Manual Transmisson Problem!

Hello,

I just got my Manual 99 Z24 back after it sitting for a year. It was towed to a storage and towed back. Over the course of that time I would start it and run it for a bit. But I have a problem with it now, ever since it sat over the winter the transmission wont shift properly. I can get into 3rd and 4th gear with little problems. But 1,2,5,and Reverse cause problems. I have to grind it around to get to 1st and 2nd but no matter what it won't go into 5th or reverse.

I was wondering if anyone had a clue of to what could be wrong with my car. Any comments or help is appreciated. Thanks.

shift cables

Do i need to take this in to a shop? Or is this perhaps a quick fix?

Uggggh, did you check the clutch fluid reservoir? Try starting there, i highly doubt there is something wrong with the cables without a just cause of misuse or abuse on them.

Yes, it was full. I checked that first haha. It feels like its grinding, in order to get it out of neutral i have to use both hands and push or pull on it.

does it actually make the grinding noise, or does it just feel like it should be grinding at that particular moment??
before it kinda sounded like shift cables, now that you said what you just said, it makes me think even more that it is indeed your shift cables, you CAN do it yourself if you want, but once i saw/read all the bullshit involved i was more then happy to pay a shop $300 to do it on a 110 degree summer day,
do you ever "abuse" the car?? the shop asked me the same thing, cuz that is generally what causes them to go out, i had only had the car for like 4-5000 miles so i was left to assume the previous owner beat the shit out of it,

Put some GM Syncromax tranny fluid in it....if that doesnt fix it, something is out of alignment....bring it to a shop at that point

Yes it actually makes a grinding noise. Alright ill try to trans fluid then if not ill take it to a shop. Thanks for the advice

Also no i have never abused my car.

My dipstick underneath reads that there is a fair amount in there. Now i pulled *what i think* is the drain plug only a few drops came out. Was that perhaps the filler plug i pulled? Also i dont have my owners manual and was wondering what to put back in? and how do i change the transmission filter?

Sorry for all the questions, i live in a small town and i am trying to get my hands on a Haynes repair manual.

There is no filter on a manual.

And since you have the internets there is no reason to get a Haynes manual.Here (http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/19/13/9b/0900823d8019139b/repairInfoPages.htm) is some info about the manual trans fluid - courtesy of the internets

Hey thanks alot for all the answers its been much help. I filled it back up. A little too much, it spilled out a little, is that going to be a problem? It shifts better when its idled for a very long time, but its still a little rough. Any ideas?

It shifts better when its idled for a very long time,
from my experience all manuals shift better once the engines warmed up (idled for a long time)

you said it shifts better but still a little rough, my 98 5 speed has been shifting rough since i bought it 3 years ago this month, at first i thought it was jsut the tranny slowly going out, but 3 years later im still driving it and its still shifting like dogshit, like when i slow down to turn a corner and go to pull it back into 2nd, it will grind EVERY FUCKING TIME unless i raise the rpm's up to like 1500-2000 before pulling the shifter back, ive just learned to work around it

from my experience all manuals shift better once the engines warmed up (idled for a long time)

you said it shifts better but still a little rough, my 98 5 speed has been shifting rough since i bought it 3 years ago this month, at first i thought it was jsut the tranny slowly going out, but 3 years later im still driving it and its still shifting like dogshit, like when i slow down to turn a corner and go to pull it back into 2nd, it will grind EVERY FUCKING TIME unless i raise the rpm's up to like 1500-2000 before pulling the shifter back, ive just learned to work around it


Yeah i mean like when idled for like 20-25 minutes.The problem is shifting through neutral, i need to use both hands to pull/push it through. Once i get to say 1st its easy to get into 2nd, but hard to get up and over into 3rd. Once i get to 3rd its easy to get into 4th but hard to get up and over into 5th. Do you have any idea what might be causing this? Thanks so much for your help so far it is greatly appreciated.

If it worked fine when you put it away ,I would look at cables and or change the fluid . You live in Manitoba (winter weather yuk) that is why I would look at corrosion as a possible culprit here. Cables my look fine out side but crappy on the inside. Two hands on the shifter possibly stretched them .