I'm looking for any suggestions on what to check on my 85 4cyl isuzu 5spd. The car will shift into 1st, 5th & Rev. with no problem. I can not shift into 2nd & 3rd.at all & 4th will go after appling alot of pull on the shifter (when it does go "in" there is no "grinding". (first day of problem 2nd gear just seemed alittle stiff, the next day on the way home is when the other gears started acting up) Being as though it goes "in" on some gears with no problem I believe I can rule out the hydraulic aspect. These symptons are the same whether the engine is on or not. This is my daily driver so any ideas that will help me would be greatly appreciated.
------------------
IP: Logged
07:01 PM
PFF
System Bot
befarrer Member
Posts: 1962 From: Westlock, Alberta, CANADA Registered: Aug 2002
Sounds like you have a shift cables are going out, sounds like the selector (the one that does left-right movement). It may be out of adjustment too.
Can you get 2nd? IF not then it may be internal, how is your tranny oil? May have toasted some synchro's.
On my Dads Fiero, his 1st gear is a PITA to get into once the engine has warmed up, you have to double clutch a few times, if the car is rolling it is easier to get it in 1st, but he thinks that one of the previous owners ground the gears screwing up the schyncros, 2nd gear is alittle iffy too.
I spent about 10 minutes adjusting the cables and it caused other gears to get stiffer. What type of oil should be in the transmission? how do I check the level? Is there a maintance interval for it, Ive owned the car 10 yrs & have never changed it out.
I spent about 10 minutes adjusting the cables and it caused other gears to get stiffer. What type of oil should be in the transmission? how do I check the level? Is there a maintance interval for it, Ive owned the car 10 yrs & have never changed it out.
You can use either 10w-30 motor oil or auto transmission fluid, DO NOT MIX THE TWO TYPES, its either or. Find out what is in it and service with that type. Your speedometer sender (VSS) is the actual tranny fluid gauge. You'll have to remove the bolt that holds the hold-down on then wiggle the VSS until it comes out of the tranny. Be carefull not to bump the speedo gear as to it might fall off into the tranny. The speedo will have two rings on the casing and that is the range for your fluid level.
hope that helps
[This message has been edited by FIEROPHREK (edited 03-22-2005).]
I had the same problem about a month ago. I keep coins in my ashtrays. Aparantly when I made a sharp turn a few quarters fell out and in between the selector cable mechanism. I was lost, stuck, and didn't know what to do. It's also my daily driver. I found the change when I finally removed the center console. A screwdriver and needle nose saved my life that day.
I spent about 10 minutes adjusting the cables and it caused other gears to get stiffer. What type of oil should be in the transmission? how do I check the level? Is there a maintance interval for it, Ive owned the car 10 yrs & have never changed it out.
I'll throw in my vote for cables going bad - went through a similar situation a couple months ago, and I'd have sworn up and down that what I was 'feeling' in the shifter was caused by problems inside the transmission.
But one of the cables had corroded/stuck/was extremely hard to move - disconnecting both ends of each of the cables and trying to move them by hand should tell you which one is bad. Each should slide back and forth very easily when disconnected at both ends.
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try the coin thing first then the cables after dinner. Please check back on me in a couple of hours i'll post where it got me.
I actually had the same problem not too long ago, (have a 5-speed though) shifted easy in 1st 2nd and 5th, tended to grind into 3d 4th, same with downshifting... I replaced everything to do with shift, cables, hardware, master and slave,.. finally bought a new pedal, made a HUGE difference, works like brand new now, not a single problem (this is my 2nd pedal, bought first one 3 years ago when i first got my 2m4)...
Ok, here's the results. 1.Pulled change/debris out of center console (there was very little though)_ did not resolve 2.Loosened both ends of both cables, cables move fairly easy (sprayed WD40 in 'em)-did not resolve 3.With cables off in rear I attempted to move the arms, I can put the arms in the 1, 4, 5, R positions but 2 & 3 moves toward the correct positions and will hold in place but do not "click" into gear like the working gears. 4. Pulled speed sensor, fluid appears to be full (also no external leakage found)
Does this mean its actually internal or can the assembly on top of the transmission(wear the rod moves in & out of ) be replaced & potential fix the problem ??
Additional question.... Would simply changing out the fluid and refilling it with new may be fix it . Hey I know I'm grasping for straws. But I don't want to go through alot if theres a simple fix. John
Correction to the fluid level, my sensor does not have the "range lines ". My fluid is only about a 8th of an inch up on the metal on the gear end of the sensor. I'll purchase the http://www.pennzoil.com/products/gear_oil/syncro_fluid.html and refill the transmission toworrow. The fluid in there is not "milky" but does not look clean either. Is there a "best practice" for draining the fluid??
Thanks to all for the input . Final out come was internal transmission problem. Resolution was a $150 "barely used " transmission from a local salvage yard. So far so good. The selector linkage (where the cable connects) is in better condition (less slop in left/right motion of stick) & I now have reverse lights working. (Owned the car for 10 years , the things never came on)
------------------ Sk8rfiero 85 2M4coupe 86 SE 2M6 85 SE 2M6
