Question about transmission.....

[RufCTR]

I have a 2008 GT with about 64000 miles on the car. The car is a 5-speed manual.

I have a hard time getting the car into reverse sometimes..... just does not want to go in. Usually, I can engage first and rock the car a little, then get reverse smoothly. However, even this does not work sometimes. I've only had the car for two months/4000 miles and it doesn't really show any signs of abuse from the previous owners.

I intend to change the transmission gear oil pretty soon along with the fluid in the rear differential as preventative maintenance, but I am not sure if this will help the issue.

I want to know if this is common to this transmission or if this is something I should be worried about. Thoughts???

 

[07graygt]

How's fifth gear? I just pulled my trans because I could get into 5th or reverse.

 

[RufCTR]

5th gear seems to be fine. The transmission shifts smooth through the gears when it is cold..... the issue only seems to happen when it is hot.

 

[Tungsten06]

5th gear seems to be fine. The transmission shifts smooth through the gears when it is cold..... the issue only seems to happen when it is hot.

I've had the same issue with R and 1st for the longest time. When the car is cold I have no issue. As soon as it gets hot, especially in summer, I have to fight to get it into 1 or R. I've already replaced the clutch master cylinder, re-bled the system, changed transmission fluid (twice) and changed the clutch line. Has to be a clutch/slave issue at this point.

Does your car have an aftermarket clutch in it?

 

[RufCTR]

As far as I know, the clutch is stock. The car had no modifications (that I could see) when I purchased it and it appeared to be totally stock.

 

[BruceH]

Most likely it's the slave cylinder. If you change it then change the clutch at the same time.

Has first become hard to get into yet? Does the 1-2 shift have issues? All of those things are signs of the slave going out. Is reverse easy to get into with the car off even if it's hot?

 

[RufCTR]

Most likely it's the slave cylinder. If you change it then change the clutch at the same time.

Has first become hard to get into yet? Does the 1-2 shift have issues? All of those things are signs of the slave going out. Is reverse easy to get into with the car off even if it's hot?

First is okay for the most part... it's only a pain once in a while. The 1 > 2 shift is good, very smooth no matter what RPM I shift at. Reverse is fairly easy to get into with the car off, no matter what temperature the car is at.

Are the slave cylinders notoriously weak on these cars? Would re-bleeding the system help? Is there an upgraded slave cylinder I should look at?

 

[BruceH]

First is okay for the most part... it's only a pain once in a while. The 1 > 2 shift is good, very smooth no matter what RPM I shift at. Reverse is fairly easy to get into with the car off, no matter what temperature the car is at.

Are the slave cylinders notoriously weak on these cars? Would re-bleeding the system help? Is there an upgraded slave cylinder I should look at?

I'm guessing it's the slave. They go out over time. None of the aftermarket slaves have worked out. It's a self bleeding system.

It could also be something else. Have you gotten under the car and checked the linkage? It could be as simple as a loose bolt.

 

[RufCTR]

I'm guessing it's the slave. They go out over time. None of the aftermarket slaves have worked out. It's a self bleeding system.

It could also be something else. Have you gotten under the car and checked the linkage? It could be as simple as a loose bolt.

Good to know regarding the slave cylinders.

I will put the car on a lift and see if anything is loose in the linkage.

Thank you for the tips guys, greatly appreciated. I am pretty knowledgeable about cars, but am very new to this platform, so your help is appreciated.

 

[RufCTR]

So... since the fluid in the transmission and rear-end are original in this car and the car has 64000 miles on it as of today, I intend to change the fluid out ASAP.

What do you guys run for transmission fluid?

What do you guys run for rear-end gear oil? Do you use the OEM Ford additive for the limited-slip differential? If not, what additive do you use?

 

[BruceH]

So... since the fluid in the transmission and rear-end are original in this car and the car has 64000 miles on it as of today, I intend to change the fluid out ASAP.

What do you guys run for transmission fluid?

What do you guys run for rear-end gear oil? Do you use the OEM Ford additive for the limited-slip differential? If not, what additive do you use?

ATF or ATF and syncromesh. I only added additive to the rear end if it wasn't already in the fluid. An example would be RP, it doesn't need any additional friction modifier. I use past tense because I'm currently running a trutrac which doesn't use friction modifier.

 

[RufCTR]

ATF or ATF and syncromesh. I only added additive to the rear end if it wasn't already in the fluid. An example would be RP, it doesn't need any additional friction modifier. I use past tense because I'm currently running a trutrac which doesn't use friction modifier.

You run ATF in a manual transmission??

Thank you for the information on the rear differential fluid..... I will look into Amsoil (I like their products) and see whether they need the friction modifier.

 

[RED09GT]

You run ATF in a manual transmission??

Ford has been doing this back to the mid 80's. The WC T5's from around 84 or 85 need ATF due to the needle bearings in the main and secondary shafts.


awesome autocorrect malfunctions brought to you by tapatalk

 

[BruceH]

You run ATF in a manual transmission??

Thank you for the information on the rear differential fluid..... I will look into Amsoil (I like their products) and see whether they need the friction modifier.

That's what the owners manual says to use. Did you read what Ford recommends?

 

[07graygt]

I read on a another forum that guys were running 3qts of pennzoil synchromesh with good results. I was thinking about trying this. Bruce what do you think? It said that if you fill the trans to much its a little harder to shift. Something to do with to much fluid making it harder.

 

[eighty6gt]

I am using synchromesh from the GM dealer. It's the stuff they spec'd for problem transmissions in something like the Cobalt. I was running Royal Purple Synchromax but found it wasn't recommended for use in our transmissions.

I don't expect new fluids to address your issues.

 

[Tungsten06]

I don't expect new fluids to address your issues.

x2

My issues sound similar and I have used Royal Purple and Amsoil in the transmission. Neither solved the problem.

 

[RufCTR]

I don't have the factory owner's manual (didn't come with the car). I will look into the fluid type ASAP though to make sure I don't buy the wrong stuff. Thanks for the information guys.

 

[BruceH]

I read on a another forum that guys were running 3qts of pennzoil synchromesh with good results. I was thinking about trying this. Bruce what do you think? It said that if you fill the trans to much its a little harder to shift. Something to do with to much fluid making it harder.

I've used a few combinations with the 3650 and 6060. My 3650 really liked RP syncromesh during warm weather. IIRC I switched to a blend of half ATF and half syncromesh. I've never used the GM or Penzoil stuff but both are supposed to be as good as the RP.

Tremec changed the fluild level at some point. IIRC I could get 4 quarts into it but the owners manual said to use 3.2.

I don't have the factory owner's manual (didn't come with the car). I will look into the fluid type ASAP though to make sure I don't buy the wrong stuff. Thanks for the information guys.

It's atf. It used to be dexron 3 or mercon but Ford has changed it to Mercon 5 since the older version is no longer made. Tremec says to use Mobil or Castrol dex 3. I can't remember which one. Mercon 5 is going to have more advanced friction modifiers which may or may not affect the syncros differently than dex 3.

Here's a link to the owners manual: http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=1116