5th gear pop out in the MR2

Andy · 10-11-2006, 10:52 PM

I swapped my trans this weekend with a used one and replaced the clutch with a Exedy OEM replacement. I also swapped out the stock shifter bushings for bearings and added polyurethane motor mounts.

Here's the problem. The shifter feels different. The gates are all in slightly different spots than I remember and 5th gear pops out of place. What could I have done wrong or what can I do to fix this problem? It goes smoothly into all gears and will stay in 5th so long as I don't get on the gas hard. If I jab at the throttle at 3k+ in 5th gear, it will pop out.

Ironically, the old trans popped out of every gear except 1 & 5. :dunno:

HAULN-SS · 10-11-2006, 11:07 PM

is it a brand new tranny that you swapped in? if it is, give it a few hundred miles before you jump

ScottyB · 10-11-2006, 11:54 PM

HAULN-SS Wrote:is it a brand new tranny that you swapped in?

Andy Wrote:I swapped my trans this weekend with a used one

HAULN-SS · 10-12-2006, 12:33 AM

problem found!

**Jeff** · 10-12-2006, 12:38 AM

is it cable or rod shift? I know on the Daytona (cable shift) you need to adjust the cables both inside and out to make sure you are all centered up on the patern.

Andy · 10-12-2006, 06:38 AM

TurboOmni08 Wrote:is it cable or rod shift? I know on the Daytona (cable shift) you need to adjust the cables both inside and out to make sure you are all centered up on the patern.

It's cable shift and I was hoping that it was an adjustment problem except there's no adjustment in the cable.

CaptainHenreh · 10-12-2006, 07:39 AM

this is going to sound dumb, but did you have your shifter out at all? I installed a shift lever backwards once (I was in a hurry, OK?) and had the exact same symptoms. Sounds like an adjustment problem. The shifter is going to feel different from the solid bushings. But...I don't know enough about the transmission...why are you jamming the throttle in 5th gear anyway?

Andy · 10-12-2006, 07:52 AM

CaptainHenreh Wrote:this is going to sound dumb, but did you have your shifter out at all? I installed a shift lever backwards once (I was in a hurry, OK?) and had the exact same symptoms. Sounds like an adjustment problem. The shifter is going to feel different from the solid bushings. But...I don't know enough about the transmission...why are you jamming the throttle in 5th gear anyway?

Not jamming but jabbing the throttle. That's what makes it happen so I was trying to recreate the problem. It shouldn't slip out either way and god willing, I hope never to install a shifter backwards Big Grin

If there's no adjustment, I can only assume that the trans was bad prior but I drove this trans in the previous owner's car and it felt fine. Maybe it just needs to settle in? Whatever the hell that means.

PDenbigh · 10-12-2006, 08:24 AM

Sounds like it is not engaging completely. Check all around the linkage and make sure nothing is preventing full movement. Also make sure all of the cables are on the grommets completely (if you have such a layout), or otherwise that the cable is not hung up on anything, even a washer, ever so slightly.

Also, I too have put shifters in backwards (So don't feel bad Rex, at least you're not alone!) so check that out.

No innovative solutions, sorry, but thought I'd chim in my thoughts.

Pete

Andy · 10-12-2006, 09:17 AM

Would a clutch that's out of adjustment cause this problem?

I'm going to check for binding afterwork. Maybe if I shake it really hard, it'll scare the trans into behaving.

Andy · 10-12-2006, 10:09 AM

ALright. I think I may have found out the problem. I add Trans oil throught the detent ball and guess what that does. It keeps gears from popping out. I is a genius for figuring out my mistake. I guess I didn't adjust it properly.

Evan · 10-12-2006, 10:09 AM

alignment/mounting problem?

Andy · 10-12-2006, 10:22 AM

Evan Wrote:alignment/mounting problem?

What do you mean exactly?

Evan · 10-12-2006, 10:23 AM

is the trans sitting crooked

Andy · 10-12-2006, 10:45 AM

Evan Wrote:is the trans sitting crooked

It seems straight and it has 3 mounts so I can't imagine that it would be misaligned.

Dave · 10-12-2006, 04:05 PM

i was going to suggest busted mounts or something hitting the linkage when you hit the gas. Glad you figured it out.
On a side note, when I installed my front sway bars on the SE-R, the car would knock out of gear in 5 (and occaisionally in 3) whenever I hit the gas. Had to grind a bit on the sway bar to make a bit more room, but it was all primarily b/c my motor mounts blow ass and there's a bunch of flex that allowed them to hit.

Andy · 10-12-2006, 07:35 PM

Alright. This sucks. Still popping out of fifth but adjusting the detent ball did get rid of the weird misplaced shifter gate problem. T minus 24 hours to get this problem fixed.

Dave · 10-12-2006, 10:00 PM

meh, do you really need 5th that much? Use a coat hanger and hook one end to your center console and hooking the shifter on the straight :-). Yeah, it's unsafe, but it might rival Boobies and the battery powered electric windows :-p.

Andy · 10-12-2006, 10:37 PM

Dave Wrote:meh, do you really need 5th that much? Use a coat hanger and hook one end to your center console and hooking the shifter on the straight :-). Yeah, it's unsafe, but it might rival Boobies and the battery powered electric windows :-p.

5th works good on the street but it's going to pop out on the front straight, I know it. Gearing limits me to ~80mph at the top of fourth so it's going to be a very long and boring front straight if I can't figure this thing out.

Andy · 10-12-2006, 10:40 PM

Here's what I've been able to figure out so far.

It doesn't happen in any other gear no matter how hard the jabs to the throttle are.

If I ease into the gas, it will stay in 5th gear above 4k. One stab at the go pedal and out she goes.

It really feels like motor mounts but I just replaced them with poly mounts. I'll get underneath the car for one more stab that this whore and see if I see something.

Shifter bushings would cause this problem correct?

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