Grinding from Neutral -> 1st

[CasopoliS]

I hate my MSP's tranny. Big surprise eh? Sometimes (and way too often IMO) when sitting at a dead stop, while I shift into 1st....the gears grind a bit. To answer dumb questions that might follow.....I am not moving, my engine is not being reved, and of course my clutch is all the way down. I have read threads about shifting poorly into reverse, 5th, etc, but never found one regarding first gear. This grinding bugs the crap out of me, and makes my teeth cringe every time. I think it happens randomly. It happened this morning hardcore....now my engine was cold and still idling high, but will 1.5K actually cause this!? I don't think it should, esp if I am not rolling. If I remember right, it also happens while the engine is hot....I will have to pay more attention. Anyway, how can I fix this? Would better tranny fluid help, and how do I replace this? My fix is throwing the tranny off a cliff.....but there is no good tranny to replace it with. Or is there.....? Thanks for the help. I am starting to notice the limitations of the stock engine/tranny/etc. I reached the limit...need forging.

 

[Aaron]

sounds like your clutch is going

 

[DigitalHeadShot]

Do you notice any slipping of the clutch? forisntance when your takeing off do your rpms seem to move faster than the car should be accelerating? I wonder if you clutch could have a problem and possible be uneven, I say that because a friend of mine had the same problem, When we took it apart the clutch was about to fall off, it seemed like it was dangleing there, now granted my dumbass friend somehow went from 4th to 1st and I belive that was his problem. (btw im not saying you did anything like that) The clutch was just a thought, also the clutch on stock msp's are just crap.
B

 

[DigitalHeadShot]

sounds like your clutch is going

I would agree with him, see post above for details. The reason I say clutch b4 tranny, because tranny is more a problem while moving, like you said in your 1st post most have problems with 5th grear or reverse. When your clutch is trying to sycronise with the tranny while moveing and it grinds no matter how far you put your clutch in then I would suggest tranny. Anyways when you get in there to check it all out you will have to see the tranny along with the clutch so check it all out, as far as better tranny I dont know. But if you need a good clutch I would suggest ACT, I have used several ACT's in the past and there wonderful.

 

[CasopoliS]

Crap, I hadn't even thought of that. Now that I think about it, I think it is my clutch. What causes a clutch to go bad? I am below 10k miles on my car. I am good at shifting and do not burn clutch. Does it suck that much? Will the dealership fix this? Remember I am far from stock.....
When I accelerate sometimes my RPMs are too high then all the sudden my gear kicks in and I get a sudden pull. Duh. Its only happened about twice, but never linked it to the grinding into first. Damn crap clutch.
Is there a good clutch out there, instead of putting another stock clutch on? Thanks. I don't have any time on my hands, looks like I will need to pay someone to put it in. Oh well. Time is money. Would this be a good time to replace the tranny fluid as well? Thanks again.

 

[Aaron]

if you can return to stock the dealer SHOULD replace the clutch under warranty if you are under 12K miles

 

[CustomMSP]

Yeah my tranny is acting up as well lately...not sure if it's because I need a new clutch or because of some other tranny related problems. Hope it's the clutch. It very tough to get into any gear at any rpm. And grinds into second gear if I hold the shifter over hand when shifting.

 

[jsahyoun]

I have heard from others that replacing the tranny fluid to synchromesh or redline has solved some grinding issues???

 

[CasopoliS]

if you can return to stock the dealer SHOULD replace the clutch under warranty if you are under 12K miles

I would rather pay to fix the thing. To much time and effort to return to stock. I bought the car to mod the f*** out of it....knowing the warranty is out the door, and knowing it would brake regularly. I have owned it for just over a month. I didn't waste any time as you can see....and I don't plan on stopping either, well only for the season.

 

[CustomMSP]

Nice to see a person take responsibilty for modding I do have redline atl in there...didn't help much if at all. Might have to try a different fluid

 

[blynzoo]

If the clutch pedal is DEPRESSED and it grinds just putting it in, then it has NOTHING to do with the clutch. The clutch isnt even touching the flywheel, and is meeting no resistance.
If it is doing this, then either:
1) your shift forks are bad for at least that gear. I had a grind when shifting normally from 2-3, my forks were bad on three, and they replaced 1 as well. Or,
2) Your 1st gear "guard" is not disengaging properly. YOu have a shift plate that puts resistance against your shift if you try to go into first above approx. 5mph (varies). It shouldnt be a grind, it should be more of a resistance and then "pop!" into gear.

I'm thinking forks.

 

[blynzoo]

OH! Sometimes the simplest is the answer. If your tranny fluid is low, it will grind like a mother, and you will notice it more when the gears are not moving (at a stop). Check the level. It's a bolt on the rear of the tranny, you can find the diagram on here somewhere.

 

[CasopoliS]

Thanks, I will look into fluid for now. I will see what this changes. I will need to find out how to do this....I will search for it.

 

[Gbourdon]

If the clutch is worn then it wont cause grinding (chair) I would suspect a problem with the linkage or shift forks. maybe change your tranny fluid and make sure it is full. (scratch) Are there synchros in first gear? If so they may be worn.

 

[CustomMSP]

I think we have two syncros for first gear