mtx getting tough to shift

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:58 pm

2003 sxt mtx 98K miles

doesn't like to go into first or second...gets worse when it gets hot. I plan on changing the trans fluid this weekend (amosil or royal purple) and hope that fixes it or at least prolongs the tranny before a rebuild (hopefully with a Quaife LSD).

OB · Post by OB » Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:18 am

Mine's been hard to get into gear for awhile now. Worst in 1-3. Feels very notchy and almost as if it 'pops' into gear twice, instead of one smooth bump into gear. Based on my extensive research, it seems to be caused by wear on the shift selectors and synchros, possibly due to misadjustment of the crossover cable. Mine seems to intermittently get worse, but there isn't any apparent factor that causes it. Been driving with the issue for 2+ years now, just waiting for it to pop.

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:29 pm

same thing here. It seems to gets worse for me when the tranny gets hot. It doesn't like to downshift into first. I get the same double click that you are talking about and sometimes it is just like it hits a wall and then I have to double clutch and try to rev match and that will help. It held up to years of abuse, hoping I can strecth it as long as possible.

I picked up some royal Purple syncromax and will toss that in tomorrow. I may try and adjust the crossover cable as well (I adjusted it when I put in my sts and boogers several years ago but never got it quite right)

I am sure I will need to rebuild soon, but dont have the money right now. Want to do it right when I do it...upgrade clutch, install quaife, etc. Just dont have 3 grand to throw into a car that is worth about 3 grand right now...

OB · Post by OB » Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:39 am

You could probably get a VERY solid rebuild w/quaife for about $2000 from Drakito on the other org. If you can do without the LSD, it'd be more like $1000, and that's with welded selectors, which pretty much makes the issue we're having nonexistent.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:36 am

Check the shifter bushings, re-adjust the crossover cable as necessary.

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:20 pm

Yeah, I have Drakito's dealer page bookmarked on the other forum for when the time comes...

Fluid change was real easy...used the reverse indicator hole to fill and after I put in the first 2 quarts, had my daughter come out and help with the 3rd while I watched the fill hole. Only problem was when I backed off the ramps before pulling the drain pan out...so that got crushed and dragged and spilled a bunch of old tranny fluid on the driveway (first time changing oil/tranny fluid since lowering it) I felt bad for a minute and then remembered BP so I just got some dawn dishsoap and the hose and sprayed it down.

I put a fresh set of boogers in about 3-4 months ago I suppose, so they are good. Might play with the cross over cable on a slightly cooler day...it is 90° and rising fast.

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:05 pm

adjusted the crossover cable tonight and that seemed to help. I also put about a little more play back into the clutch pedal to make sure clutch was totally disengaging. Before I had it where clutch would start to take up with pedal about an inch off the floor, now it is about 2-3" off the floor before uptake.

It seemed to help, but the problem is intermittent...shifting bounces between slightly notchy to strong "double notch" to "that shit aint going nowhere". When it gets to "that shit aint going nowhere" I have to double clutch, rev match, and usually row over into 5th and then work my way back down to 4th-3rd-2nd...when that doesn't work I grip it and rip it and it is either going into gear or going to break (at that point I dont care).

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:44 am

Neon trannies suck ass. I'm gonna drive mine till it quits working.

Hasn't got any worse, but it's been notchy and hard to shift since I got it.
1gn not so much though.

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:44 am

I am not unhappy with my trans...I am pretty amazed that it has handled the abuse, but I have never destroyed a manual trans before...just automatics, so if it goes...when it goes...this will be my first.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:11 pm

heydockyle wrote:Neon trannies suck ass. I'm gonna drive mine till it quits working.

Hasn't got any worse, but it's been notchy and hard to shift since I got it.
1gn not so much though.

Funny cause it's the same trans...

They aren't the most refined things, but they just keep working. The one in my neon has needed diff bearings for the last 2 years. Figured I'd just keep running this trans until it goes. In the process I've been rebuilding a trans to swap out. Since then I've put over 75000km on it with not great bearings, still shifts smooth even at over 290 000km. Just needs diff bearings, still....

Only let down was the clutch cable let go the other week.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:45 pm

Trust me, I know it's the same trans.

But the 1gn shifts much smoother then the 2gn.

2gn has ATF and 1gn has Mobil 1 High mileage.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:06 pm

heydockyle wrote:Trust me, I know it's the same trans.

But the 1gn shifts much smoother then the 2gn.

2gn has ATF and 1gn has Mobil 1 High mileage.

There's your problem.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:07 am

Mopar NV-T350 trans fluid goes a long way.

OB · Post by OB » Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:27 pm

When I ran Mobil HM in mine not only did the shifting stay exactly as bad as before, but it began making ridiculous noises; metal on metal status. It got worse and worse, then I switched back to ATF planning on bringing it in under warranty and the noise was gone, and so was my meal ticket for a new tranny.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:46 pm

Thats why I still run atf in the 2gn.

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:53 pm

its only been a week but the RP seems to be working well. Adusting the crossover cable helped the most though.

Is the Mopar NV-T350 the stuff they sell @ modern?

Heard good things about Amsoil MTF but you have to order it online and I didn't want wait...maybe next time either that or Mopar...the RP is expensive think I got it for $13 a quart with my milt discount

bstc00 · Post by **bstc00** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:31 pm

im not a noob but new to working on trans. where would the crossover cable be?

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:51 pm

take out your center console and look under the plate the shifter is mounted to. There are 2 cables on there...the one on the drivers side is the crossover cable. Put the shifter in neutral and loosen the 8mm screw and then wiggle the shifter and let it center itself naturally....then retighten the screw. Row thru the gears and then go for test drive, if you are happy with it, put center console back.

I wouldn't think you would have to adjust it if you didn't play with it previously. I had adjusted it when I put in my short throw shifter and it seemed to get worse with time.

bstc00 · Post by **bstc00** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:27 pm

ok thanks for the help. im having the same problem as others with it gettin harder to get into gear when its wormer out. ill give it a try.