Hard to find 2nd gear

[SpooledupRacing]

Hey guys just curious, as some of u have read, I just bought my first DSM last night (so far bad experience). Now the question I have on this thread is:

I am having a problem getting into 2nd gear. I can pull from 1st to 2nd and the car will not engauge into 2nd but just rev, however after a few in and outs I can get it to go into
2nd gear. Now I have only tested 1-3 and 1 and 3 go in ok. The previous owner (a real winner) said he just installed a new clutch (suposidly a stage 1 .. not sure on brand).

Is the tranny going out or what should I look for?

THX guys

Dave

 

[robs90tsi]

Is your pedal fairly stiff, if you have an aftermarket clutch, the clamping force should be greater, therefore resulting in greater clutch pedal pressure. Also, try bleeding the clutch, see if that helps. Wait, does the shifter actually go into where second should be, but doesnt hit second?? If so, your shifter bearings might be shot, Id take a look at those as well.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

ok, I take it u mean bleed it at the slave, just like u would a normal brake bleed job? or is there a special way to bleed a clutch?

Dave

 

[robs90tsi]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213503&highlight=bleed

Yes, the slave cylinder, this tells you how to do it the right way, follow this exactly, it works.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

now reading that it dont mention that while bleeding u want the res cap on.. u do want the cap on the master cyl right? otherwise u would be sucking in air through the system

Dave

 

[robs90tsi]

now reading that it dont mention that while bleeding u want the res cap on.. u do want the cap on the master cyl right? otherwise u would be sucking in air through the system

Dave

No, you want it off, and after like 2-3 times pumping the pedal and bleeding it, top off the fluid, or have someone constantly topping it off while your controlling the bleeder, and someone else is working the clutch pedal, bleed the system until the fluids clear, and you didnt answer my question above about the shifter being in second gear.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

I dont remember about the clutch pedal, when I pick the car up tommorow night (rescue mission) I will let u know, if I remember it was a bit stiff but nothing abnormal.

 

[robs90tsi]

Wait, does the shifter actually go into where second should be, but doesnt hit second?? If so, your shifter bearings might be shot, Id take a look at those as well.

No, this question.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

ah .. yea I was wondering if it was shifter bushings, cause it does flow into the spot where 2nd would be but no second and I have to pull it in and out of gear then u will catch the gear and whammo its in good.

Dave

 

[vintagemuscle]

when the car is turned off will it go into 2nd gear easily? change the trans fluid and see if that works. on these trans 2nd gear seems to always wear out first. when you try to get it in 2nd does the trans grind?

 

[robs90tsi]

Sounds like the shifter bearings, try replacing those and see if it helps, but thats what it sounds like to me.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

no grind just dont seem to go in at all untill I try a couple times then it does

 

[vintagemuscle]

could be the shifter bearings but, i would bet 2nd gear is in bad shape and is due for a rebuild. replace the trans fluid with gm syncromesh or bg synchromesh and see if that helps at all. 2nd gear in my trans was shot and it would hardly ever go into gear.

 

[zimus]

Its a 90 tranny with alot of miles on it,i bet some hard miles at that. could be worn out synchronizers, bent shift fork,it would not hurt to freshen it up.

 

[robs90tsi]

could be the shifter bearings but, i would bet 2nd gear is in bad shape and is due for a rebuild. replace the trans fluid with gm syncromesh or bg synchromesh and see if that helps at all. 2nd gear in my trans was shot and it would hardly ever go into gear.

Could be, but you eliminate the potential smaller problems first, you dont just jump the gun and assume that the tranny is shot just because yours was shot. Also, GM synchromesh is the same exact thing as pennzoil synchromesh which can be found at your local autozone, but the GM stuff costs a lot more, like 5-6 bucks more.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

is there anyone besdies GM and penz that makes it.. I REALLY hate penz products

Dave

 

[vintagemuscle]

of course you should check the small things first but i'm just telling him what it probably is. if it was the shifter bearings wouldn't it be hard to go into any gear? i have had this happen to me and it was because 2nd was shot.

 

[vintagemuscle]

is there anyone besdies GM and penz that makes it.. I REALLY hate penz products

Dave

bg synchormesh but it is pricey.

 

[robs90tsi]

Ok, royal purple makes good tranny fluid, as well as BG but theyre a little pricey, you can find them online, I dont know of any store anywhere that carrys these products, your best bet is to get them off online, like www.slowboyracing.com, and www.dsmparts.com.

 

[robs90tsi]

bg synchormesh but it is pricey.

I think its synchroshift, 2 versions, I and II.

 

[robs90tsi]

Heres the link to some of them.
http://www.slowboyracing.com/shop.php?sid=&cat=3906

 

[SpooledupRacing]

THX I will look into that stuff. Now this is good stuff and what u all recomend in these trannys?

 

[robs90tsi]

THX I will look into that stuff. Now this is good stuff and what u all recomend in these trannys?

Yes, Id go with either the royal purple or BG if you hate pennzoil and dont mind spending more money, but that stuff works fine, its what I have.

 

[ericbev]

The little rubber bushings on the end of the shifter cables wouldnt cause this problem. They allow such minor movement that even if one was missing it probably would still shift. They also last a very long time before they even start to wear. If it is gear specific, and when you move it in and out it finally finds the gear. I would chalk that one up to a syncro gone bad. 2nd gear is usually the first one to go. Can you shift into all the other gears fine?

 

[SpooledupRacing]

I have only had the car into 1-3 have not checked the others I will once I get the car home.

Dave