• HEADINGS
  • * PLEASE READ THIS FIRST *
  • INTRODUCTION
• FIGURES
• TABLES
  • MANUAL TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE TROUBLE SHOOTING

GENERAL INFORMATION

Manual Transmission Trouble Shooting

* PLEASE READ THIS FIRST *

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. For model-specific information see appropriate articles where available.

INTRODUCTION

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. For model-specific information see appropriate articles where available.

There are many times when the transmission is incorrectly blamed for shifting problems or noises that are actually caused by other reasons. Shift difficulties are frequently caused by conditions outside of the transmission or transaxle. Typical conditions include: shift linkage, shift cables, alignment of engine to transmission, worn engine mounts or clutch problems. Drive train noises may come from many sources such as tires, road surfaces, wheel bearings, differentials, engine or exhaust system. Repairing or overhauling transmission will not cure these problems.

No manufacturer makes a perfectly quiet transmission. Gear rollover noise is present in most constant mesh transmissions and will tend to disappear when the clutch is disengaged or transmission is placed in gear. If clutch is properly adjusted, clutch release bearing noise will disappear when release bearing is moved enough to slide release bearing away from pressure plate.

Trouble shooting can be helped by driving vehicle on a smooth level road to help eliminate tire and body noise. Note whether noise occurs on acceleration, coasting, deceleration or steady driving conditions. Some problems may only occur when transmission is either hot or cold. Gear lubricant that is too thick can cause hard shifting on cold mornings before engine is warm and vehicle has been driven.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE TROUBLE SHOOTING

Condition	Possible Cause
Noisy In Forward Gears	Low Gear Oil Level, Loose Bellhousing Bolts, Worn Bearings Or Gears
Clunk On Deceleration (FWD Only)	Loose Engine Mounts, Worn Inboard CV Joints, Worn Differential Pinion Shaft, Oversized Side Gear Hub Counterbore in Case
Gear Clash When Shifting Forward Gears	Clutch Out Of Alignment, Shift Linkage Damaged Or Out Of Adjustment, Gears Or Synchronizers Damaged, Low Gear Oil Level
Transmission Noisy When Moving (RWD Only); Quiet In Neutral With Clutch Engaged	Worn Rear Output Shaft Bearing
Gear Rattle	Worn Bearings, Worn Gear Oil, Low Gear Oil, Worn Gears
Steady Ticking At Idle (Increases With RPM)	Broken Tooth On A Gear
Gear Clash When Shifting Forward Gears	Worn Or Broken Synchronizers, Faulty Clutch
Loud Whine In Reverse	Normal Condition (1)
Noise When Stepping On Clutch	Faulty Release Bearing, Worn Pilot Bearing
Ticking Or Screeching As Clutch Is Engaged	Faulty Release Bearing, Uneven Pressure Plate Fingers
Click Or Snap When Clutch Is Engaged	Worn Clutch Fork, Worn Pivot Ball, Worn Or Broken Front Bearing Retainer
Transmission Shifts Hard	Clutch Not Releasing, Incorrect Gear Oil, Shift Mechanism Binding, Clutch Installed Backward
Will Not Shift Into One Gear, Shifts Into All Others	Bent Shift Fork, Worn Detent Balls
Locked Into Gear, Cannot Shift	Clutch Adjustment, Worn Detent Balls
Transmission Jumps Out Of Gear	Pilot Bearing Worn, Bent Shift Fork, Worn Gear Teeth Or Face, Excessive Gear Train End Play, Worn Synchronizers, Missing Detent Ball Spring, Shift Mechanism Worn Or Out Of Adjustment, Engine Or Transmission Mount Bolts Loose, Transmission Not Aligned
Shift Lever Rattle	Worn Detents Or Shift Lever, Worn Shift Fork, Worn Synchronizer Sleeves
Shift Lever Hops Under Acceleration	Worn Engine Or Transmission Mounts
(1) Most units use spur cut gears in Reverse and are naturally noisy.