3rd gear "clunk".. hmmm..

Greetings folks. A quick question to the experts here if I may...

I just bought a '96 Cavalier 2.2... Great car, I love it so far, have had it for about 3 weeks. I have noticed though, that everytime I shift into third gear specifically, I feel and hear little "clunk" or maybe you could call it a short griding noise, like some part was spinning and putting in gear abruptly stopped it. The car is not difficult to shift into third and this hasn't caused me any problems yet, but it's annoying.

In order to have it not make that noise, when I take off and when I shift to third I have to come out of second, then pause in neutral for a half second or so, then I can shift into third and it wont make that "clunk" sound. But if I shift the way my normal rhythm is (which is relatively slow and gentle anyway, I don't bang gears) it makes the sound, and I can feel it a little through the shift knob. It doesn't happen on any other gear but 3rd, except it has once or twice going into reverse when stopped.

Any ideas?

Heyo

It sounds like who ever had the car before you was banging the gears as you stated which you do not do - what that will do is wear out the syncros in the gear thats been shifted hard alot in- which in your case it seems to be third the most common- an you will hear a lil not so loud grinding/rubbing noise depending on how bad its worn - if it real bad it will sound like you are not depressing the clutch when shifting - or eventually it will wear down on the spline in the trans from excessive abuse. Was it a Private sale or Dealer?

Thanks for the reply....

Was it a Private sale or Dealer?

It was a private sale.

You know, I asked a co-worker of mine about it yesterday, too, and he also mentioned it might be the synchros.

How hard/expensive is that to fix? I don't know trannsmissions well at all. Is it something that the tranny has to come out of the car to look at/repair?

Also, a more important question, how urgent is it that I fix that? It hasn't caused any problems, hasn't gotten any worse and I am just being careful with it. But having said that, I want to get it fixed, just don't know how much cash it's gonna beat me for and how long I'd be without a car.

Heyo

... if it is the synchros, do you think that GM "synchromesh" stuff will help?

Is that an additive or do you drain and replace? Is that something that a mehcanic has to do or can you drain and refill a manual tranny in your driveway?

Heyo

Thanks for the reply....



It was a private sale.

You know, I asked a co-worker of mine about it yesterday, too, and he also mentioned it might be the synchros.

How hard/expensive is that to fix? I don't know trannsmissions well at all. Is it something that the tranny has to come out of the car to look at/repair?

Also, a more important question, how urgent is it that I fix that? It hasn't caused any problems, hasn't gotten any worse and I am just being careful with it. But having said that, I want to get it fixed, just don't know how much cash it's gonna beat me for and how long I'd be without a car.

Heyo

Ya if it was a dealer sale they would have most likely put in a new trans, the problem shouldnt take more than a day if you take it to a trans expert shop that isnt extremely busy- so u would prob. be outa the car for a weekend. They are not to bad - if you go to replace it try an get a poly. syncro replacement - they last longer an stand better abuse, an shift really nice an smooth, if you go to a performance trans shop an get a performance syncro installed it will cost anywhere from $200-300 with labor. I am not sure the price of a non-performance syncro replacement - but i would imagine it would be less. You can do it yourself if you have good transmission knowledge an to make it easier also have a car lift- if not just get a quote from a dealer an then from a trans shop - but i would imagine a factory replacement job would be about $200. Sorry That I can not give you a solid price but the only thing i did a syncro replacement on personaly was my buddies 91 honda CRX si, the performance syncro was about $75 took me 5 hours to drop trans dis-assem an re-assem-i only had him pay me 50 bucks cause he was my friends - shop labor is around 75-150 an hour - so i think more or less ya get raped on the labor charge - it costing more than the part itself....

Good Luck Man .... Hope That Gives You A Relative Idea! :smile:

Good Day!

about that synchromesh.... where can i buy it and how long does it last? I am interested because when I shift my car in second at higher RPMs it grinds.

ya sounds like your second is goin - sounds like ya dont have the clutch in all the way when u try an shift right?
if so thats ur problem....
just go to a trans repair shop where that is all they do is that it will prob. cost ya about 150-200 with labor -
i think it would cost under a $100 for the part its just the labor but it is much easyier for them to do it if your not familar with transmissions

about that synchromesh.... where can i buy it and how long does it last? I am interested because when I shift my car in second at higher RPMs it grinds.

the synchromesh is just transmission fluid, infact its the ONLY trans fluid you can use, you can get it from your local chevy dealership, what ever you do do not use standard ATF Dexron 3 Auto trans fluid in your Manual Transmission it will cause permanent damage, ONLY use GM Synchromesh Transmission Fluid, Call your local dealers parts and service office and request it.

ya you might want to have it worked on professionally - so nothing gets messed up...

thanks guys..... i'll def change the fluid with the GM synchromesh - and if that doesnt work - ill prolly just live without second for awhile, its only in winter when it gives me a hard time - I live in WI and the nights get down to -30 and days about 10 degrees. hopefully when summer comes around ill have my second in top shape for Great Lakes Dragaway!