Yes, the 1 week with the car and a problem surfaces. Basically 1st gear seems to want to pop out the minute I let the clutch in, or sometimes the car just won't go. It almost feels like 1st is not engaging completely. If I baby it, it'll stay but if the engine jerks, it pops back out. I can get in to 3rd and 5th gears...though they don't feel quite there at times as well...but they seem engaged. Also reverse is being pretty wierd where it seems like it's engaged, but you let the clutch out, the car does a lot of shaking, but barely moves. This seems to happen off and on..one time fine, the next not so fine.

Ian had a problem with the car not getting into 1st, 3rd or 5th, and it turned out the shifter bushing has shifted out of place...I think this is probably the problem, but haven't looked. I figure I would get a thread going just in case there is something else I should be looking at as well. The car drives fine in all the other gears. There is the typical whining it makes, which isn't anything more from even the spec-v. There seems to be a bit of vibration felt thru the shifter as well...almost like something is rubbing on it. Fluid is full, and appears clean. Thoughts?

S

 

i dont know if this will help but when i did a clutch 1st gen dsm i had the same problem but with all gears. i would put it in gear and reasease the clutch then it would pop out of gear. i never figured it out myself but i guess it wound up being the throwout bearing rod bent

 

I'll have to look into that.

S

 

i also remeber i had problems puting it into gear as well but i had some one in the car and i was pushing on the throwout bearing rod by myself and it would go into gear. but of course i wouldnt let him pop the clutch out or it would of been

 

Hate to scare ou but this is the almost the same thing that happened to me before my tranny went out.

For example, If I would be going slow through a parking lot in 1st, it would pop out of gear, it was only in 1st so hen I just drove starting in second and then it eventually started doing it in second and that was the end. I also had the noises you described....almost a very light grinding noise. If I put my head down near the shifter or on the shift ****, it would sound horrible.

I'm not saying that your tranny is done for however I did have a lot of the same symptoms.

 

^^^ same thing i was about to say.did you ever do tranny work.?
if not, this might be your first.

 

Yeah, also how many miles on your tranny?

 

driving in 1st?? those two words should never be in the same sentence. 1st gear is not meant for driving, it's meant to accelerate to 2nd, thats it. doesn't matter if it's in a parking lot, 1st gear in most if not all cars is meant just as a stepping stone to 2nd.

 

STFU NOOB!!!!!!!

 

This would be the 5-speed tranny #2 for the car...prior to that it was an auto. Sourcing a new VLSD tranny will be a ***** though. However I'm not completely sold on the fact that it's the tranny. The shifter does feel pretty sloppy. I can't help but feel that when I shift into gear, the shifter doesn't feel solidly in...it would also explain why first pops because it's never securely engaged.

Ian had did the poly filled bushing, but I've heard that these can still crack over time and use. So first thing I will be doing probably tomorrow is getting under the car, checking that and the shift linkage.

 

You may have a damaged shifter detente spring. Easy to fix. Just undo each of the 14mm plug that faces down/back on the driver side and draw out the spring with a magnet. Do not lose the check ball if it decides to come out.

Dave

 

questions was to maximase86.sorry blackmax

 

I'm not sure how many miles are on this tranny. I'd have to ask iansw since we changed it out a few years ago.

 

I've read some pretty stupid stuff on here, but that statement takes the win.

 

I haven't gotten under the car yet, but did some testing. The shifter is basically hitting against the trim when trying to go into first/third/5th. With reverse, if the car starts moving (rolling on an incline) it will reverses smoothly when I let off the clutch...but trying to get it from a stop, it shakes pretty bad. Almost like it's not properly in gear, or something is in the way. The shaking seems to be coming from the 6-puck clutch trying to slip when it isn't really design to slip that much. I really don't have a good place to get under the car at my apartment, so I may take it up to my dad's place to get under the car, but that might not happen today.

S

 

you need me to come back to seattle? im good at breaking stuff.

