Tranny help...

[viscid240]

This week has been giving me a hard time putting my car into gears. when shifting to 1st and reverse it is hard to get the gear in. All gears have a harsh feel you can feel the roughness of all gears before and while putting it into gear. Could it be that I need tranny fluid? that was my first assumtion If so what gear fluid do you all reccommend? REDLINE?

Is there a specific way to check the level of fluid?

Thanks.

[ESone3]

if you get anything for Redline MT90, you will regret it. Only use MT90, you won't be sorry.

[g6civcx]

You check gearbox fluid by having the car on a flat surface. Remove the gearbox filler plug. It's located halfway up the gearbox. Stick your finger inside and feel for fluid. The fluid should be leveled with the filler hole.

If you want to drain it, make sure you can get that filler plug out first. Then open the drain plug at the bottom. Fluid will come out. You may want to replace both plugs with new ones. Install and torque the drain plug to about 30 ft-lbs.

To fill it up, you can use a pump and siphon fluid into the filler hole, or you can take off the shifter from inside the car and pour fluid directly into the hole for the shifter. I prefer using a pump because you can get it for about $3 and it takes less time than dissassembling the shifter.

When fluid starts pouring out, you're done. Fill it up and torque it to about 25-30 ft-lbs as well.

[viscid240]

G6: Thanks for the advice. I am gonna do this first thing tomarrow. So it does sound like it's low on fluid?

ESone: So you recommend only " Redline MT90" correct. How many bottles 2 or 3?

Is it ok to drain it the fill with new fluid? I hear that it is recommended never to drain old fluid out if it has never been serviced from the start. As it will decline the lifespan of the tranny. I have heard this from numerous sources.

Thanks for not flaming as I think this is a reasonable question but then again so are many others.

I also dl'ed the fsm but no new info other than what you gave me G6.

Andrew

[viscid240]

Will try to find mt90 where would I find a good deal on redline if i can stick it out?



thanks

[g6civcx]

I don't know if it's low fluid or not. You don't really know until you check. Get 3 quarts, in case you spill some.

Sometimes the fluid is so old that it forms sludge buildup in the gearbox. When you flush it out, the sludge is drained and leaves behind gashes where the sludge you to be. Then you'll develop leaks. So what they'll do is condemn the gearbox and say just run it until it dies and flushing will just make it die sooner.

I don't think it will be that bad since you're just draining and not flushing.

The FSM gives you some pix, but that's it. Most of what you need is already here.

[aznpoopy]

you can get redline from myoilshop.com... that's where i buy it from anyway.

there's a good chance your tranny will start leaking when you put it in... i know mine did. the actual tranny seals are cheap. you need gasket maker for the shifter, rear extension housing seal and a gasket/seal for the front of the tranny. the hard part is pulling the tranny off and putting it back on.

[g6civcx]

You can also get it from summitracing.com if you can't get it from anywhere else. Pretty good prices and they'll ship out quickly.

[breakindrifts]

You want to use 2.5 bottles of fluid.

[viscid240]

I am on my way to do the change. hope it goes well I bought mt-90 from a local 4x4 shop :faint: . $8.95 a bottle, oh well. I'll let you know how it goes.

Once again thanks for all the feedback.


Everything went well, at first it felt real rough and horrible. After about 30 min. after warm up and gentle driving it felt smooth and feels better than before. Was very easy to change out and there was quite a bit of shreds on the magnet and was a tad bit sludgy not bad, fluid was grey. I used a 1/2" ratchet drive with short extension, and a 3/4 open wrench which worked out perfect. Thanks again everyone for the kind advice.

G6: thanks for the useful tool and method advice turned out to plenty helpful and made my job a cinch.