drivin' a friend's 1989 TSi. that car was a really crap.. 2nd gear's synchro is gone away long time ago.. but when i drove that car, the tranny never grinds..

if you is rather smart to it, you can shift without clutch too..
occurred once my car's rubber clutch pipe is failed.. i was parked the car immediately and after midnight i went back, and i just drivin at home (about 10 miles away from where this happened) without cluching on empty roads..

 

[WhiteVoid]

It never hurts to change the fluid but generally no that isn't the root cause. a 92 eclipse today would be like driving around a classic 66 mutang in the 80s. It was and is a classic. It's 20 years old. You may just have to tear into it. Mileage? Do you know how to check a synchro? Are you familiar with how the systems work so you can properly diagnose the root cause?

Regarding checking the syncrhos, I read somewhere (probably here) that to check them you just start the car and then push it towards the gear without pushing in the clutch if it resists then the synchro is good if it just grinds its bad. is that anywhere near correct?

 

[bryanwheat]

Regarding checking the syncrhos, I read somewhere (probably here) that to check them you just start the car and then push it towards the gear without pushing in the clutch if it resists then the synchro is good if it just grinds its bad. is that anywhere near correct?

Somewhat. IF the syncro is just getting a little worn it will not grind, this method will only test for a badly worn syncro.

 

[WhiteVoid]

i did this test and it resisted pretty good, no grind what so ever.

 

[DSM1G90]

Ya, that's the simple test - motor in idle and just barely move the shifter through the gears without clutch. Any grinding is a gone syncro.

Yep, do a tranny fluid changeout and you should be good to go.

 

[DSMBanditFZ6]

Its got to be syncros. Mine did it also from first to second unless it was about 1200 rpms then it would shift fine. 1gs fwd or awd are plagued with this. When I get taxes im going to get a oem replacement w/double syncros from jacks transmission. Pretty good price and they will ship you a box for your core tranny. I think it only cost 800$ when a shop down here told me 1200$ w/o the parts. Better to go new if ya ask me.

 

[WhiteVoid]

if I had the money I would just go with a new one. problem is I'm using income tax to pay it off and hopefully fix some of the other problems that I'm having.

 

[Swarley815]

My 92 fwd eclipse does the exact same thing going into second gear, but it does it warm or cold. Was hoping to trouble free driving for a while to come but I guess not.

Trouble free driving with dsm's almost never happens!

 

[twicks69]

You may also have worn out intermediate shaft bearings causing shifting issues into 2nd, but likely you will need at a minimum, a new hub and slider assembly, synchro, shift fork and 2nd gear plus non-reusables.

 

[chilled]

Synchro is for sure the problem. Time for a rebuild!