grinding noise when shifting into third gear

[rocky7890_6]

Once my car is warmed up and i go to shift (manual) into third gear it sounds like something is grinding. It doesn't feel like it's interferring with the shift itself but it's loud and embarassing. Plus i'd just like to fix it but don't know what it is or how bad it is. Any help would be great. Thank you

[CDoasis]

My 88 Ranger does this if you shift into 2nd too quickly. My 91 Storm does the same thing with 3rd, but it's not loud and hardly noticeable.

[rocky7890_6]

do you know what it is that causes it to happen and is it fixable. thanks.

[CDoasis]

No, I don't know.

[ChuckH]

Since it's only grinding in one gear it's probably a syncronizer ring that isn't meshing properly due to wear. If it were all gears it could be the clutch or the clutch cable adjustment or such, but I'm afraid what you describe sounds like an internal gearbox issue. FWIW, some transmissions are notorious for this, but I'm not aware of it being standard equipment on the Storm. Mine shifts smooth in all gears. Anyway, my first recommendation would be to change the gear oil and see if it helps. The Storm transmission uses 5W-30 engine oil (despite what GM might try and make you believe), so there are many options. Maybe try a synthetic? Try a couple different kinds... I think it only holds 1.5 quarts or so, so it won't cost that much to try several. Then just try slowing down your shifts. That will allow the synchronizer more time to mesh.

And if all else fails short of having the transmission rebuilt or replaced, you can always double clutch!