Gears Grinding in 5th gear??

[ERicincal]

I was drving today on the highway, and while coming on the on ramp at about 80 mph, I shifted into 5th, pretty normal driving, not aggressive. when I shifted into 5th, there was a slight "grind". I didnt think much of it, so I dropped it back into 4th (still at 80-85 mph) and pushed it back into 5th, and again it grinded on its way in. This time I was concerned, and I put it into 3rd, then 4th, then 5th.. (slight grind again).

Mind you I am now MAKING SURE that the clutch pedal is all the way down. I even tested it so I would go from 4th, put it in nuetral, clutch in, and again to the 5th gear, and slight grind again.

If I go really slow, there is no problem, and it doesnt always do this. I could replicate it about 5 times total.

History on my car. 1994, 67,000 miles with the clutch replaced by NSX modified at 60,000 miles. Car never tracked, or driven very hard. does it sound like a clutch issue?

Can anyone tell me what they think I should do first? Im trying to get a hold of Larry, but the phone number isnt working there.

 

[coolnsx]

Have you tried 714 841-0331. I saw him today at his shop, give it a try.

------------------

• 1997 NSX-T
• 1983 El Camino
• 1972 VW Bug

 

[huckster]

for you mechanical eggsperts out there, wouldnt fifth be an unusual gear to have/show problems in? ive been around some messed up transmissions and its always been first/second that has the major problems. the higher gears were always less problematic.????

 

[Kinan]

Synchros.
If you have a habit or riding around a lot (in 5th gear) with your hand resting on the shifter playing with the radio, you will wear out the 5th gear synchro.
Don't ask me how I know this...

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Hukster,

I would agree typically lower gears syncros work harder. There have been some additional mention of 5th before if I recall.

To rule out the clutch you can try a few things:

1. Car in first gear, engine running, clutch depressed. Flat ground. Is there ANY movement of the car at all?

2. With the car idling, clutch depressed, go into 5th. Any grinding? If so, shut the engine off and repeat. Grinding? If no the clutch may not be fully disengaging.

I would say the best bet would be to get it to Larry and have him diagnose it.

HTH,
LarryB

[This message has been edited by Larry Bastanza (edited 20 October 2002).]

 

[Yellow Rose]

If the tranny grinds only in 5th but not in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th - it is not the clutch. It is the 5th gear synchro. BTDT. The stinker about it, is that you have to pull and teardown the tranny just to replace one synchro. The only good thing is that the 5th gear synchro is the last onr on the gear shaft assembly, so you do not have to remove all of the gears.

[This message has been edited by AndyVecsey (edited 20 October 2002).]

 

[ERicincal]

Thanks for all of your help. I took it into Larry and he did a tranny flush and tried to adjust the shifter. Its better now, but still has a slight grind once in a while. He said the transmission fluid was Black and completely needed replacing. It was supposedly supposed to have been replaced 7,000 miles ago when I did my 60,000 mile service.

Question, could the 5th gear syncro gone bad from the tranny fluid being so old and not replaced?