Shifting problem - United Bimmer Community

**Dudesky** · 01-27-2006, 01:19 PM

Okay, transmissions are not really my thing, so hopefully someone has experience with this. No previous indication that anything was wrong or going bad. I got in the car at lunchtime, and drove home. It's grinding as it goes into 2nd gear, very audible, and I can feel it on the stickshift. Sounds like gear teeth spinning against something stationary. If I hold the clutch in about an extra second longer than normal before shifting, it doesn't grind. Otherwise everything is fine . . coming out of 2nd, and any other gear. Any advice?

This sucks because the tranny was rebuilt last spring

**devinwwu** · 01-27-2006, 01:25 PM

sounds like the same issue paul was having (dinan540) with his tranny. hopefully not cause i think he has to get his rebuilt or get a new gearbox or something. dig up that receipt for the tranny service and take it in saying it isn't shifting right, they should still warrant their work

**tomctx** · 01-27-2006, 01:30 PM

Probably a bad synchro gear. Won't know for sure until you look.

**xsperf** · 01-27-2006, 02:45 PM

if you hold down the clutch a little longer it doesnt do it? sounds like its not your tranny at all, just maybe air in your system.. try to bleed the slave cylinder

**tomctx** · 01-27-2006, 03:19 PM

Seems like if it was the slave cylinder, it would do the same thing in all gears, not just second. Doesn't hurt to check. Still sounds like the synchro gear for second.

**dinan540** · 01-27-2006, 03:41 PM

Its the synchro. If their are particles in the tranny fluid, it is the tranny. I have the same problem from 3rd to 4th. If I hold the clutch in for a second, then it won't grind. I had 3 separate places verify that it is the transmission. With my car, they don't rebuild it because the parts are unavailable. My only option is factory new or a used tranny. I would bring it back to the place that you had the transmission done in the spring.

Did they rebuild it or put in a used tranny?

It sucks, especially since you just had it done.

**jybute** · 01-27-2006, 03:48 PM

hey dinan, did they say how much for a new tranny?

**Dudesky** · 01-27-2006, 04:10 PM

I didn't get the tranny done myself. I bought the car back in March last year on the condition that they would replace the tranny since 2nd gear wasn't working. But I don't know exactly what they did, or who they sent it to. My bad for not following up. I highly doubt they had it rebuilt. But it's a little peculiar that 2nd gear is the problem again, although it happens once in a while in 1st as well. Up till now I hadn't had any problems, Hmm . .

Now that xsperf mentions it, I topped off the brake fluid the other day. Could this also be a low trans fluid condition? Before I send it anywhere, I'll have to get underneath there and try a couple of things. Any more thoughts/suggestions appreciated, thanks guys.

**c1apton** · 01-27-2006, 07:01 PM

Dsky, check the trans fluid level regardless and make sure it's up to the normal level. Then do a clutch slave cylinder flush (similar to brake blush but only off the clutch slave cylinder.) Since you topped up brake fluid level recently, I'ld try this before anything. Without going into a "mile long explanation" 2nd gear seems to always amplify air in the cluth slave system.

**xsperf** · 01-27-2006, 07:39 PM

tomctx: he said out of 2nd and any other gear

you guys are talking about gearbox fluid, right? b/c tranny fluid is usually referred to when talking about auto trannies, but nevertheless, i doubt its that b/c its supposed to be a lifetime fluid, and if it is his synchros, why would you have to push the clutch longer?

**c1apton** · 01-27-2006, 08:00 PM

Xsperf, I don't believe in ANY fluid being lifetime. Maybe if it wasn't exposed to air, but trans fluid manual or automatic is exposed to air (for expansion) The fluid is made to lubricate and to keep metallic particles in suspension and away from gears and other moving parts and they do breakdown with time with heat & constant temp changes. I DO believe in long life oils/gear olis but lifetime is questionable. It's cheap insurance to change trans fluids & diff fluid every couple of years - because of condensation, moisture, etc... similar to brake fluid. I'ld check the level, then bleed the clutch slave before attacking syncros or another big culprit on E36 - input bearings. (pushing the cluth twice or longer helps squash a possible air bubble or pocket - like pumping the brakes)

**94bmw325i** · 01-27-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinan540

Its the synchro. If their are particles in the tranny fluid, it is the tranny. I have the same problem from 3rd to 4th. If I hold the clutch in for a second, then it won't grind. I had 3 separate places verify that it is the transmission. With my car, they don't rebuild it because the parts are unavailable. My only option is factory new or a used tranny. I would bring it back to the place that you had the transmission done in the spring.

Did they rebuild it or put in a used tranny?

It sucks, especially since you just had it done.

did you buy your car brand new? Or maybe a few years old? I figured you would have a few years warranty left, or something?

**Dudesky** · 01-27-2006, 08:26 PM

Oki doke . . I gotta pull the brake pads and get rid of some squeal tomorrow anyway, so I'll go for the slave cylinder bleed as well. Just hope things are simple enough . . don't feel like spending much more for this car. I'll keep you guys posted . .

**94bmw325i** · 01-27-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

Oki doke . . I gotta pull the brake pads and get rid of some squeal tomorrow anyway, so I'll go for the slave cylinder bleed as well. Just hope things are simple enough . . don't feel like spending much more for this car. I'll keep you guys posted . .

hope it all works out, does seem odd how its the same gear that is having issues. If the place you bought the car from wouldn't pay for it, could you get new 2nd gear synchros for not too much?

**B_w.** · 01-27-2006, 11:30 PM

could grinding the gears a few times do this?