So today when I was driving home for lunch my car would not shift into third gear at all. Felt like something was blocking me. I didn't have a problem getting to work and it shifts into every other gear just fine. The dealer says they dont think its the synchro just the clutch, but that doesnt really make sense to me. Any ideas?

 

Sounds like a syncho to me. They just dont want to do a tranny...or maybe they wanna sell ya both and playing the long con..

 

Syncro. You can try double clutching to see if you can get it to go in.

 

I had the same problem but my car was grinding going into 3rd gear..

 

+1 That has been my experience also, when a syncro goes, the gear grinds when you try to shift into it. It would be no different that shifting a trans that has no syncros, like an old Ford truck with a granny gear trans. With these you had to be completely stopped before it would let you shift into first gear, because there was no syncro in first.

I would check the clutch adjustment just to rule that out. If the clutch is not fully disengaging, it would create shifting issues, but usually it will show up in all gears, not just one. But it is best to check it out just to rule it out.

Then check the shifter and linkages to look for worn bushings, bent parts, etc. What you are experiencing could possibly be caused by something in the shifter or linkages not allowing the trans to shift all the way into third.

Rule out the easy/cheap stuff first before assuming it is a syncro.
Low gear lube in the trans can cause them to do weird things too.

It could also be a bent/worn shifting fork, that would do it too.

 

So how the hell am I supposed to actually check the level with the transmission still up? I hope its just a cheap simple fix. I was planning on swapping to a T-56 but not for another 3 months.

 

So I changed the transmission fluid and it worked just fine. The old fluid was almost black in color so I find that odd. Is there anything that I should be looking out for based on that?

 

Did the trans oil change cause any of the symptoms to change?
Trans & diff oil turning black is normal due to the heat & stresses they see, that is why it pays to change the oil in them every couple years.

 

It seems to have fixed the symptoms, I think I might have over filled it though. I'm hearing a chirping sound now when it isles and when I get up in speed. I think I put 108 oz in.

 

pull the fill plug on the right side of the trany and if it is overfilled the excess will drain out. Too much fluid is bad.