Grinding gears

[FordManiac]

Sometimes when I shift really quickly, the gears grind before they lock in. The problem happens in all gears but is particularly bad going into 2nd. Also, it;s become really hard to shift into 1st at a stop sign. By the way, I have a 91 Sport, and I think it has the Mazda 5spd in it. Any suggestions?

 

[Rick]

Well you won't like my answer, but here goes. The tranny most likely will need to be rebuilt, the slider for first second gear is probably shot. There is a possibility that the slave cylinder is not disengaging in which case it needs to be replaces. Stop trying to shift "really quickly". I have never been able to shift fast with the Mazda tranny with out catching some teeth. It's not a tranny that likes to "bang" gears.

My wifes '94 Camero is a different story, that I can shift fast with no problem.


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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com





[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-26-1999).]

 

[felsmann]

I don't know about the grinding, but the 1st gear problem, I have been experiencing it for a while. Last Saturday I added more fluid to the clutch (make sure you take the black plastic funnel looking piece oout first) and finally noticed some difference today. Gears are going in great. I think that there might have been some air and it took a while for the extra fluid to come in and get it out. I also went offroading on sunday, I don't know if the different style of driving affected the situation and helped, but the bottom line is that things are amazingly back to normal. At least for now.

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Juan Felsmann
'97 Sport 4WD
Warrior Twist

 

[FordManiac]

You're right, I really don't like the idea of having my transmission rebuilt. Anyway, adding more fluid seems to be a nice alternative, but how would I go about bleeding the system?

 

[felsmann]

You know, for what I hear, it is not something easy to do, especially with our trucks. AAMCO says they'd do it for $30 even though they don't think that fixes anything.



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Juan Felsmann
'97 Sport 4WD
Warrior Twist

 

[Garrett]

Hi there. My 91 Navajo with the Mazda tranny did the same thing, where sometimes I could not even engage first gear at a stop without crunching gears. I bled the clutch really well, and it's been fine ever since - that was about 1.5 years ago. So, give it a bleed, and hopefully that will do it. Bleeding takes about 5 minutes once you find the bleeder screw and a friend to push the pedal. Hope this helps.