I've got a 92 VX all stock s20 transmission 126k miles.

Noticed when I engage the clutch and go to shift sometimes the gear will not engage and I hear a high speed whinning noise. It is not very loud or damaging sounding but just wondered what it might be. I've searched and didn't find the exact answer so thought I'd ask.

I drive this car conservatively and never force the shifter if it won't go easily just go back to neutral and wiggle around a little bit and it always goes in afterwards fine. Never pops out of gear or clunks/grinds. Drives fine too and still gets great mpgs.

What's the issue?

 

The noise you are hearing sounds to be the synchros lining up prior to engagement of the next gear, in order for the trans to change gears smoothly without rev matching, the synchros acts as a mediator between the final drive and the forward gears, to bring them up to speed so it can engage properly w/out grinding. Wens the last time u changed the fluid?

 

pump the clutch twice and should go in lol.

If you havnt done it already get some GM syncromesh from your local chevy gm stealership and fill trans up with that. This has fixed at least temporarly problems I have had in the past with B-series transmissions

 

Also try b&m "trick shift" but just use it as an additive to whatever fluid u go with, like 3 parts hmt and 1 part trick shift. Should quiet down those synchros and give u smoother engagement.

 

I changed the tranny fluid in October with the regular Honda dealer mtf. The car sat all winter until now. I hope that I filled it enough I used a good majority of the two quarts! It was a pain though since I had to fab my own funnel to fill it up!

Today it seemed to shift rougher and not want to go into gear twice. I just started driving it for my 60 mile highway commutes to work.

 

Two things: Don't run Honda MTF in S20 transmissions, it tends to kill bearings. Run cheap 10W30. Also fill through the VSS hole in the top of the transmission, much easier.

It makes a noise when you depress the clutch pedal? Throwout/release bearing.

 

Ahhh okay, should I drain the fluid and swap right away? No the noise is only when I go to shift and it does not go into gear.. but yes the clutch is pushed all the way in. Is it possible my clutch pedal needs minor adjusting to disengage further?

 

Update I think now the noise only happens when downshifting from 2nd to first when it won't go into gear. Anyone else have this problem? Is it just the synchros? Maybe since 1st is such a short gear, could the 2nd to 1st shift to slow down make this common?

 

Drain it at your earliest convenience, no need to panic over it.

How fast are you going? Most of those transmissions wont go into 1st unless you're doing less than 5mph.

 

This is the first time some one has said not to run the honda MTF in D series trans.. Where is bone.. What about the L3 Crx trans..

 

Bone was one of the first guys telling people not to run MTF in S20 and L3 trannys.

 

Dude thats complety normal when downshifting into first while rolling, try a small blip of the throttle while ur downshifting, and be easy with the clutch while u do it. Should help u get into 1st easier while rolling. Im not gonna sit here and break down the principals and reasons behind rev matching your downshifts, but u get the idea. I hope lol.

 

Okay thanks guys I will take all of your advice. Sounds like my driving habits were causing most of the problem. I'm gonna leave the Honda MTF for the month and then try switching to standard oil.

 

That mtf isnt gonna hurt anything. I dont care wat anyone has to say about that. U will be fine bro.

 

Okay yah I don't see why it would so maybe I will wait a few weeks and check my gas mileage then I'll switch over to standard oil for a while and report my results. I'm doing an excel spreadsheet with all of my mpg ratings every week.

 

If I was you I wouldnt go in to 1st till you stop.. That way you wont have any problems.. 2nd is always better then 1st is only when you are stoped anyways.. or up hill at stop.. Down hill at stop 2nd is better..

 

Okay thanks yah that's a good point and I will start doing that. I've been going into first less by changing my habits but I usually get into it while im still coasting to feel prepared to take off once the light turns green. Especially since I accelerate very slow as it is.