KA tranny, 1st and 2nd cant engage when shifting

[OverBoost]

Guys, I need your help figuring out what is up with my transmission.

I was driving home one night, I got off the interstate and car would "shift" into 1st or 2nd gear, but would not engage the gear selected. When I put it in gear and let our clutch, pushing gas pedal just revved engine. I could shift it into 3rd and 4th and it engaged like normal. Had to limp home in 3rd, with the strong smell of clutch. Replaced the master and slave cylinder last month along with a circuit sports braided clutch line.


Chassis has 196K miles with recently rebuilt KA24DE. Unknown mileage on tranny, bought it used and had "supposedly" been rebuilt (was spray painted, but that doesn't mean anything). Car is pretty much all stock or has new OEM parts. Only aftermarket mods are ISIS short shifter, clutch is OEM exedy, installed at rebuild.

There has been a SLOW leak of tranny fluid Redline MT90, like a few drops per day, thats the only thing I could think was a factor here.

Any thoughts? 1st and 2nd Shift fork bad?

[nismoman]

Nevermind didn't read right

[S-Nation S13]

possibly your 1 and 2 syncros? bad fork would make shifting bad on all gears..

[OverBoost]

After some further investigating tonight, it looks like the leak is coolant, not trans fluid. Tracing the leak back up, it goes up to the heater core connections into the car. This would also explain why my car has not been heating up normally lately.

The heater core connections are above and to the left of the bellhousing, so it's possible it has been leaking down into the bellhousing and onto the clutch. A contaminated clutch could explain the issue I'm having. Its an issue on Porsche 944s.

Looks like I'll have to pull the trans and check out the clutch disc and replace the heater core too.

[slothonaleash]

Pull your shifter out. Is the little nylon bushing still on the bottom end of the shifter?

Just an idea