[jhv48]

Here we go again, but this time a slightly different transmission problem. Car now has 4300 miles on it.

Symptoms: Very hard to engage first gear when hot, unless car is moving forward slightly, then it drops right in. And here is the newest wrinkle: The trans now grinds sometimes (you can feel it through the shifter, but you can't hear it) when you are pulling the lever OUT of one gear BEFORE it goes into another gear with the clutch depressed. Does it in any upshift at times, but not always. You can feel the grinding through the lever. Something is grinding, but not loud like when you miss a shift. Yet, sometimes the trans shifts smooth as glass. But lately it is getting worse. Downshifting is smooth and noise free. Car will not creep if in gear and clutch depressed.

I have done all of the following:
1, changed, bled the brake slave and fluid.
2. The clutch is adjusted to disengage fully about two inches from the floor. Have tried different adjustments.
3. The rear tires will spin freely if the car is in gear and the clutch depressed while engine off.
4. Reverse will NOT grind if you slowly engage it hot or cold after shifting into another gear first.
5. Replaced the trans fluid with GM Synchromesh.
6. Clutch and trans were removed and declared fit by both clutch and trans experts about 2000 miles ago when tranny ground every time you put it in reverse..

The last time (at 2500 miles) it got hard to shift, and it ground every time in reverse, we replaced the pilot bearing and everything was rosey for about 1500 miles. Now it is slowly getting worse again.

I'm beginning to think I should just drive it till something breaks and then we will know what it is.

Thoughts? I need creative solutions. And remember, the problems disappeared after we replaced only the pilot bushing last time. I just can't believe it is that again, and, if it is, why so soon and how do we prevent it from happening again? And what is causing that grinding feeling through the shift lever on upshifts? Wouldn't the synchros eliminate that? There is no synchro grinding on downshifting at all.

This particular installer does all the local installations for Hillbank in Irvine and they have never seen this happen before. They used the same parts on all their SPF and CSX installations. Mine is the only one with a problem.