No second gear

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-12-2005, 02:15 PM

Tooling along today in 3rd running errands, I went to downshift. Pushed in the clutch and the shifter popped out of third violently. Couldn't get it into second. Coasted, went back easily into third. Less than a half mile from work, so got home fine.

Jacked the car up, halfshafts are fine, wheels rotate freely out of gear. Sitting, car running, 1, 3, 4, 5, R all "seem" to work.

Trying to get it into second, the shifter just stops, dull. No grinding, no noice, just can't get it out of neutral into second.

Thoughts?

Background: Car has 243K on it and I just put in a "fresh" 103K good motor and trans 2-3 months ago. Definite difference in motor, trans shifted fine until today.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Shaun,

You'll probably want to wait for the experts to chime in, but this sounds vaguely familiar. For me, it was First Gear.

If I were to hazard a guess, I would say your Second Gear Dogteeth failed and that your Second Gear synchro is AFU. Take a look this thread to see MY experience.

Randy

Jim Sims · 07-12-2005, 03:39 PM

Check shift coupler bushings first.

john walker's workshop · 07-12-2005, 04:24 PM

check for little teeth in the drainplug magnet. that's why i always recommend replacing both 1st and 2nd teeth on a rebuild, whether they look good or not. one or the other is gonna shed teeth some day.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-12-2005, 04:33 PM

thanks John, will do this weekend, and thanks to Randy for that post. Wow, very impressive.

Will be sure to post what I find.

This place is the best!

Jim, coupler OK, but I suspect the brass bushings I put in when I put the new motor/trans in may have contributed to the death of 2nd gear. Seriously considering a stock coupler.

Any thoughts on that?

klaucke · 07-12-2005, 05:56 PM

I think have some stock bushings you can grab if you want them (I think only the 914 are available now, w/o elongated holes, I put these in). I think that while your solid brass bushings may contribute to vibration or wear for the shift rod (or the seal)(perhaps negligable), I doubt it would result in 2nd gear losing teeth. Did something fall down into the tunnel and prevents the shift coupler for moving forward into 2nd?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-13-2005, 04:08 AM

Thanks Jonathan,

Checked the tunnel, whole thing, it's all clear. Took a quick test drive last night and when you try to get it into second (lightly), it feels like one cog is "gumming" another, rather than teeth meshing.

Hope to drain and inspect this weekend. With the E now up on blocks and no interior, it may be the Jeep for some time.

klaucke · 07-13-2005, 07:48 AM

I drive Jeep daily! Its not all so bad, but then again mine is 5-speed so I can stay in the mood. If you decide to tear into the box, let me know I'd love to get some experience before I tear into my own. Have you tried going into 2nd with the motor off?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-13-2005, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by klaucke
I drive Jeep daily! Its not all so bad, but then again mine is 5-speed so I can stay in the mood. If you decide to tear into the box, let me know I'd love to get some experience before I tear into my own. Have you tried going into 2nd with the motor off?

Will let you know.

No go never on 2nd.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Shaun,

I've posted this here before, but the way I described how my first gear felt was, "It feels like it must feel if you were trying to make love to a woman who still had her panties on."

Sorry if that comment offends anyone, but it really is the best way to describe it. No matter how much you try to push it into gear, it just will not go.

Good luck, Shaun!

Randy

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-13-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcecale
Shaun,

I've posted this here before, but the way I described how my first gear felt was, "It feels like it must feel if you were trying to make love to a woman who still had her panties on."

Sorry if that comment offends anyone, but it really is the best way to describe it. No matter how much you try to push it into gear, it just will not go.

Good luck, Shaun!

Randy

LOL!!! Yup, that's pretty much how it feels, as best I can remember now, been single for some time, too many hours at work, but I digres... Should have the motor/trans out this weekend. Will report back. Charging the camera battery now.

thanks for the well-wishes!

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Shaun,

Got an update for us? Enquiring minds want to know!

Randy

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-18-2005, 03:57 AM

hey Randy,

Too much going on at work, I decided it would be easier/quicker to get the E back on the road and drive that for a week or two before tackling this job.

Sorry to disappoint. this coming weekend is wide open now, so there's a good chance of doing it then. If I can, I'll drop the motor some night this week to have the weekend free to play with the trans.

More to come.