3rd gear = :(

[Project240]

So my 3rd gear grinds allot. I just did my manual conversion, so i know it wasn't me who shit on the transmission. I could just be driving normally and 3rd will grind like a bitch. It happens allot. Oh, and whenever i speed shift to 3rd, its a guarantee grind. Is there anything i can do without taking off my transmission? I'm thinkin it won't be a good i dea to go turbo with this 3rd gear being a bitch like iut is.

[initialRES]

sounds like a worn synchro. You could try putting some nice tranny fluid in it. I know some people are able to fix that problem by using something like pennzoil synchromesh. However, even if it does go away, the fluid is just covering up the problem. You will probably need a rebuild or replacement for the tranny.

[DKS_Subaru]

Yes, there is something you can do. Drain your crappy tranny fluid and let it drain for a while. Be sure you dont have the car at an angle, i had mine on some ramps and rolled it off after draining and got about 10 more ounces of nasty tranny oil. Go to a car dealership. (Not an auto parts store). In the parts sales area ask them for some ATF +4. I know its auto tranny fluid but trust me. Only the +4 will work..the +3 or +2 is nothing but junk... Add that in there and i bet about 90% of your grinding goes away. Chrystler dealership is the most likely place to find it (Mopar brand ATF+4) I was skeptical but a very educated friend of mine that works on race and heavy duty trannys told me this and i did it and it worked. I had the exact same problems as your having (mine was 4th gear). Used to grind when just trying to ease it into 4th daily driving. Now its really hard to make it slightly grind even when speed shifting. drastic difference! Also i had about 4000 miles on my mobil 1 synthetic gear lube so it wasnt that i had bad or dirty fluid. Try this at least before you take off the tranny. Its only about 22 bucks. Mine took like 4.2 quarts. bought 5 at around 4 bucks a piece. Mopar ATF+4 is WONDERFUL...saved me about $2200 for a new STi-RA tranny.

[DKS_Subaru]

The problem is your synchro on the side where it engages is slipping more than the side where its supposed to slide. Mopar ATF+4 (I am by no means a Dodge fan) has the best and most friction modifiers available today and can only be found at a Chrysler dealership. If you make it slide better where its supposed to instead of the engaging side then you dont just cover up the problem, you make it work right. Now InitialRES is right, if you ever put anything else in there besides ATF+4 or if the AFT+4 gets real dirty, then it will more than likely be back to Grind Central Station.

[Project240]

so the atf +4 works in syncromesh transmissions too?? I just put some neo synthetic shit in my tranny and it still grinds. 5th gear grinds, but it doens't happen all that often. But its a guarantee grind when i gun it through 1st and 2nd and i go to 5th so i can cruise. Its just 3rd and 5th.


i'll drop by a dealership and pick some of that up when i get time and i'll post back.

[rage]

id buy an extra tranny and beat the shit out of this one until it dies

[DKS_Subaru]

ya the ATF+4 works in any tranny you can find...i now put it in everything i have...my dad's dodge truck...my moms mazda car...my friends cars and big trucks...everything...it really helps everyhting i have put it in...be sure you get ALL that nasty old fluid out first...becuase if you have been gridning its more than likely gonna look like someone poured a bottle of glitter on your tranny from all the metal shavings...synchomesh transmissions benefit from its most actually...at least my wrx with the RA gearset. and my friends 6-speed spec-v both worked wonders on and also an srt-4...

[Project240]

so is it a bad thing if i add in tranny additive shit? LIke the z-max tranny additive stuff with the atf +4 in my 5 speed tranny? Oh, and btw the tranny fluid i havei n there right now isn't even 4k miles old.

[DKS_Subaru]

maybe do the z-max stuff with some atf+3 then change it again after like 1000 miles to atf+4. I wouldnt add anything to the atf+4 its got lots and lots of high tech friction modifiers and all kinds of shit in it so i wouldnt mix it with anything.