transmission/clutch noise--no 3rd or 4th--help out

[taino787]

1997 Eclipse GST Spyder
Manual
Big 16G

Problem:
I hear a strange scraping sound coming from the tranny/clutch area when the car is on, sounds like something that turns scraping against something…but when I press the clutch pedal the noise stops.


3 months ago I installed a new OEM clutch on my car because the other one was done. After the installation the car ran almost fine but I had a problem every once in a while with the 4th gear. The gear will not hold at would pop out and would only get in gear after a few attempts.

Two weeks ago I was driving the car and the 4th gear problem happened. I tried to get it in 4th gear but the shifter locked in dead center of neutral (between 3&4) and I had to park it. I did not hear any unusual noises or smell. After that no matter how hard I pulled or pushed I could not move the shifter at all from the middle of neutral, the car started and I was able to tow it.

I took it to a transmission shop and they said it was nothing external and it would coste me $2,300 to fix it. I pull the car out of the shop because I can buy a whole new tranny for that amount. When I picked it up the shifter was still locked. I was bored one day and started to mess with it to see If I could get it unlocked, I notice that the brace that holds the transmission cables on the transmission right before the bushings was loose, I tighten it up and the shifter unlocked.

I was able to shift normally on 1st, 2nd, 5th and R. 3rd and 4th were missing the shifter was just like nothing was there. Since I unlocked it, I hear a strange scraping sound coming from the tranny/clutch area when the car is on, sounds like something that turns scraping against something…but when I press the clutch pedal the noise stops.

Any suggestions of what is going on?

 

[GST_97]

Generally, a light scraping noise that goes away when you push the clutch is a dying/dead throw out bearing. That can happen if you didn't put enough grease on the bearing, or if you just got a bad TOB in the first place.

As for the other problem, if that stuff loosened up and you have forcefully been trying to get it into place, your shifter cables could be damaged now.
Check all connections and see if you can find anything else loose.

Can you get the car to shift into 3/4 if the car is not running? If so, the synchro could be completely shot... if you cant, it's possible a fork bent inside the trans (cheap to fix yourself if you can do it).
But definitely check the cables from shifter to trans, make sure everything is bolted in it's right spot and that everything that should be holding it in place... is

-Chris

 

[taino787]

thanks chris..will look in to that and post an update.

 

[gsxtacy]

Yup. 3-4 shift fork is bent or broken.

Connicelli used to have forged steel shift forks.

Replacing the shift forks requires seperating the transmission cases, all the way.

Since your looking at rebuilding, might wanna upgrade you 1-2, and 3-4 shift forks, 2nd and 3rd gear syncros and get some syncro-shift fluid so it lasts longer next time.

Good luck, AND DO NOT DRIVE IT with the shift fork broke/bent, its a timebomb, that could expell the shrapnel through the transmission.

gsxtacy

 

[taino787]

I opened the transmission all the way. found I had a broken 3-4 shift rail. most likely that is the cause of my problem .

Ordered steel 1-2 and 3-4 shift rails and shift forks from TRD.

www.teamrip.com​