5th gear went out while driving on highway

[oneblueyedog]

Afer accellerating on an entrance ramp and try to get it into 5th to cruise out only to find that it won't go into 5th. I tried and tried without forcing and got it in one time but 4th was the top gear available on todays drive.

I adjusted the shifter 4 years ago when I replaced all of the shifter bushings. I can't think of why it would not go into 5th. It goes into reverse.

Anyone have similar trouble or experience? Thanks.

[avendlerdp]

Shifter bushings don't last 4 years.

[Walt Fricke]

Naw, my shifter bushings last at least five years.

Since it engages reverse (and, by inference, 1st and 3d), I doubt it is an adjustment issue, and the 5/R finger must be engaging the slot in the shift rod. And you no doubt have pulled up the rubber shift tower boot to make sure nothing is bumping into something up there.

So maybe the 5th synchro ring retaining ring got loose? That's just an evil guess, Maybe that would make nasty sounds right away as bits escaped.

Perhaps the brass shift fork has gotten loose? There is a roll pin that might keep it from moving too far in the reverse direction, so that is what allows it to still engage reverse? But I am a bit doubtful of this diagnosis also. When a tranny of mine had this fork out of adjustment (but not loose - a professional mechanic got hurried and set it up a bit off) it would make a noticeable racket in any gear other than 5th or reverse as the sides of the two reverse gears rubbed against each other lightly.

If there is any silver lining in this, it is that after you pull the engine and transmission out, opening up the transmission to inspect 5th is the easiest thing you can do on a transmission. No special tools needed. Fixing it may be another matter.

But who knows - maybe it is just a plastic bushing broken on one side (even if that doesn't explain how you can get 5 of the 6 gears)? Given the alternatives, you have to check that stuff out before taking more drastic measures.

Walt Fricke

[JohnHickey]

Silly had the same problem , it does sound dumb but check if the gear shift has rotated slightly, this can cause the lug on the shift leaver to foul the gear shift gate into 5th ( doesnt effect Reverse)

[Oh Haha]

I had the same thing happen to me last year. this is what I found after checking the obvious, easy to look at bits.
No 5th gear diagnosis...pics

I did the repair myself. It wasn't very difficult at all. total cost was around $300.00.

[oneblueyedog]

Great ideas to explore. Thanks to all!

[oneblueyedog]

Just discoverd it's not my transmission. I also discovered that I have a short shift kit unless the factory glued the shift stalk in the ball actuator.

The reverse guard is also broken. ( I assume that's what it is. It's a little round riveted assembly near the 5th and reverse walls on the shifter)

The gear lever rotated just enough to keep the tang on the shifter from going past the gate wall. After I rotated it back, it slipped into 5th. But now it's loose and undriveable.

So do I just glue it back? What glue? Is there a better way?

[450knotOffice]

Take a look at this thread:
Factory Short Shifter welds broke

[Oh Haha]

Glad to hear the good news. I wish mine would have been that simple.

[Walt Fricke]

Be careful with the welding. A shop tack welded mine after it broke loose (admittedly, it was my epoxy job on an after market inexpensive short shift kit that broke), but hit it with too much juice. One of the welds burned a small hole through the upper thinner tube of the long lever arm.

With the result that a year or so later the whole thing snapped at the joint, and I got to wave a shift lever out the window to show the corner workers why I was coasting to a stop.

But subsequent ones have been welded (on a bench, not in the car) with no problems.

I've wondered if ordinary old solder might not work fine if you could get enough heat on the pieces for it to wick in. But welding is quick and works well.

Walt Fricke

[Walt Fricke]

And, yes - the factory does glue these parts together. If you want to separate them (to add one of the less expensive aftermarket short shifts, for instance), you just heat things up to break the epoxy's hold.

Kudos to John Hickey on this one.

Walt