Hi everyone I just got myself an 89' GTU w/140k miles on it. Car runs fine and all except something seems wrong with the tranny. Now I will try to describe this as best as possible.

Basically shifting into 2nd gear sucks, the other gears seem to be just fine but upshifting into 2nd and ESPECIALLY downshifting into 2nd sucks. I can be going about 40mph and want to downshift to second to let the engine slow me down ( I have done this plenty of times in my 88' vert no prob.), but when I do I can't shift down smoothly. The thing grinds real bad. Lately I do it to where I try and downshift at 30mph and it'll go but I have to place it to where it's almost in 2nd gear and let set for a sec and slowly put it in. It's like there is a 3 sec pause until I can finally put down into 2nd without grinding it. I am not sure if it's the gears inside or what. I haven't changed the tranny fluid yet so hopefully that'll help. If anyone out there knows can you please help? I can't afford a rebuilt tranny right now.

By the way this is what my car looks like if your interested http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/628979

 

2nd gear syncro worn. Very common problem.

 

Try synthetic gear oil.
It's not magic, but it's pretty close.
If the syncros have any wear left in them that gives them the best chance.

 

In the mean time try double clutching, Clutch in shift to N Clutch out, clutch in shift to 2. This way your not really using the syncros at all. This is how trannys without syncros are shifted. It takes some time to get the technique down but it can be done. My GXL has the same problem ands I'm too poor to get synth oil for the tranny.

 

2nd gear synchro is toast.... Mine's starting to go on my 7 aswell....

-Anthony

 

Well, I was hoping it wouldn't be the synchro but that's what I thought. I guess the best thing to do is get a rebuilt tranny but that will take some time. Oh well I guess in the mean time I'll try the double clutching technique jus for the hell of it. It sucks though can't really take 2nd gear turns that fast anymore.

 

Stop downshifting to slow down!

 

Well yea I could stop downshifting to slow down, but my goal for next year was to try some autocross and stuff. How can go out on a track somewhere when I can't even downshift quick and smoothly?

 

downshifting to 2nd@40 mph!@#%#@@$# >:O

what the hell! That would put the engine somewhere around 6k rpm no? gebus@#@@$!

 

I've done worse in my old Del Slo, but I don't do that anymore cause that was on mountain roads. I gave that up too dangerous

 

dude, before you plan for a rebuild, change the fluid with some sythetic. The NA's trannys love Redline MT-90. I've seen this fluid do the impossible with a worn 1st gear sycro.

 

Redline MT-90 hmmm I'll try that thanks "Wozzoom." Once pay day comes and I finally have money again I'm gonna change the tranny fluid. Hopefully that'll fix things for now. Thanks for the help everyone.