1G Transmission Shifting Issues

[Mike1992]

Let me start off by saying I've had this tranny installed since winter of last year. Shifted perfect, like brand new. Ran hard at the track repeatedly all summer into September. It came from a 91 AWD and the linkages and shifter assembly from that car was also swapped in. Two weeks ago while driving to the store my SS clutch line split and squirted all my fluid out. I pulled over because the clutch pedal went dead to the floor, (No Fluid) Started the car in reverse backed onto the street, turn car off, put into first, start car, turn car off, shift into 2nd, limp car home in second gear. About a week later I get a replacement SS clutch line in the mail. Install it and clutch pedal is solid, pedal releases a good 2" off the floor. Go out for a drive and its difficult to get into 2nd gear sometimes it drops in other times it feels like I can only physically put it 3/4 the way in and it drags if I let the clutch out. 3rd gear is the one I'm seriously having trouble with. After I go to shift out of 2nd gear I cant seem to get in 3rd or better yet ANY other gear, its like I'm locked out of everything. I repeatedly pump the clutch and that sometimes helps but it seems like somethings just locking me out. The wierd thing is I get absolutely no grinding at all.

If I were to guess I would say shift rail is bent, but thats why I'm here to get opinions.

 

[olmytsi]

Does this happen with the engine off and not using the clutch?

 

[5150DSM]

Just to check... Did you bleed the slave cylinder when you refilled the resevoir?

 

[Mike1992]

Shifts perfectly fine with the car off or on, at a stop.

I bleed the piss out of the system!

 

[olmytsi]

It's the clutch. Could be adjustment, bad slave or master, or bad pedal assembly.

 

[Mike1992]

I'll go ahead and give it more, but I think I have plenty. With the car running in my garage I can hit all gears, when the cars rolling it gives me hell.

 

[olmytsi]

Oh yeah, it could also be the clutch fork or throw out bearing.

 

[Mike1992]

New clutch fork/fulcrum ball (shimmed) and Fidanza flywheel was installed approx 3k miles ago along with brand new clutch master and slave cylinders....

 

[olmytsi]

Try messing with the clutch adjusment some more and if that fails, you may have a bad pedal assembly which is very common on 1gs, especially the 90s.

 

[missouri_dsm]

Hey mike, mine is doing the same thing in 2nd gear. No grinding or anything it just wont go into 2nd. It only does it at the track when at high rpms. I am going to replace my pedal assembly and hope that fixes it. There is a tech article on how to fix the pedal assembly you might want to check out.

 

[Mike1992]

Gave the clutch more throw as to where it releases almost half way up and it still does it.pedal assembly doesn't feel worn. I cant pull up on it. I'm at a loss....

 

[olmytsi]

Throw out bearing? Have you made sure the tranny is tight against the motor and on the dowel pins?

 

[Mike1992]

Pulled the pedal assembly had it welded and it changed nothing. After freaking out and being pist off I decided to try changing out the gear oil. Pennzoil Syncromesh was dumped out (5k miles old) Came out very dark and green colored. Royal Purple Max-Gear 75w-90 went in and low and behold my transmission is once again buttery smooth. Its been 3 days since I swapped in the fresh gear oil and it only seems to be getting better. Pretty dam wild if you ask me.

 

[olmytsi]

Good to hear...it's funny how little things like that make a BIG difference.