3rd gear messed up
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lee NJ
3rd gear messed up
Ok so i was driving on the highway about an hour ago and went to downshift into 3rd but it suddenly grinded like crazy so i imediately put it back into 4th. At first i thought i had somehow messed up and grinded gears, but when i went to try again the same thing happened..god i hate that noise...so anyway, i pulled over and while idling just went through the gearbox and everything seemed fine. So i merged back onto the highway and when i went from 2nd to 3rd it grinded slightly and then went into gear. For the remainder of the drive i didnt use 3rd gear and let the car sit for roughly 30min. Then when it was time to go back home i got it into 3rd doing roughly 35mph with no problems what so ever but then when i went back onto the highway it grinded yet again at speeds around 55-65mph. I am just completely stumped and will most likely bring it to chevy tomorrow, does anyone have any clues as to wha tmay have caused this??????
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Something tells me your tranny is going to be getting a new third gear synchro. Without knowing more details, it's hard to say the cause, but it will probably be covered by warranty. Until you get it into the shop, I would do the 1st or 2nd to 4th skip shift, and avoid any further experimentation with 3rd.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
3rd gear only
I was having a leisurely drive yesterday with my '05 Z51 and decided to use 3/4 pedal from 2nd merging onto the interstate and when I went to go from 3rd gear to forth it would not go. I was at about 5,000 rpm and the clutch also acted up.
Pulling off to the shoulder I could only get nuetral or 3rd and when trying for 4th it ground like crazy. After a while of moving the shifter around I was able toget only 1st, 3rd, nd 5th and with being 30 miles from home having 5th was great. Last week it didn't like going into reverse. This car has 4500 miles on it and never even saw a full throttle first or second gear shift. I could understand it if I flogged the hell out of it but for the way it gets driven this shouldn't be. Off to the dealer it went. Its a shame that it didn't blow pieces all over the road and be done with because I hope it doesn't become a science experiment to fix it. Oh well.
Pulling off to the shoulder I could only get nuetral or 3rd and when trying for 4th it ground like crazy. After a while of moving the shifter around I was able toget only 1st, 3rd, nd 5th and with being 30 miles from home having 5th was great. Last week it didn't like going into reverse. This car has 4500 miles on it and never even saw a full throttle first or second gear shift. I could understand it if I flogged the hell out of it but for the way it gets driven this shouldn't be. Off to the dealer it went. Its a shame that it didn't blow pieces all over the road and be done with because I hope it doesn't become a science experiment to fix it. Oh well.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by vette-oholic
What does that mean?? I hope you're joking
But what really got me was the word 'grinded'; try 'ground' instead
All of which are semi-acceptable for non-European-foreign born/educated person who is simply trying to pose an issue and obtains some information.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by MitchAlsup
Capitalization, punctuation, sentance structure, tense matching, (lack of use of) apostrophies makes reading this difficult.
But what really got me was the word 'grinded'; try 'ground' instead
All of which are semi-acceptable for non-European-foreign born/educated person who is simply trying to pose an issue and obtains some information.
But what really got me was the word 'grinded'; try 'ground' instead
All of which are semi-acceptable for non-European-foreign born/educated person who is simply trying to pose an issue and obtains some information.
Edit: Now can we get back to the problem, mentioned by the author of this thread please.
Last edited by KHAN; Apr 17, 2006 at 04:37 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,344
Likes: 966
From: Carlsbad Ca
Ah yes,the problem. 3rd gear synchro is burnt. You should be able to drive with a fried synchro. Believe it or not,old trannys had no synchros. Just think "matching engine speed with road speed."(What a concept.) Get it too a dealer,PRONTO! Prolly no oil in it...
If you drive your car intent on breaking it,eventually you'll succeed. Then you'll be "my hero!"
It helps to drive drunk too.
If you drive your car intent on breaking it,eventually you'll succeed. Then you'll be "my hero!"
It helps to drive drunk too.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
Likes: 1,549
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
It is a very common peoblem for 3rd 4th and 5th gear synchro's and blocker rings to take a crap in these cars. My Camaro did it and we have fixed many other Corvette customers cars for the same problem. Any good dealer should know about it and cover it under warranty for you.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
All that follows is my WAG speculating opinion: these trannys can take the torque once the shifts are made, but the shifts must be complete before you pour the torque to them.
Balky shifting problems are characteristic of the MN6 and well known. During "aggressive" driving, this balkiness may lead to power application with an incomplete shift. In the heat of driving, you don't know the tranny isn't fully in the selected gear until you pop the clutch...the reving engine and slowing of the car tells you the tranny has "jumped out of gear". (@/<%&#*!)
The synchros are designed to facilitate gear meshing, not to carry torque. They are vulnerable if the clutch is engaged with the gear half in and half out...a few missed shifts, and your synchros are history.
Back in the old days, (when engines were 100 hp
), synchronizer rings were made out of brass. I don't know what they are made out of now...probably some kind of phenolic kevlar or something. The result will be the same when you attempt to put 400 ft-lb through them.
That's not to say that susetZ51's problem is due to missed shifts...syncho problems can also be caused by wear (miles) or "defects in workmanship or materials".
Balky shifting problems are characteristic of the MN6 and well known. During "aggressive" driving, this balkiness may lead to power application with an incomplete shift. In the heat of driving, you don't know the tranny isn't fully in the selected gear until you pop the clutch...the reving engine and slowing of the car tells you the tranny has "jumped out of gear". (@/<%&#*!)
The synchros are designed to facilitate gear meshing, not to carry torque. They are vulnerable if the clutch is engaged with the gear half in and half out...a few missed shifts, and your synchros are history.
Back in the old days, (when engines were 100 hp
), synchronizer rings were made out of brass. I don't know what they are made out of now...probably some kind of phenolic kevlar or something. The result will be the same when you attempt to put 400 ft-lb through them.That's not to say that susetZ51's problem is due to missed shifts...syncho problems can also be caused by wear (miles) or "defects in workmanship or materials".
