82T/A powah

well my car craped out big time on me, i was driving and i went to downshift into 2nd and couldn't find it, i pulled over and low be hold i couldn't find 1st or 2nd gear(it's a 4speed stick) all i had was 3rd and 4th and reverse..
it's like they were just gone..
any ideas on what coulda happened?

Nordbert

Check your shift linkage. It might be loose
or off at the 1st/2nd position.

Tom84L69

I think your 4 speed has shift rods that are on the driver's side of the trans, unlike T5s. Since you weren't ragging on your trans at the time, maybe these just came loose. Hope that's the problem cause it should be an easy fix.

82T/A powah

so if it is just the shifter linkage or the "pins" someone told me, i would just had to take the bolts out, take the shifter cover off, and look under there for something disconnected or broke? dont really know alot when it comes to transmisson.. i dont think it's the actually tranny thats gone, or teeth missing, since i was driving normal at the time, i think there would be warning signs if the tranny was about to go or something...
but if anyone has some more input that would be great
thanks guys

Tom84L69

You should be able to see the linkage from underneath the car, just look for anything that looks loose/out of place.

82T/A powah

well i just took a look under my car for anything that looked out of place by the transmission, now i dont know alot about trannies, but i THINK it looked alright.. would there even be a point to take the boot off around the shifter to access stuff under there, or am i just wasting my time..?

Tom84L69

Well you might as well take the boot off, that's pretty easy. I suggest having a knowledgable buddy check it out or take it to a tranny shop. Other suggestions?

a73camaro

Sounds like the shifter itself is goofin' up on you.

Can you move the shifter lever to the far left so that the shifter lever is lined up with the 1-2 throw? If not, there is a procedure to align the shifter.

I await for your responce.

[This message has been edited by a73camaro (edited December 04, 2001).]

82T/A powah

a73camaro: i will get back to you right away on that, one quick thing though is would it be alright to cut away that rubber boot around the shifter? i am putting in a newer shifter in ther spring anyways.. will that be fine to drive with it like that for a few months..? cause it is like rusted on right now and 1 bolt is damn near impossible to get at, if not impossible...

hy-po-ny

well at least you dont have a car that has all four functional gears but accelerates as if its towing a tractor.........

------------------
1976 mustang
4 cylinder 4 speed
2.3 liter
looking for a camaro!

GMTech

Sounds like a shift fork may have broken. I'm not familiar w/ your tranny, but on like the NV3500, T-5, and other 5 speeds, a single shift fork pairs gears together. You have the 1-2 shift fork, 3-4 shift fork and the 5-R shift fork. So if you lost Overdrive and Reverse at the same time, then the 5-R shift fork is more than likely broken. Sounds like it needs to come out.

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

82T/A powah

so your thinking it mite be they shift fork maybe hey? i hope it isn't, but say it is, how would i go about seeing that it is broken? just cracked or something? and the shift fork could be accessed how? like i said i am no experience with trannies, but any advice would be awesome

GMTech

If that is indeed what it is, then it has to come out and taken apart. The fork sits in between the gears on the mainshaft. For instance, the 1-2 shift fork would sit between the 1st drive gear assembly and 2nd drive gear assembly.



------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

82T/A powah

if it was that servere, dont you think there would of been warning signs, because like i said, she was shifting fine, then all of a sudden this... but ya maybe i should fork out a little dough and bring it to a tranny shop, get to the bottom of it..

GMTech

Exactly, thats why I think shift fork. One minute is attached to the shift rail and working fine, and then its broken and nothing. Kinda like a tire blowout. No warning signs. One minute your cruising along, then Poof, there it goes.

I've never had a 4-speed apart, but I imagine its very similar to the 5-speeds. I think even if that isn't what it is, it will probably have to come out anyway. Its something internal.


------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

82T/A powah

well i'm going to stop guessing with it then, there can be so many things that can go wrong, i'll run it down to the local transmission shop, to get it looked at.. the only probably is, will i mess up my clutch if i drive it for like 10 minites starting off in third gear each time, cause you gotta kinna ride her for a bit to ger her going..

82T/A powah

well i solved the problem, it was actually the shifter it self was ****ed, the pins in it were messing up, so now i gotta go down and get a new one outa the local pick yer part. one little question though, will any 4 speed shifter work with mine, or are alot of them different? i think it would be fine, i mean a 4 speed is a 4 speed..

GMTech

Good deal. Don't know about interchangability.

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

1987 Trans Am 305
14.88 @ 92.81

a73camaro

Called that one!!! Take the old one with you and try to match one up.

I have a feeling that you will have trouble finding a shifter for a 4 speed. As long as the shifter body will bolt to the tranny, any shifter should work.

82T/A powah

i was just thinking.. since i pushed that pin back into place, it shifts fine, do you think the pin mite of just got pushed out of place somehow? or is that just a sign that it's weak and going to probably do it again..

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Do yourself a favor and call Hurst! They should make a short throw shifter for that tranny. B&M might make one also!