 

lol, naw buddy. It's just me getting use to the fact that I have to go somewhere other than my apartment to work on the car.

S

 

The shifter can only hit the trim if the shifter bushing or attachments down there are loose.

Dave

 

i just had a transmission problem with a banging noise when the car is in gear. Not driveable, and is now sitting up for sale in my driveway

 

I got under the car on thursday. I found one of the 2 nuts that holds the torque bar to the bottom of the shifter was missing. Got a brand new nut and washer, tightend it down. The shifter feels much better, but still having the problem. I need to take the bushing and push it further forward I believe. I would of done it thursday, but by the time I finished the other piece, it was really dark and really cold...and I have no garage.

S

 

Of course it would, when there's someone like you looking to find comments that you don't understand and bash. Ask any mechanic what he feels about driving in 1st gear. Unless your timings have been modified it is a NO NO! Then again, what do I care, I'm just giving you some advice so that you don't fly around your town at 4500rmp in 1st. See how long your tranny will last then.

 

Dear Mr.Guryon

Please stop confusing altoids and crack! your not making any sense. one is a curiously strong mint, the other will get you thrown in jail with couriously strong men.

Thank You
Big Nutts McGurrdy

 

bahahahahahah........

 

Well, I rebuild 4th gen Maxima manual transmissions. I know far more about them than you OR your mechanic. In my day job I work with industrial gearboxes and gearing. I'd say I'm qualified to say:

You're full of crap.

Good luck with your timings

Dave

 

now that deserves a win!! LOL!

 

Oh snap! I modified my timings! My tranny is going to blow up now...

Seriously, I've seen stupid stuff...but wow...seriously...wow.

Alright, maybe we should get back to the problem. I'm planning to get back under the car to readjust the shifter bushing and see where that gets me. I'm really starting to think it's engine/tranny alignment, mount type of problem. The shifter is moving around with the engine actions...even after replacing the missing nut on the shifter. Everything is tight in that area. Thoughts?

S

 

check all the engine/tranny bolts and the crossmember bolts. something is "dancing" that shouldnt be. IIRC I had a problem close to this a few years ago. and i think it was with my 92. i just cant remember what it was. im thinking TO bearing.....man i hate being old.

 

I had a problem similar like this with my 2nd gen...turned out I sheered the crossbeam. That's why I don't think the tranny is the problem. Every gear but 1st and reverse are having problems. If it was tranny, I'd think I would have problems with 1st/2nd, and 5th/reverse.

S

 

I haven't looked at this much lately, but now 2nd gear is starting to grind when you attempt to shift into it from a roll. I don't even use 1st right now. Also noticing the 2nd and reverse is sometimes difficult to get in or out of gear even though the clutch pedal is completely down. That sort of changes things a little...either the tranny is indeed on it's way out...or something is up with the clutch.

So a question comes to mind, I currently have a locking diff 5-speed. Pretty sure it's a late 90's canadian one...maybe an I30T one. Are there any differences between that and the 01 AE VLSD tranny? I remember hearing it bolts right up, has the same larger diameter drivers axle that I currently have. I just want to be sure I'm not stuck having to change things again if I pick one up. I definately want to stay away from an open diff if I can...this car torque steers like a ***** with an open diff.

S

 

Just switch the yoke on the striking rod. The AE is a bit shorter and if you put a 4th gen yoke on it you'll keep your shifter centered like before.

Before you put any 5 speed in your car, have it opened up and inspected first. IME used 5 speeds are too worn to be used as-is, and they don't figure that out until the thing is falling apart or broken.

If you're anywhere near central PA PM me about it.

Dave

 

Interesting, do you have the steps to R and R the yoke? Haven't had a need before to change it.

Thanks for the help. Of the 2 5-speed Ian and I put in this car, we've opened it up and checked for wear and operation. Definately something I do anytime I deal with a used tranny.

I'm also on the west coast, but if I do have questions, I'll shoot yo ua PM.

S