Well, last weekend my friend and I changed my axle and drained the tranny fluid and replaced it with GM Synchro Mesh. The axle was bad and was causing the front end to vibrate violently but not bad enough where I couldn't drive. The next weekend my friend changed the axle for me while I was at work and ever since then the car has been noticeably hard to downshift into 3rd gear or shift into 3rd from neutral while rolling. Upshifting during normal driving is FINE, even when I get on the car hard and shift @ 8500 rpm. I know the shifter bushings are worn but I've never had a problem prior with the tranny going into 3rd. I did have a problem going into 4th when I needed to change the tranny fluid but I solved that with the GM Synchro Mesh. I figured the tranny might have lost some fluid when he pulled the axle out the 2nd time so I put another 1/2 qt in it but it didn't seem to make it much better. This weekend I'm going to try to check the fluid as per the Haynes manual and possibly replace the shifter bushings, just to rule stuff out. Like I've stated this is out of NOWHERE and the car upshifts on light AND heavy throttle without any difficulty and does NOT grind. The other thing I was contemplating it could be was my clutch. The fluid was changed recently (within the last month) and the pedal pressure is fine. But I'm assuming that if it was my clutch, it would be harder to get into ALL gears. Here's some background on the

just fyi if it matters:
- Hydro GSR tranny
- ACT XTSS clutch
- ACT Streetlite 8lb flywheel
- GM Synchro Mesh put in last weekend (Nov 6)
- New axle installed this past weekend (Nov 13)

I don't mind spending the $$$ to fix it, but it's just the inconvenice as it is my DD, so I'm hoping it's something simple that I can tackle in my spare time on the weekend. Does anyone have any insight? It would be greatly appreciated.

 

Oh, boy. This is a tricky one. Bump while I contemplate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M.A.R.C. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I figured the tranny might have lost some fluid when he pulled the axle out the 2nd time so I put another 1/2 qt in it but it didn't seem to make it much better. This weekend I'm going to try to check the fluid as per the Haynes manual...</TD></TR></TABLE>Why'd you add fluid if you didn't check to see if it actually needed it?

Did you add thru the VSS or thru the proper plug? If you added thru the proper plug, then you DID check. You need to keep adding until it starts coming back out the hole.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why'd you add fluid if you didn't check to see if it actually needed it?

Did you add thru the VSS or thru the proper plug? If you added thru the proper plug, then you DID check. You need to keep adding until it starts coming back out the hole.
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I added it through the VSS because it's not really convenient for me to jack up the car and go under there to add/check it the correct honestly. I live in a gated community and the neighbors barley like me checking my oil much less putting the car up on jack stands at 10pm at night (which is when I added the fluid last nite). I wanted to try to attempt the simplest possible solution before I resort to jacking up the car and checking as that means I have to plan ahead and go to a friend's house to do so. Since the small addition of fluid didn't help anything I can almost rule out that it's low on fluid. Although I will check it the correct way when it's convenient (maybe tonight). Anyone else have any insight to this?

 

When you check the 'correct' way it needs to be flat - not jacked up. Take off the rubber air intake tube (not too hard) then you can reach down thru there to the fill plug. It's tons easier the 2nd time you do it.

 

Definately check the fluid level. If it is good, your probably looking at a sycro going bad. You can get 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear syncros (carbon coated) from http://www.gear-speed.com for around $150

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you check the 'correct' way it needs to be flat - not jacked up. Take off the rubber air intake tube (not too hard) then you can reach down thru there to the fill plug. It's tons easier the 2nd time you do it.
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yah i know it has to be flat and how to check it. i was going to jack up both the front and rear of the car so I could fit a drain pan under the car incase it was full. I found something I could use as a make shift drain pain so i checked it when I got home. it's easy to check it since the i/c piping doesn't take up as much space as a stock airbox. burned the **** outta myself a couple times but it's all good. it had a lil extra in there... not much.

 

I don't see your level of fluid being the problem here. It's either synchro issues... or could be clutch/slave cylinder/master cylinder related. I just saw an ITR the other week which was having problems shifting into gear as it was sitting still but once it got moving it was fine. It was a master cylinder issue. I'm gonna say it's your synchro/synchro hub though.

Keep us updated.

 

yeah it could be the synchros. i'm just trying to upgrade/change the minor stuff to eliminate those posibilities.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaBullSQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't see your level of fluid being the problem here...</TD></TR></TABLE>I sorta agree, but it started with fluid & axle change. That's a pretty nice coincidence. I just wanted him to actually check to rule out the fluid. For all I can see (from here) maybe lots of fluid drained out when the axle was off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I sorta agree, but it started with fluid & axle change. That's a pretty nice coincidence. I just wanted him to actually check to rule out the fluid. For all I can see (from here) maybe lots of fluid drained out when the axle was off.
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exactly... which is why i checked those things first. I checked the fluid last nite and some actually came out. basically all that came out was the little I added the nite before. going to check the linkage, replace shift bushings (they're worn anyway), and possibly drain the GM stuff and go with Honda MTF.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I sorta agree, but it started with fluid & axle change. That's a pretty nice coincidence. I just wanted him to actually check to rule out the fluid. For all I can see (from here) maybe lots of fluid drained out when the axle was off.
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Yeah. I completely understand. But I'm just saying it probably isn't AFTERr he got around to checking it.

 

got some shift bushings last nite, might install them tonite and see if that helps any. my next guess is the fork/synchro

 

I will guaruntee that the bushings aren't the problem. But try them. It will most likely be the transmission internally. That's what is screwing up. Hope you get this sorted out.

 

yeah i know. the weird thing is this... it didn't do it all day yesterday... until i was going home and i tried to downshift on an off-ramp. which is where it happened originally too. it's like if i push it to 3rd... it locks out. if i back it off a lil or move it... it slides right in... no problem.

 

Ever figure this one out???

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Bull &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ever figure this one out??? </TD></TR></TABLE>

sorry i forgot to reply to this. but the tranny worked itself back to normal. fricken weird. i didn't do anything to it. it's still somewhat resistant to downshift to 3rd. but NOTHING as bad as it was before. infact i don't even notice it anymore. weird huh?

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

yeah lol that's exactly what i'm dealin with now.