My car grinds shifting into 3rd - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

*Grant* · 01-07-2002, 02:03 AM

I recently got a short shifter, and then yesterday my car started grinding 3rd every time, I shifter to 3rd
with the clutch fully disengaged. only happens when i shift above 2000rpm. looks like the sychros are off or something. It happends when the car is hot (like it grinds more). i checked my short shifter, looks like everything is fine and installed right, so i dont know what's going on. should i change the tranny oil and see or what? any info would be appreciated, thanks.

240drifter · 01-07-2002, 03:45 AM

Its not your short shifter, you did install it correctly. That grinding was already there before you changed to the shifter. Its a problem that the 240s have with theire third gears. The stock shifter was weighted so you wouldn't feel the gear clashing as much. I am a proud owner of a 98 se and I have the same problem with my third gear when speed shifting under hard acceleration.

Changing your trans fluid to Redline, I hear helps a bit, but you can try double clutching to skip the synchros.  That's what I do not to miss that third gear.

(Edited by 240drifter at 3:48 am on Jan. 7, 2002)

*Grant* · 01-07-2002, 05:09 AM

hmm ok, well i did double clutch it, it didnt work, it doesnt grind on engine speeds 2000rpm or below, and how i can hear it grind too, should i just change the tranny oil and see what happens?

i guess I'll try double clutching again, #### it, this short shifter sucks then.

(Edited by Grant at 4:11 am on Jan. 7, 2002)

tnord · 01-07-2002, 09:53 AM

I don't know what the 240's synchro's are made out of, but i had the same problem in my Z32 except in 2nd gear.  A nissan tech told me that the Z32 synchro's are made of brass, and once they get hot they expand a little bit and start to cause problems.  I don't know why it's just one particular gear, or what the synchro's are actually in the way of, that's just what i was told.  Anyway, you may want to just call up a Nissan dealer, talk to a tech, and ask him what he thinks.  

samiam · 01-07-2002, 12:44 PM

Had the same problem in 2nd it was the synchros going out......Did a srswap with tranny,,,,,no more grinding. Easy way out.

BlankFlip · 01-07-2002, 02:20 PM

hmmm...i thought it was just me messing up or something, but i only ever grind going from 2nd to 3rd sometimes. maybe it's just a lil' bug they never worked out on our cars, i dunno. i'd like to hear if there's something i can do to fix it. mine doesn't seem to happen as often as it does w/ grant though.

tnord · 01-07-2002, 02:43 PM

yeah, replace the synchros in 3rd.......

Impact · 01-07-2002, 06:05 PM

Yeah I sometimes get that as well...sometimes even 1st to 2nd..mostly it happens in the cold weather w/o much warm up time. Or maybe its because I have 199,897kms?

*DSC* · 01-07-2002, 10:29 PM

I have the obx SS and haven't had a problem with any grinding like that. I would grind gears when shifting fast just cauz I wasn't used to the timeing but when shifting at normal driving speeds I never grind.

*Grant* · 01-08-2002, 12:52 AM

I never had any problems with it grinding no matter how fast i shift. it just started, and doesnt go away. i think my transmission is just shot. I'll be selling bits and pieces from the car, im short in cash of getting this damned problem fixed.

I'm selling my short shifter and nismo shift knob if anyone is interested. These two dont go well together as a set, the threading on the obx shifter is kinda messed up, so the nismo is better off with a stock shifter.. Anyways, let me know whats up, or maybe any other experiences or problems.

*Grant* · 01-08-2002, 05:19 AM

Well, I went to the dealer and to a mechanic today, and both of them said that my transmissions got problems, and its not the short shifter.  The synchros need to be replaced. It will run me about $1000 to have the transmission rebuilt. Now I need some more cash, so I can get my shit fixed ASAP. I've got the worst of luck when it comes to cars......

(Edited by Grant at 4:20 am on Jan. 8, 2002)

gh6o6 · 01-08-2002, 08:38 PM

i think it will be cheeper if you have a trans shop do the rebuild, not the dealer - but hey thats just a thought to consider

MrMigs · 01-08-2002, 10:06 PM

I used to have that problem, but it's gone now. I'll try to explain what I do... I don't know why it works, but all I'mma say is that it does for me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

First off, when I used to shift for racing, I would rev up to around 5600 RPM, mash my clutch in all the way, shift into 3rd (the problem gear) and flick the clutch back up by sliding my foot to the side.

For some reason, it would make a grinding noise. No other gear would do this except for 3rd.

Well, one night, I was reading up on speed-shifting and it led me to start shifting without fully depressing the clutch - just enough to allow a gear change.

And so, that's how I shift now. When I depress the clutch, I push it in about.... 2/3 - 3/4 of the maximum distance, shift gears, and flick the clutch back up.

For some reason, when I do this, 3rd gear doesn't clash. And by the way, I too have a short shifter (Pilot but same design as OBX).

Give it a try, cuz it might work. If not, you can slap me... err nevermind; I take that back. -=^_^=-

Good luck.

