1997 Escort can't downshift to 3rd

[iceman1113]

I can't downshift into 3rd gear. Every other gear works fine. This has been doing this for about a year and a half. Anyone got any ideas?

[calla1231]

Mine did that for about 2 years and then all of a sudden one day it started going back into 3rd. We never took it to see what was wrong. It was very wierd that it fixed itself though.

[Davescort97]

Originally Posted by iceman1113

I can't downshift into 3rd gear. Every other gear works fine. This has been doing this for about a year and a half. Anyone got any ideas?

Could be the synchronizer in 3rd. One way to tell is to double clutch it going down from 4th. Depress clutch, shift to neutral, let out clutch,depress clutch and shift into 3rd. I never downshift my 97. I used to downshift for engine braking until a friend of mine asked me "What's cheaper? Brake pads or synchros?"