1997 SE 5speed

Yesterday, it wouldn't go into reverse. I had to roll back and push with my left foot to back out of the parking space. I tried getting into reverse for the next 15 minutes or so...still no go...tried going into 1st then to R, still no go. After letting the car sit for ~30 min, voila! I had reverse again.

Also strange is two weekends ago when coming back from a trip, the car barely shifted into 1st and 2nd. After the car cooled off, it was fine again.

And my transmission is very, very NOISY. I get a growling sound when in gear. Pretty loud now. It's gotten worse over the last year. When in gear with the clutch pedal in (not engaged) and the car rolling, the tranny growls, although it's milder than with the clutch in. The growl changes with car speed, not engine speed. In neutral with the clutch in, the engine's quiet. Let out the clutch, and I get a grrring noise that's accompanied by a mild intermittant clunking sound.

Anyone else with a 4th gen 5speed have their tranny die on them? I think I better be prepared for a rebuild or replacement.

I hear the 2000 tranny has beefed up 1st and 3rd gears. Anyone hear of any other improvements? Wonder if it's a direct replacement for the 4th gen tranny.

[Edited by Keven97SE on 09-13-2000 at 02:21 PM]

 

I'm not a tranny guy but here are my guesses:

""""Yesterday, it wouldn't go into reverse. I had to roll back and push with my left foot to back out of the parking space. I tried getting into reverse for the next 15 minutes or so...still no go...tried going into 1st then to R, still no go. After letting the car sit for ~30 min, voila! I had reverse again.
Also strange is two weekends ago when coming back from a trip, the car barely shifted into 1st and 2nd. After the car cooled off, it was fine again.""""

If 1,2 and R use the same shift fork, it could be worn. Or you could have some bad synchos.

"""And my transmission is very, very NOISY. I get a growling sound when in gear. Pretty loud now. It's gotten worse over the last year. Even with the clutch pedal in, the tranny growls, although it's milder than with the clutch in. In neutral with the clutch in, the engine's quiet. Let out the clutch, and I get a grrring noise that's accompanied by a mild intermittant clunking sound."""

This again could be synchos if it's only noisy in a particular gear. If it equally noisy in all gears then it could be one or both of the in/out put shaft bearings on either side of the gearset. If worn, it allows the gears to contact each other at a odd angle and make noise I guess. The clunk could be the shaft moving up and down when shifting or getting on/off the gas. Or you could have a dried up t/o bearing too. If worn real bad, it might also cause hard shifting. Is the pedal getting harder to push down?

 

The clutch pedal seems fine. Never changes stiffness or anything.

I have the growling it seems at all speeds. I notice it most in 1st-3rd just because the speeds are low enough that I can hear the noise over the wind noise, but I believe it pretty much makes the noise at all speeds.

I think the T/O bearing is fine because I never hear/feel a thing when stepping on the clutch. Only when the clutch is fully engaged do I hear noises, indicating that something's dead on one of the shafts.

I haven't really abused the tranny. Awhile back, I did occasionally drop the clutch a little hard and shifted hard, but that was on an occasional basis only. I never speed shift (can't do it anyway). Tranny lube is changed every 20K miles or so.

 

I'm just a country mechanic here! hehe!. Again I'm not an expert. But Don't be suprised if a rebuild is in order. Curious you used synthetic right??

 

I'm not very trany savy either, but I can tell for sure that the growling probably is your bearings. I just got my trany back a week ago and I had the exact problem. My dad bought the bearings and replaced them at the shop (we have a shop. Unfortunatley the mech. didn't put it back together right because last night my trany got stuck in 2nd and I had to drive for an hour doing 20 to get back to the shop. The growling is gone but who knows what else is messed up.
I ragged my trany out for 4 years and its now going out. It's 96 and I've sprayed the crap out it (NOS)and its now finally going out. I did go thru 3 clutches untill I put the last one in, Stillen's. That griped pretty good and it never sliped even w/ a 75 shot. Can't wait to get it back going w/ a 100 shot next. with some mods to deal w/ extra HP.

 

How does one ruin a tranny on a '97. Do you grind alot?

 

You tell me, because I haven't the foggiest.

I drive hard, but certainly never abuse the car. My only guess is that the car had a weak tranny from the factory. FYI the car has 71K miles. I've always used synthetic...Redline MT90 and recently Amsoil 75W90.

And I never grind...if I do, it's only when I'm drunk and can barely see the road, let alone shift!




(Just kidding...thought I'd ruffle some feathers with a good old fashioned political incorrectness)



[Edited by Keven97SE on 09-13-2000 at 03:09 PM]

 

Do you have an extended warranty? Perhaps to 75k? If so, you should have the dealer look at it now!

Jim

 

Nope I usually view extended warranties as more garbage insurance...in this case, I was wrong.