tranny/shifter pops out of first??? HELP (gf is pissed!)

[fbodyfreak]

Ok, I have a 98 gsx 5 spd.
As of recently it likes to occasionally POP/kick out of 1st gear.
Its ONLY 1st gear
And NO grinding at all in any gears including 1st
It DOES NOT do this every time though, but seema to happen more frequently after driving for awhile

I did some research and did what someone had suggested:
To turn the car off and manually shift the car into 1st from under the hood.
Then start the car and slowly let off the clutch (to see if it pops out)
I did this about 10 timea in my driveway and it didn't pop out of gear....

So what does this mean exactly??

To me, it seems like it'd be something with the shifter, cable, bushing(s)...not the tranny..... because it doesn't pop out when manually shifted into gear from under the hood. Just my assumption...

Any help is appreciated....

 

[kenjiw]

your syncros might be going, with the car on try going through the shift pattern without pushing in the clutch. Do it lightly there should be no grinding, if it grinds then it might be time for a rebuild.

 

[Hillala]

I wouldn't think it's time for a rebuild just yet if It's only part of the time and only in first. Also you said it only happens when it's warm or just more often? Change out your fuild with some mitsubishi trans fuild and double clutch when you shift. If it is the syncros that with help them out a lot, Might even cause the issue to go away.

Another thing could be your cables aren't doing thier job right and it's binding somewhere so it doesn't get all the way into first. You could check them out also.

 

[fbodyfreak]

your syncros might be going, with the car on try going through the shift pattern without pushing in the clutch. Do it lightly there should be no grinding, if it grinds then it might be time for a rebuild.

The car doesn't gring at all, ever. Just the poping of 1st occassionally
I think for it to be synchros it would grind also....

I wouldn't think it's time for a rebuild just yet if It's only part of the time and only in first. Also you said it only happens when it's warm or just more often? Change out your fuild with some mitsubishi trans fuild and double clutch when you shift. If it is the syncros that with help them out a lot, Might even cause the issue to go away.

Another thing could be your cables aren't doing thier job right and it's binding somewhere so it doesn't get all the way into first. You could check them out also.

I was think fluid perhaps too. Because it happens more when the trans is hotter.
I also noticed the shifter cable I kinda loose where it connects to the tranny (I could wiggle the cable/bushing around a little). Was thinking that bushing may be worn, maybe replace with the brass bushing. Cause if its loose to wiggle couldn't that prevent it from going in gear all the way??

 

[Hillala]

It sure can. Like you said it goes into gear when you shift from under the hood. That bushing could be that half an inch or whatever it needs to go all the way in.

 

[fbodyfreak]

It sure can. Like you said it goes into gear when you shift from under the hood. That bushing could be that half an inch or whatever it needs to go all the way in.

Hmmm, well I ordered a brass bushing. I'll see if that helps.

Anyother suggestions from anyone?

 

[bastarddsm]

It's either a shift adjustment issue, or the trans is junk.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Sounds like some gears are damaged been there, found out I had some gears that failed, so it was rebuilt no more issues, wasn't the shifter linkage at all.

 

[TalonBoi91]

Sounds like your tranny. My cousins car did that in 2nd gear, it got to the point whre he had to hold pressure on the shifter in that gear or it wouldnt stay in. But with yours being first gear I wouldn't worry about that to much, once your in first your almost immediately shifting into second. And why is your gf pissed? Is it her car I didn't see where you said anymore about that besides the title of the post.

 

[fbodyfreak]

It's either a shift adjustment issue, or the trans is junk.

How do I adjust the shifter?

Sounds like some gears are damaged been there, found out I had some gears that failed, so it was rebuilt no more issues, wasn't the shifter linkage at all.

I don't see why it would only do it SOMETIMES, not all the time... how could it be the gears? Wouldnt it happen always?
Does poly motor mounts or anything like that have anything to do with it?
If I REALLY drag the clutch.... let out real slow, it does it less frequently to...?

Sounds like your tranny. My cousins car did that in 2nd gear, it got to the point whre he had to hold pressure on the shifter in that gear or it wouldnt stay in. But with yours being first gear I wouldn't worry about that to much, once your in first your almost immediately shifting into second. And why is your gf pissed? Is it her car I didn't see where you said anymore about that besides the title of the post.

Yeah but if the car doesn't stay in first long enough to go then I'm stuck sitting there.
And yeah its my gf's daily. Honestly I'm probably more upset about it then her

 

[captain_kurt]

It could also be that the transmission mounts are bad and the tranny could rock back and forth.
Mine did the same thing but with my reverse gear. I changed the slave and the clutch fluid line as well as the mounts and that tightened everything back together.

In the process I realized that I had also lost one or two of the bolts that hooked the tranny to the mount, also causing it to rock back and forth / pop out of gear.

Check all of your systems first before you continue with pulling the tranny and possibly having a rebuild.