Popping out of third gear?

Pyr0TeK

Member
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2001 Pro LX 2.0
I am guessing this is a tranny issue. Sometimes my car will pop out of third gear, even under regular driving load and not hammering on it. Will grind a little if I shift into third too fast also without giving the clutch time. Thoughts? (help)
 
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I am guessing this is a tranny issue. Sometimes my car will pop out of third gear, even under regular driving load and not hammering on it. Will grind a little if I shift into third too fast also without giving the clutch time. Thoughts? (help)

It's been a long time since I've been inside a G-series trans. I'll be pulling mine apart in the next few days. If you want to take a look at it yourself I have the factory supplemental transmission service manual.
 
It's been a long time since I've been inside a G-series trans. I'll be pulling mine apart in the next few days. If you want to take a look at it yourself I have the factory supplemental transmission service manual.
Thanks... I'm just not sure where to even start ya know? I know nothing about clutches/trannys so I figured I'd ask the best, YOU! Maybe I should start saving for a new tranny and clutch. How hard is it to swap? Is it a total engine pull sort of deal? I am not financially ready to move on this but would you be interested in taking the job if/when I do later on? I would rather a knowledgebale Mazda gearhead like yourself do the work rather than someone I don't know etc etc etc.
 
It's actually easier to pull the whole motor/trans together. I wouldn't mind taking a look at it. I might be able to source the parts you need out of my broken transmission if needed. I haven't torn it down yet to see what let go.
 
It's actually easier to pull the whole motor/trans together. I wouldn't mind taking a look at it. I might be able to source the parts you need out of my broken transmission if needed. I haven't torn it down yet to see what let go.
Cool bro... just keep me in mind when you start tearing it down and put a box together for me and we'll get together sometime in the future. Y0sky and I can head up for a weekend. I'll keep my eyes open for a clutch tranny in the meantime...
 
I pulled mine apart today. Everything in it is fine except for the diff. We can take the diff out of yours and put into my trans. It would be an easy swap.
 
I would say check the engine mounts... I had this same problem and once i changed out my rear and pas side mount it hasnt happened again. I even tried the same quick shifting from 2 to 3 to see if it would grind.
 
I would say check the engine mounts... I had this same problem and once i changed out my rear and pas side mount it hasnt happened again. I even tried the same quick shifting from 2 to 3 to see if it would grind.

Oh yea...forgot about that being an issue as well. You might want to look into replacing the mounts first. If you've never done it I can almost assure you they are torn. I've had solid mounts for so long that I forgot how crappy the stock ones were.
 
Oh yea...forgot about that being an issue as well. You might want to look into replacing the mounts first. If you've never done it I can almost assure you they are torn. I've had solid mounts for so long that I forgot how crappy the stock ones were.
I Window Weld'ed my passenger side mount but I have not touched the others yet. I know I looked at the front one and it is torn so I'll fill it too. I might as well just Window Weld them all... I just hate the inside rattling to hell and back. Think it would help doing the 3 and leaving the rear or would it be the main culprit?
 
truly, i think the rear is the main culprit. I know it sucks... I currently have SLS front, updated side mount and awr rear. The Vibes do suck at times but its good to know that im not grinding third any more, cuz i hated it. I would have to pause to shift into third and sometimes that wouldnt help either. But now all is well, even when its cold outside smooth as butter...
 
The rear is the main problem. The motor pivots toward the back under load. The rear one needs to be the most sturdy. I've changed a rear mount with the motor/intake mani in the car before. It's not easy, but it is possible. It would be more efficient to just get a new rear mount and fill it. Then swap it out. Pulling the old out and having to wait for the silicone to cure would take too long for my liking.
 
Wonder if I can connect a flexible tube to the Window Weld tube and fill it without taking it out? Seems possible but I have not looked at it close enough to see if I can get to it in order to squeeze it in.

...and as stated, you are right about the pivot... I held pressure on it in third gear this morning and hit the gas back and forth and you can feel it bigtime try to move the shifter back...
 
It would be very hard to fill it while it's still in the car. Trying to squeeze window weld thrugh a long tube would suck and I'm not sure you could get it in all the holes of the mount with it bolted into the bracket on the transmission.
 
It would be very hard to fill it while it's still in the car. Trying to squeeze window weld thrugh a long tube would suck and I'm not sure you could get it in all the holes of the mount with it bolted into the bracket on the transmission.
Yeah you're probably right... that stuff is very tar-like.
 
The first link isn't the right design for your car. I think that fits the earlier 3rd Gen 1.8L cars. The second link is the correct style mount. I have no feedback on the quality.
 
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