Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online!
Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! 
-
Latest | 0 Rplys
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Geo > Metro
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Email this Page Email this Page | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 04-10-2009, 11:04 PM   #46
DOCTORBILL
Geo Metro Lover
Thread starter
 
DOCTORBILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Eastern Washington State, Washington
Posts: 1,622
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

So many things to comment on here !

Could they have put that Oil Fill Plug in any worse place imaginable ?!
Why the Hell isn't it on top - in one of those nice open areas?
Without a typical Garage Hydraulic Lift, Changing that Transmission oil is Hell.
Were the designers of this Transmission on Dope ?

OK...I am not advocating dumping oil into the Transmission until it starts going thru the Speedometer
Cable, but essentially this device has no "dip stick" to let you know how much oil is actually in there.

Maybe I should pull my Speedometer Cable out of the Transmission to see if any
oil comes gushing out ! Ha !


If you pulled the Speedometer Cable out of the Transmission before adding more oil,
then you would know when to stop....yes ?

I remember someone actually advocated filling the Transmission thru the Speedometer Cable Port ! Not a bad idea...

If you have not drained the sucker (Woodie83 implied that one may not get all the oil out), then how
do you know how much is actually in there?

BTW - whatever you might not have drained out would still be in there....

Plus, mine was making bearing noises when cold and the Clutch Technician was telling me to
add some low weight motor oil and the noise would stop.

So I did that and the noises stopped....ya gotta go with what works !

Probably (most likely) what I have observed would probably (I sound like Obama) have happened had I
added a ½ Quart of the 80W - 90 Gear Oil !

Just cover the Large Ball Bearings and they'd stop chattering....makes sense.

Anyway, I don't want to start another big discussion about which oil (either Gear or Motor Oil) is best !

Those discussions get rather heated.

I think that I will try to come up with some kind of wood dowel dipstick thingie that I can put down that
Clutch lever clamp Bolt Hole and actually measure the oil level.

Since I have this rebuilt one I just did, I have a Golden opportunity to study this conundrum.

One more thing - knowing that the Large Ball Bearings (LBB's) on the Input Shaft are not all that well covered
with oil, it seems like a good idea to fill the Transmission with Gear Oil to the fullest amount just to keep
those LBB's lasting longer.

It is a simple thing to do and could have big consequences later on down the line.

Had I known this when I first obtained my '93 Metro (The Phoenix), maybe I wouldn't
have to replace the Transmission now !

DoctorBill over the Hill

PS - Just thought of something - after draining the Transmission, if you were to jack up the
left side of the car really far, when you add Gear Oil via the fill plug hole, you might be able
to get the whole 2.5 quarts in there !
Just a thought.....just don't let the car fall on you !
.
__________________


Last edited by DOCTORBILL; 04-10-2009 at 11:39 PM.
DOCTORBILL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2009, 05:09 AM   #47
Woodie83
AF Enthusiast
 
Woodie83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: College Park, Maryland
Posts: 573
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

Chilton is not "the manual", the one written by Suzuki is "the manual" and it recommends GM Synchromesh. GM Synchromesh is made by Pennsoil specifically for small manual transmissions like ours. It is very similar in weight to 5W-30 oil, but formulated for the different needs of a manual transmission.

Synchromesh gives you better mileage, works in the cold, doesn't stink, and often fixes sluggish sychronizers. Other than being what the car manufacturer recommends, can't think of any other reason to use it.

I've changed transmission fluid about ten times, never seen one that didn't take 2.5 quarts.
__________________
Woodie

98 Metro and 06 Aerio SX

Don't waste your vote on one or the other of the Republicrats, vote for Gary Johnson and really do something for a change
http://www.garyjohnson2012.com


Woodie83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2009, 11:23 AM   #48
DOCTORBILL
Geo Metro Lover
Thread starter
 
DOCTORBILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Eastern Washington State, Washington
Posts: 1,622
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

""the manual" (Suzuki) .... recommends GM Synchromesh....It is very similar in weight to 5W-30 oil....doesn't stink."

Now we're cooking with Gas !

If it is like 5W - 30 and doesn't stink - I can go with that !

Tell us exactly how you drain the Transmissions and get 2.5 quarts back into it.

Others on this Forum have agreed with me, so I am not a complete nut case.

DoctorBill over the Hill

PS - What orifice would Chilton have pulled that recommendation out of ?
__________________

DOCTORBILL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2009, 05:28 AM   #49
Woodie83
AF Enthusiast
 
Woodie83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: College Park, Maryland
Posts: 573
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

Make sure you're on level ground, car should not be jacked up. If you refill it with the front end jacked up, you'll not get enough lube in there.

Take out the fill plug first, it's on the left rear corner of the transmission housing, sort of behind the left front wheel. Take out the drain plug and leave it out for half an hour. Put the drain plug back in, affix two feet of surgical tubing to the nozzle of the Synchromesh bottle, put the other end in the fill hole. Squeeze until the lube oil just comes back out the hole as fast as you squeeze it in, takes exactly 2.5 quarts.
__________________
Woodie

98 Metro and 06 Aerio SX

Don't waste your vote on one or the other of the Republicrats, vote for Gary Johnson and really do something for a change
http://www.garyjohnson2012.com


Woodie83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2009, 09:54 AM   #50
DOCTORBILL
Geo Metro Lover
Thread starter
 
DOCTORBILL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Eastern Washington State, Washington
Posts: 1,622
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

I am very, very intrigued by your post....

"Make sure you're on level ground, car should not be jacked up."



"Take out the fill plug first,.......Take out the drain plug....."





I am 5' 10" tall and of average build. I cannot even get my hands near those plugs without
jacking the vehicle up fairly high and sliding on my back like a wiggle worm underneath the car...

If you are using a lift as in a mechanics garage, no sweat.

In my driveway - no way Jose....

Do you mean, jack it up, start draining it, lower the car - let it drain, then jack it back up
to put the plugs back in the Transmission after all the Oil is out ?

The difference between working on a Metro on a lift and on the ground is like the difference
between day and night. 100 times easier.

"...affix two feet of surgical tubing to the nozzle of the Synchromesh bottle,...

Right...OK. After you obtain some surgical tubing (?), how do you make sure it
doesn't slip out of the hole as you fill with it ?

DoctorBill
__________________


Last edited by DOCTORBILL; 04-12-2009 at 11:37 AM.
DOCTORBILL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2009, 05:19 AM   #51
Woodie83
AF Enthusiast
 
Woodie83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: College Park, Maryland
Posts: 573
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Re: What are ALL the symptoms of a worn out Manual Transmission ?

We're really over analyzing this here, it's not that tough. Can't swear about the trans lube, but I change my oil all the time without jacking it up, and my car is lowered an inch and a quarter. If you can't reach it from the side, then jack the entire car up, front and back. It's not that critical for the draining, but for the fill, with the fill plug at the absolute rear of the housing, it's going to make a big difference.

Never had an issue with the tubing falling out, doesn't have to be surgical tubing, anything about 1/4 inch ID.
__________________
Woodie

98 Metro and 06 Aerio SX

Don't waste your vote on one or the other of the Republicrats, vote for Gary Johnson and really do something for a change
http://www.garyjohnson2012.com


Woodie83 is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD

Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Geo > Metro

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:47 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts