I got a Shifter/Tranny/Grinding Problem
 

Hey guys, first off I want to thank everyone answering my cry for help =).

I have a problem with grinding going into second and also going into third. I tried shifting at different RPM's but all the same. So i tried taking out the shifter and checking the tranny oil. The oil level was low so i put some more in. I drove around and everything was good; no grinding. So i turned off the car and went inside. I came out and tried driving and the grinding was back. So I took out the shifter again to check the oil levels. It was full. So i put the shifter back and drove it around again. Once again the problem was fixed; no grinding. So i turned off the car and went inside again. Then once again, I went out to drive; grinding was back. And once again checkd the oil; It was full. So I put back the shifter. To no suprise the grinding was gone. Whats going on? What do i need to replace?

the second and third gear syncro's are starting to fail

yea... thats what i thought... but why is it that when i take out shifter and put it back in, the grinding is gone?

shifter bushing? this can trick the tranny (and you) into thinking its in gear when its really not.

thats kinda what i thought too.. I guess ill try replacing that first.

anyone else want to place his or her input?

You do not check the tranny oil through the shifter, you have to get under the car and get to the tranny itself, there is a nut on the side you can remove and check for the oil level. Haynes and FSM can show you how to check the tranny oil correctly.

If the problem turns out not to have anything to be worn shifter bushings or anything like that, then there's a GM addative stuff that's said to work wonders on worn syncros. You copuld also try using some synthetic lube in the tranny, that's also said to help. Something like Redline MT-90.

Hey thanks a lot guys. I will try changing my shifter bushings, if that doesnt work, I will try to change the oil to Redline MT-90. Again, thanks so much. Feel free to add more thoughts to this thread. Thanks!

The GM fluid isn't an addative, it is a manual transmission fluid. It is called Synchromesh, and it works wonders. You can either get it from a GM dealer or save a little money and go to AutoZone and buy the Penzoil version.

I put 2 quarts of Penzoil Synchromesh and a half a quart of Lucas stabilizer and my synchro problems are almost entirely gone, though in the future I will still have to change the synchros. But hey, at least I can shift now.

RR87

Thanks for that correction.

Mine did that when the pilot bearing was starting to fail.