01-07-2002, 02:03 AM	#1
Grant Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: 聖地牙哥 Posts: 2,647 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Grant Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I recently got a short shifter, and then yesterday my car started grinding 3rd every time, I shifter to 3rd with the clutch fully disengaged. only happens when i shift above 2000rpm. looks like the sychros are off or something. It happends when the car is hot (like it grinds more). i checked my short shifter, looks like everything is fine and installed right, so i dont know what's going on. should i change the tranny oil and see or what? any info would be appreciated, thanks.

01-07-2002, 03:45 AM	#2
240drifter Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 13 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Its not your short shifter, you did install it correctly. That grinding was already there before you changed to the shifter. Its a problem that the 240s have with theire third gears. The stock shifter was weighted so you wouldn't feel the gear clashing as much. I am a proud owner of a 98 se and I have the same problem with my third gear when speed shifting under hard acceleration. Changing your trans fluid to Redline, I hear helps a bit, but you can try double clutching to skip the synchros.  That's what I do not to miss that third gear. (Edited by 240drifter at 3:48 am on Jan. 7, 2002)

01-07-2002, 05:09 AM	#3
Grant Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: 聖地牙哥 Posts: 2,647 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Grant Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hmm ok, well i did double clutch it, it didnt work, it doesnt grind on engine speeds 2000rpm or below, and how i can hear it grind too, should i just change the tranny oil and see what happens? i guess I'll try double clutching again, #### it, this short shifter sucks then. (Edited by Grant at 4:11 am on Jan. 7, 2002)

01-07-2002, 09:53 AM	#4
tnord Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,975 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I don't know what the 240's synchro's are made out of, but i had the same problem in my Z32 except in 2nd gear.  A nissan tech told me that the Z32 synchro's are made of brass, and once they get hot they expand a little bit and start to cause problems.  I don't know why it's just one particular gear, or what the synchro's are actually in the way of, that's just what i was told.  Anyway, you may want to just call up a Nissan dealer, talk to a tech, and ask him what he thinks.

01-07-2002, 12:44 PM	#5
samiam Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Had the same problem in 2nd it was the synchros going out......Did a srswap with tranny,,,,,no more grinding. Easy way out.

01-07-2002, 02:20 PM	#6
BlankFlip Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Future Posts: 1,627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hmmm...i thought it was just me messing up or something, but i only ever grind going from 2nd to 3rd sometimes. maybe it's just a lil' bug they never worked out on our cars, i dunno. i'd like to hear if there's something i can do to fix it. mine doesn't seem to happen as often as it does w/ grant though.

01-07-2002, 02:43 PM	#7
tnord Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,975 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah, replace the synchros in 3rd.......

01-07-2002, 06:05 PM	#8
Impact Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 125 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah I sometimes get that as well...sometimes even 1st to 2nd..mostly it happens in the cold weather w/o much warm up time. Or maybe its because I have 199,897kms?

01-07-2002, 10:29 PM	#9
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have the obx SS and haven't had a problem with any grinding like that. I would grind gears when shifting fast just cauz I wasn't used to the timeing but when shifting at normal driving speeds I never grind.

01-08-2002, 12:52 AM	#10
Grant Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: 聖地牙哥 Posts: 2,647 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Grant Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I never had any problems with it grinding no matter how fast i shift. it just started, and doesnt go away. i think my transmission is just shot. I'll be selling bits and pieces from the car, im short in cash of getting this damned problem fixed. I'm selling my short shifter and nismo shift knob if anyone is interested. These two dont go well together as a set, the threading on the obx shifter is kinda messed up, so the nismo is better off with a stock shifter.. Anyways, let me know whats up, or maybe any other experiences or problems.

01-08-2002, 05:19 AM	#11
Grant Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: 聖地牙哥 Posts: 2,647 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Grant Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well, I went to the dealer and to a mechanic today, and both of them said that my transmissions got problems, and its not the short shifter.  The synchros need to be replaced. It will run me about $1000 to have the transmission rebuilt. Now I need some more cash, so I can get my shit fixed ASAP. I've got the worst of luck when it comes to cars...... (Edited by Grant at 4:20 am on Jan. 8, 2002)

01-08-2002, 08:38 PM	#12
gh6o6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 550 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i think it will be cheeper if you have a trans shop do the rebuild, not the dealer - but hey thats just a thought to consider

01-08-2002, 10:06 PM	#13
MrMigs Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: San Gabriel, CA Age: 41 Posts: 1,675 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	I used to have that problem, but it's gone now. I'll try to explain what I do... I don't know why it works, but all I'mma say is that it does for me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> First off, when I used to shift for racing, I would rev up to around 5600 RPM, mash my clutch in all the way, shift into 3rd (the problem gear) and flick the clutch back up by sliding my foot to the side. For some reason, it would make a grinding noise. No other gear would do this except for 3rd. Well, one night, I was reading up on speed-shifting and it led me to start shifting without fully depressing the clutch - just enough to allow a gear change. And so, that's how I shift now. When I depress the clutch, I push it in about.... 2/3 - 3/4 of the maximum distance, shift gears, and flick the clutch back up. For some reason, when I do this, 3rd gear doesn't clash. And by the way, I too have a short shifter (Pilot but same design as OBX). Give it a try, cuz it might work. If not, you can slap me... err nevermind; I take that back. -=^_^=- Good luck.