Newest member of the third gear club?

[POSHO]

So, my buddy just got a 2000 SVT Contour, and we went out for a little drive. After a while we got to a stop sign out in to bundocks, both took off easy, and both just decided to gun it for whatever reason. Through first, through second, into third...where's third? I let go of the clutch, onto the throttle, and nothing, just revved away. I figured I missed somehow, but no grinding or anything. Went to put it into third again, and grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It was grinding, but not like normal, it wasn't as strong, kind of faint. Then, I couldn't pull the shifter out of where third should be. After cruising about half a mile, I finally managed to pull it into fourth(relief), then fifth. Went to put it into third and stuck again. Back to fifth, slowing down, got it into second, first, second, third...no third, just a slight grinding. Then, for whatever reason, it went in, there's third . Went into fourth, third, third disappeared again , second, third...still no third . Every once in a while I can get it into third. On my way home, I got in every time. On my way to school this morning, sometimes. I don't know what's going on. :jpshakeh: :cry:

 

[AutoSHO]

Sounds like you bent a shift fork.

 

[TYSHO]

Newest member of the third gear club? No!

Member with a worn 3rd gear blocking ring? Yes!

 

[Bizzy]

Sounds like a synchro issue to me.

 

[MelectroK]

1 vote for the bent fork

 

[TYSHO]

Symtoms of a bad blocking ring - hard to get in gear, grinding, stuck in gear, or will not go in gear.

A bent shift fork!!! You'd really never get in gear! Anyway, wouldn't you think the roll pin holding the fork to the shaft would break first? Maybe that little bolt on the input shift shaft would break first, right? IMHO, something else would give before the fork bent/broke all of the sudden, and he would've already had difficulties shifting, ie: blocking rings, for something to apply such force back on the fork(s).


I would also check your fluid level, or just change it out as it can be old and your 3rd gear blocking ring is the most worn of all, but still minor at the time. Eventually, you'll need to replace it anyway.

 

[AutoSHO]

Nope, trust me, you can bend a shift fork. I did it.

 

[Dr_Thompson]

my votes on synchro. I had the same symptoms on my old trans but it was in 2nd gear, time for a rebuild or a new trans.

 

[Ferendon]

LoL... Several different opinions... whatcha gonna do?

 

[qiksho]

LoL... Several different opinions... whatcha gonna do?

Take it apart and find out

 

[POSHO]

LoL... Several different opinions... whatcha gonna do?

haha...that's what I was thinking.
Step 1) Pick up a spare tranny
Step 2) Put new tranny in
Step 3) Drive car around
Step 4) Worry about old tranny

Since I'm posting anyway...does cryoing actually help that much on transmission? Would it solve the major problems that we run into on a daily basis? Some of my Cavalier's engine is cryoed (actually most if you count the actual block I guess ), but I thought it was mostly to prevent wear, not really to strengthen (hopefully my crank disagrees ).

 

[Bizzy]

Bent fork, you probably would have troubles getting it into more gears than just one. And yes indeed, they can bend without breaking the pin.

My bet is still on the synchro though.