freedomfly
New member
i have been noticing that when i am down shifting into 1st gear it takes a lot more force to get it in gear. It doesnt slide right in like it should. I have no idea what is causing it.. any help would be great. thanks a bunch
1st gear issues
- Thread starter freedomfly
- Start date
SteelHeadz
Super Moderator
possibly a worn synchronizer.
freedomfly
New member
i honestly wish that i could tell you but i dont know.. i am new to the meechanical part of jeeping.
freedomfly
New member
It is a 1993 YJ 4cyl. and 5 gears.. and it is just down shifting while moving at like 20 mph...
TJ_Jeep
New member
mines a 98' 6 cyl and it does the same exact thing i didnt really pay that much attention to it
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Both the '93 and '98 likely suffer from the same problem as the '93 is the AX5 transmission and the '98 is the AX15. Both are prone to worn synchronizers caused by using the wrong fluid in the transmission. Chrysler incorrectly installed and recommended GL5 gear oil of the AX5 and AX15 transmissions. The high sulfer content of GL5 is corrosive to the soft brass synchronizers of these transmissions.
Chances are if you drain the gear oil from the transmission it will appear to have brass glitter in it. This is the synchros.
Not all is lost. Immediately change your transmission gear oil to one that is easy on the synchronizers, like Redline MT90. You can use cheaper synchromesh but the Redline is synthetic and gives 'smooth as warm butter' shifting even in freezing temps.
Chances are if you drain the gear oil from the transmission it will appear to have brass glitter in it. This is the synchros.
Not all is lost. Immediately change your transmission gear oil to one that is easy on the synchronizers, like Redline MT90. You can use cheaper synchromesh but the Redline is synthetic and gives 'smooth as warm butter' shifting even in freezing temps.
freedomfly
New member
what kind of problems will I get in the future if the synchro
is worn out
is worn out
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Hard to say. Doesn't sound like it's too bad yet, with the correct fluid you may never have any more problems. Most are surprised at how well the Redline improves shifting.
TwistedCU
New member
Not shifting smoothly, and when you do get smooth shifts it will be when the RPM's are ideal to do so. The glittery oil that BH referred to is the real tell.
Change the oil in it either way. Use the MT90.
Lastly... why downshift into 1st gear anyhow?
the blocking rings, which are the brass colored rings on either end of the synchronizer assembly are notoriously soft on the ax-5 transmission. using gear oil in the transmission makes the problem worse because the high pressure additives in it erode these rings. pennzoil synchromesh is a product made specifically for manual transmissions. i have heard of people using,synthetic oils, atf, or 10-30 motor in these transmissions, but i have never tried them myself.
other possibilities are the three synchronizer keys in the center hub may be worn or broken and jamming the shift collar, i've had that happen before. a bent shift fork is possible. and a main bearing on that transmission shaft is another ugly possibility.
i would expect to have some grinding going on as well as hard shifting with a bad blocking ring. in any case be real gentle with that transmission because if it breaks you don't want to be under the repair bill when it drops. good luck, john
other possibilities are the three synchronizer keys in the center hub may be worn or broken and jamming the shift collar, i've had that happen before. a bent shift fork is possible. and a main bearing on that transmission shaft is another ugly possibility.
i would expect to have some grinding going on as well as hard shifting with a bad blocking ring. in any case be real gentle with that transmission because if it breaks you don't want to be under the repair bill when it drops. good luck, john
2000Wrangler6.0L
New member
It happens to me too but i just dont downshift to 1st -no need. I have a 2000 6 cyl 5 speed and just about everyone else i have asked have the same problem. One of my dads friends has owned jeeps for 20 years and says it is normal. then again i am new to this jeep thing too and therefore don't take my word as definite. It really could be a common problem that needs to be fixed.
xt master
New member
It is a common problem with jeep transmission but if you can catch it early and change the fluid like said the problem may stop there.
Mine atm is a little worse for it is hard to get into first and grinds sometime when trying to put it in reverse.
i have changed fluids and it helped but may have been to late..Will run it till it breaks.
Mine atm is a little worse for it is hard to get into first and grinds sometime when trying to put it in reverse.
i have changed fluids and it helped but may have been to late..Will run it till it breaks.
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