1st gear grind

[Sternal2000]

Hi, I'm having problems with my mtx. It seems that every time from a stop that I shift into first gear if doesn't fully engage and pops out and grinds. Its the only gear it does that in. I'm able to baby it into gear by slowly letting out the clutch to feel if it wants to push out of the gear and then trying it again which normally works... or starting off in second. The clutch seems to grip fine in the car as long as that goes, there's no slippage that I can detect. I do however feel that reverse is starting to give me some problems also, it has a tendancy to be jerky or want to **** the engine which has never happened to me before. Any ideas?

 

[Bizzy]

is your clutch pedal kinda stiff or heavy? If so it sounds like TOB/PP issues. As the TOB or PP wear out, you get incomplete disengagement of the clutch disc when pushing the pedal. 1st gear from a dead stop is the hardest to get into as is reverse. 2nd-5th are easier to get into because the synchros help make the tranny shift smoothly and take up the non disengaged clutch slack.

When hitting reverse even after doing a forward gear do you still get grind? Sounds like it is about time for a clutch job.

 

[SHO--ripper]

I agree with you bruce, it's most likely a TOB related issue. I do clutches and i'm local

 

[heavylvr]

If you cant afford to get a new clutch then before going into first geat put it in 2nd gear..then 1st. This is the same as you would do when your reversing, the hardest gear to get into. Purposely the hardest gear to get into because it is designed to make sure the driver dont mistankenly slip into that gear. So by engaging into 2nd gear, then into first gives the car synchros that help make the tranny shift smoothly when engaging at first take off. The same thing is happening to my MTX 93. Shifting into 1st gear has become difficult so when I engage it in 2nd gear..then 1st, it takes off fine. Try that..I bet you it will work for ya.

 

[Sternal2000]

I think I'm going to be selling this car instead. I have a couple other projects going on as it is and can't handle this one too. Thanks for the help though

 

[back2SHO]

i've got the exact same issue on the '93 MTX i just picked up...supposedly the clutch was replaced at 110K (55K ago), but it's acting exactly the same way...you can hear something grinding / moving when the pedal is pushed down (it's extremely hard to depress and has a lot of almost pulsing resistance) i have to go into 1st and reverse with the car not running to be safe...

definitely sounds like i'm in for a clutch job as well.

or should i just pull the powertrain from my '89 now? =)

-t.

 

[Racer X]

Scary version?

Everything on your main shaft is about to take a mean **** on you. Chris (SHO Ripper), before my tranny began its death knells, this is exactly what mine would do. At a light, I'd shift into 1st gear, and let the clutch out and start to go. Sometimes it would just drive off. Sometimes it would just pop into neutral, and if I tried to push it back into 1st without going into 2nd or another gear first, it would grind. Sometimes, it would pretend to move, only to pop out of gear with a mighty slam.

This rapidly degraded to the same thing happening in 3rd gear, followed by the transmission eventually becoming a new addition to Chris' garage, and me gaining a new understanding of tranny replacement without removing the subframe.

I'm sorry I don't have better news, or some miracle way of preventing this from coming to pass, but from my experience... it don't look good.

 

[Racer X]

i've got the exact same issue on the '93 MTX i just picked up...supposedly the clutch was replaced at 110K (55K ago), but it's acting exactly the same way...you can hear something grinding / moving when the pedal is pushed down (it's extremely hard to depress and has a lot of almost pulsing resistance) i have to go into 1st and reverse with the car not running to be safe...

definitely sounds like i'm in for a clutch job as well.

or should i just pull the powertrain from my '89 now? =)

-t.

You have broken pressure plate fingers; that's what's causing the stiff pedal and pulsations. New clutch kit, and new Rev.B TOB is the cure for your car.

 

[heavylvr]

arghhhhh...d*** sho!!..I loove you baby but hate u at the same time. Money bank is here name. But at the sametime..when my baby runs..it runs!!!...Man the quick acceleration comes in handy when I wanna pass someone whos being a d*ck. Anyway bro...I dont blame you for selling the sho cause all it will do is eat your money. But at this point I put soo much money...Im just trying to keep ol betsy alive!!

 

[back2SHO]

that's what i figured...reading up on clutch replacement now...the last one i did in a taurus was an MT-5...pulled the engine all the way out on that one. i see we've come a long way since then.

thanks, man.
-t.