1st Gear grind

[Spyda]

The saga continues.

I need some advise and knowledge. 1st gear started grinding a couple of days ago.

What happens is: When im shiffting down it will grind basicly. The higher the revs the harder it is to put it in, i dont dare to put it in at any higher than ~3.5k from second. When i try to put it from 3-2.5k in second its realy difficult and grinds in, when its at 2-1.5k in second it will either clunk in realy hard or grind a little then clunk in. It will only go in 'noramly' when its at idel or a tiny bit above.

I say 'normal' because first gear was always a bit tough to shift in to no matter what revs the car was at.

I tryed to align the shifter properly today, i didnt exactly align it perfectly but i did move it a fair bit from where it was, no change to 1st gear grinding.

The gear box is a mk3 box from Matt (Golf Loon). Cant remember how many Ks on it or what box it is exactly.

Another little thing i was wondering is how much 'free-play' is the gear shift suposa have? Mine has some, i wouldnt say its a little play and wouldnt say it way to much play, it a bit in the middle, you can move it about 1-1.5 if not 2cm from side to side without it moving anything in the gear box.


Help needed prity despritly as i dont want to f'up the box. It will mean buying a commodore.

[velly_16v_cab]

down shifting into first at high revs will give you a problem. sounds like your driving and not the car
at 3500rpm+ you shouldnt need to be dropping it to 1st!

when i was learning to drive i was told if the car is moving then you never use first gear.

it also sounds like you may have some sort of selector mis-alingment or worn bushes.

my old mk2 16v used to be funny selcting 1st, when pulling away i would have to drop it into second then first and it will go in every time. if i tried going straight for first it just wouldnt have it.

[Spyda]

The thing is that it never did it before, but always had a problem shifting.

I may have over exadurated the revs a bit. I admit 2+k in second to first is a bit much and i dont do it oftern, usaly a mistake, but it shouldnt do it when its at 1.5k and under when im slowing to a stop at a red.

I dont shift to first and then go, i shift to first when slowing at a redlight, then stop.

It grinds with the clutch in.

Before the grinding started, sometimes, not on downshift, it would only go half way in to first then when u let go of the clutch it would clunk in all the way.

Also, shifting in to reverse sounds realy bad, big clunk every time.

[velly_16v_cab]

could be abit to do with alingment...but i think selecting 1st while your moving is a no no, esp with an old car. sounds like the 1st gear syncro is dying,

dude, i would think about when shifting to 1st.


also could be wear on your clutch and also clutch cable

[Spyda]

could be abit to do with alingment...but i think selecting 1st while your moving is a no no, esp with an old car. sounds like the 1st gear syncro is dying,

dude, i would think about when shifting to 1st.


also could be wear on your clutch and also clutch cable

Ah well learn from mistakes.

Whats the remedy?

[velly_16v_cab]

damage is done....just dont make it any worse

[tommymac]

yer mate, mine does this the box doesnt like to be dropped into first when moving just drive up to lights in 2nd, my box refuses to go into gear anyting above 1k so just dont force it. Matts box will be fine mate he knows his stuff when its comes to that so unfortuantly maybe a few foeced pushes into first has caused the issue.

[DVR68U]

yeah sounds like you syncro is worn out, it wont get any better just worse. just take it easy on the shifts into first and dont force it in, just stop in 2nd then take of in first or get a new gearbox.
cheers brenton

[balkanac]

Why would you need 1st gear when engine braking? you have to go really slowly and slip the clutch a lot. Almost no point. I found that sometimes even 2nd is not really worth it in my car (short gears). If i need 1st just before i stopped i double clutch it and it accepts the gear and goes hard! I double clutch every time i need a lower gear to accelerate. It saves the g'box and the clutch

[Spyda]

Why would you need 1st gear when engine braking? you have to go really slowly and slip the clutch a lot. Almost no point. I found that sometimes even 2nd is not really worth it in my car (short gears). If i need 1st just before i stopped i double clutch it and it accepts the gear and goes hard! I double clutch every time i need a lower gear to accelerate. It saves the g'box and the clutch

You dont drive a mk2. Its 77kw if that not 170

I wasnt engine braking, just put it in first with the clutch in. Geting ready to take off before i stoped if that makes scence.

So the syncro cant be fixed?