The curse of the crunchy 2nd gear

[dinodinojungle]

Hey all, I've got a trans issue that I can't nail down. A few months ago, I changed trans fluid to the Ford XTM that people like for these cars, and I noticed a new hesitation to go into second gear. It's hard to explain exactly how it feels, especially since the feel changes, but it's a cruncy feeling, almost like I feel the gear force itself into place. I did some more looking and found out that the Ford fluid is the wrong weight, so I put some 75w-80 in there, messing with the shifter cable under the center console, and rerouting my clutch line in case anything was catching, but the feeling persists. I'm fairly sure I filled the trans properly both times. I've read some threads mentioning 2nd gear synchro wear and shift fork wear, and during one flush a plastic piece did come out from the trans, but as far as I know the symptoms of fork wear were not staying in gear, not my problem. A friend of mine who's more knowledgeable than me said it could be a combination of it being cold (I'm a new Speed3 owner and this is my first winter with the car) and the fresh fluid being thicker, but I wanted to get second opinions since the issue doesn't get better the more I drive the car. Thanks!

 

[Easter Bunny]

The ford fluid is fine the heavier weight is what is recommended for gen 1 which has the same transmission. If a plastic piece came out you lost the pad in a shift fork. This will keep that gear from fully engaging you need to take the transmission apart to fix.

 

[dinodinojungle]

I appreciate your feedback. I recall a mention of an aftermarket fork with brass pads, but everywhere I saw showed them as out of stock. How dangerous is it to drive the car as it is? I've been babying the trans into second given the issue (basically letting the revs drop to 1500RPM or so before shifting).

 

[Enki]

Just skip using second.

I think Speed Solutions probably still has some brass fork pads laying around; could ask him on Facebook.

 

[Crazycanadian]

I appreciate your feedback. I recall a mention of an aftermarket fork with brass pads, but everywhere I saw showed them as out of stock. How dangerous is it to drive the car as it is? I've been babying the trans into second given the issue (basically letting the revs drop to 1500RPM or so before shifting).

Your opinion on what you are feeling is going to be different than mine if I hopped into your car and gave you advice. Since this is a it "feels" not ok, but it's not flat out broken. No one can answer that question for you.

If fluid changes that are recommended haven't fixed or improved the feel and you are worried about it. It's time to take it apart and fix it right.

 

[Easter Bunny]

you could also try adjusting your shifter, its possible that it is slightly out of alignment. this is all done under the console at the shifter itself.

 

[dinodinojungle]

I watched a video of someone disassembling the trans, and the plastic on the shift forks didn't look like anything I had seen, so it's possible it wasn't from my transmission. My engagement point had been pretty high during this whole ordeal, and I figured that I just needed a clutch, but the other day I decided it couldn't hurt to bleed the system again and double-check the fluid level while I was in there. Bleeding the clutch seems to have fixed my issue! The bite point is back to where it usually has been, and while 2nd can still be a diva when its cold (the gear oil in there currently isn't the best stuff) it feels fine when warm.

 

[802MS3]

I regret using the Ford fluid years ago. Ever since changing to that fluid, my 2nd has gotten progressively worse and worse, to now where 2nd is unusable. It started with popping out under decel while downshifting. Now I can't even keep it in 2nd during normal shifting. Pretty lost at what to do other than either trying to rebuild it and replace the synchro for that gear or swap with a used trans.

 

[Easter Bunny]

ford fluid didnt do that

 

[802MS3]

never felt the same after that fluid change. I stuck with it because of the dogma on the forums around that fluid.

 

[Enki]

I could see a LACK of lubrication causing synchro issues, but not IMPROVED lubrication (which is what you get from the Ford stuff, albeit not for very long).

 

[Crazycanadian]

never felt the same after that fluid change. I stuck with it because of the dogma on the forums around that fluid.

Sounds like your transmission was on it's way out and changing the fluid wasn't the fix. The only fix at this point is a rebuild or used.. But also as people have mentioned, checking shift cable adjustment and bushing wear in the cable ends.

 

[Easter Bunny]

never felt the same after that fluid change. I stuck with it because of the dogma on the forums around that fluid.

No reputable forum ever called the ford fluid anything other than magical unicorn jizz