Drifting STi

Does anyone else get this? It doesn't happen all the time. Mostly when I shift at high RPMs. I KNOW I have the clutch all the way in. What can it be? Bad synchro? It seems to be getting worse. Hopefully Someone can give some insight.
Thanx in advance.

Techno Duck

Happens on my car also, worse when the transmission is cold. I however get it worse when shifting reguarlly, no higher than 3000rpms. The higher in the RPMs i go, its not as bad and just plains goes away.

You can try changing the transmission fluid to synthetic. I personally went with Redline MT-90. Helped the problem significantly (though it still happens).

The problem is associated with a worn synchro.

944Ecology

Bad synchro. There are two ways to deal with it:

1) Rebuild the trans, or at least replace the 1-2 synchro.
2) Take an extra second when shifting between first and second. This gives the worn synchro a little bit more time to do its job.

Method #2 is a lot cheaper...

gb

Techno Duck

I forgot to mention, usually when the tranny is cold (within the first 2-3 miles of driving) i double clutch into second. Goes in nice and smooth. Though i would probably go nuts having to do this every single time i accelerate away from a stop light!

Drifting STi

Thanx guys....I'll take the extra second when shifting....since a rebuild is outta the question. Will this eventually lead to complete tranny faliure?

Stuttgart 944

This also happens to me but only when the car is cold. So taking a second before shifting and using synthetic fluid will help this problem?

Mike C.

As long as you don't keep grinding it every time you shift 1 - 2, it can last indefinitely. If you don't abuse it, it shouldn't get any worse either. In the worst case, if the synchro did absolutely nothing, you would have to double clutch all of the time.

jmporsche944

Yeah, I have the same problem too.. it happens maybe once a week...

944Ecology

A worn synchro is God's way of teaching you patience!

gb

Scott M.

Try back bleeding the clutch slave.

Try rev matching with the shift.

Try Amsoil gear lube (works on 928's...)

Try not to do any more damage.

Scott
944x4

Tony K

Make a habit of letting the gear lever find its own way into gear; pull on it gently until it slips into 2nd on its own.

I had an 83 for a long time that with some gear oils would go "crunch" when I put it into 2nd. I tried about 8 different gear oils - both synthetic and petroleum. Some solved the 2nd gear synchro grind, but introduced a 4th gear synchro gridn on long high-speed trips on hot days. So far, I am not impressed with any full synthetic gear oil; it seems they are too slick for the synchros to work properly, for lack of a better way of describing it.

The only gear oil that made all the problems go away for me was Valvoline semi-synthetic 80w90. It also made it very easy to put the car into 1st gear at a stand still, and made it easy to put it into reverse at a stand still (no wait, no 'grrrr'). All in all, the transmission just shifted so much better with this stuff. I have put it in three separate daily driver 944s (83, and two 85.5s) and felt a remarkable improvement in all three.

I know Valvoline isn't popular in these circles, but I experimented with everything and that's what worked, unlike all the recommendations I received. I remain open to trying new gear oils, but every time it comes time for a gear oil change, I try a couple and end up putting Valvoline 80w90 SemiSynthetic back in there after a couple of weeks. I'm not a brand loyalist and have no monetary or emotional attachment to Valvoline; it just worked for me on three cars. So I'm going to say . . . . Give it a try!

Regards,

Tony

Legoland951

Match RPM upshifts help also (wait a second between 1-2 shift). After a while, you will be able to shift without the clutch once you are out of first.