5th Gear Issue...Not The Common One
 

Dunno if anyone else has ever had this problem but when cruising on the freeway in 5th gear lately my RPM's seem to be a little higher then they normally have been. However the oddest thing is that when I give the car gas the revs go up rather quickly and there is no power behind that and a serious lack of speed obtained from it. Revs just wanna go super high real fast and not actually power the car at all. It also shakes the car a bit and almost sounds like something is about to break...however if I drop to 4th gear the car runs perfectly normal.

I know I've need a new transmission since I got the car cause I think the previous owner didn't know how to drive stick but every gear grinds cept 4th and 5th. Just found this to be an odd problem and wondered if anyone else had it...I don't really intend to fix it if it is the tranny cause I will replace the entire tranny soon but dunno if it could be something else.

FallenCho,

The symptoms you're describing are similar to those I experienced on more than one occasion.

You mentioned the prior owner wasn't the best at driving stick. Part of it sounds like a clutch that's slipping.

If it's been a while since they've been replaced, you might try a new pressure plate and clutch. If your shifter is loose, you might consider a new short-throw to "tighten" things up.

Incidentally if you need a new pressure plate, I have a stock FD plate with 10G "easy" miles on it. PM me if you're interested.

I just had my entire tranny rebuilt; it was about time.

Hope this helps.

Josh

clutch is slipping!

Yep, worn out clutch. Not a tranny problem.

A friend of mine had this same problem (mostly third and on some occasions fourth) but his was crappy tires (they were slipping) and he thought it was his clutch. Fifth gear I'd be looking at the clutch/pressure plate.

but he said it was only in 5th, and when he goes to 4th he doesnt get the same effects. when my clutches have gone out before they would normally hold alright in higher gears and then slip in the low ones.

It depends on the car and how you drive it, but *most* slipping clutches slip first in the highest gear, then as it wears further it slips in the other gears.

Dave