shifting feels dry - need help

[Crackhedbob341]

so for a few days now when i shift from one gear to another it feels dry. it's not hard to shift, and nothing is grinding. i guess i can feel the synchro pull as i'm entering the gear. it just doesn't have the smooth shift like it had before. it just takes a little more umph to go into gear.

this is my first car, let alone a manual so i don't know what fluids i need to flush/replace/check.

thanks.

[AutostradaVR4]

Got a jack?

Tranny drain plug is right on the bottom...should be pretty obvious. I think it's 17mm IIRC.
The fill plug is not quite as abvious. I think its on the front side (towards front of car). I'll try to find you a pic. I think theres one on vr4stealth.com.

I would recommend BG Synchroshift, but theres other good stuff, like RedLine. If you cant get that, just use Hypoid Gear Oil, SAE 75W-90 or 75W-85W conforming to API classification GL-4

fill to the bottom of the fill hole (until it starts overflowing).

BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRIP EITHER OF THEM! They strip pretty easy! if you have a torque wrench, use it. i'll try and find the specs for you.

EDIT
from stealth316...
"The transaxle drain plug is located in the front right wheel well. Remove the wheel for easy access. Loosen the fill plug. Position your container to catch the fluid, then remove the drain plug. Remove the fill plug to allow better fluid flow. While the oil is draining, clean off the magnetic drain plug. After the oil has drained out, replace the drain plug (tighten to 22-25 ft-lb or 30-35 Nm). Use a fluid pump or similar method to add the new gear oil. Add fluid till it starts to dribble out the opening (be sure the car is level). Replace the fill plug (tighten to 18-22 ft-lb or 25-30 Nm). Clean the case around the plugs to make it easier to check for oil leaks.

Popular lubricant brands
GL-4 Gear oils (transaxle and transfer case): Red Line MT-90/MTL (50/50 or 67/33 mix), BG Synchro Shift II, GM/Pennzoil/Quaker State/Texaco Synchromesh (synchromeshfluid.pdf), Valvoline Synthetic, Mobil 1 synthetic. "

this pic if of an AWD, but it should give you an idea of what to look for. Just ignore the transfercase in the pic.

[Crackhedbob341]

how do you check it, like to see if it needs to be changed? and is that the only fluid i should worry about?

[liquidPunk]

you should just change it out, technically you can take off the tranny endcase which will expose 5th gear and let you see some fluid and the caseing so as to tell if you have issues with gunk. But these are old cars and you should just change it either way.

The drain plug is easy to find, the fill one is difficult, there are three or four bolts of the same size on the front of the sl trans. I cant remember now but i beleive it is the middle of the three? not sure, maybye look around a bit, i had found a pic somewhere on the web for the FWD 3000gt's.

[AutostradaVR4]

i agree. i think the mitsu recommended change interval is 30000 miles. I would be willing to bet your overdue by a longshot, and the gear oil shouldnt be that expensive anyways.

[Crackhedbob341]

wowwww... yeah i bought my car with 41,000 and now i'm at 58,000. is that really bad for the transmission or is it not going to affect it once i change it out?

[AutostradaVR4]

its definitely not good for it, but as long as it didnt leak out or get contaminated, its not the end of the world. but you never know until you check.

[Crackhedbob341]

well i just stopped by the auto parts store and got some coastal synthetic blend, 75w-90 gear oil. that's all they really had.

it also says API service GL-5. i have 1 quart. so now what? i open the drain plugs, let it drain out, then tighten them... then open the fill plugs and squirt the gear oil in there?

[Crackhedbob341]

oh and the last question.. what do i need? an oil pan to let it drain? and how do i dispose of it?

[AutostradaVR4]

hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your gonna need to go back to the parts store and get 2 more quarts. The capacity is 2.5 qts. Also, you will need a lube pump ($5-$10) to get it from the container into the fill hole. Should have them at the parts store as well.

Yup, just like a regular oil change. I find its easiest to dump it back in the empty containers from the new stuff, which is a good way to see how much was actually in there. Some oil change places will dispose of your old oil for free, but if you cant find a place, there's always the trash can (not legal, but solves the problem none the less).

Dont forget to clean the drain plug while your waiting for it to drain. theres a magnet on the inside that will be covered with metal shavings.

and ill say it again, be careful not to overtighten them! if you strip one of the plugs your up shit's creek! too loose is just as bad though...

[Crackhedbob341]

alright, thanks a lot. even though i'm in florida, it's damn cold right now so i'll get it done tomorrow.

[Stealthee]

Originally Posted by Crackhedbob341

alright, thanks a lot. even though i'm in florida, it's damn cold right now so i'll get it done tomorrow.

COld? Cold is what I had this morning when I woke up to 6*.

[new2mitsu]

lol, it was -1 here this morning, windchill of -18. i'd kill to be in florida right now

[liquidPunk]

haha, well at least you guys werent on forklifts outside all day the last two days. my ears are going to fall off.

[Stealthee]

I had to take the fork lift out today to unload a truckload of skids. It doesnt help that out forklift only has regular indoor tires, and it was icy outside. If there wasnt cars around I was going to do donuts.