Is my Transmission Broken?

[Lee_Enfield]

Been driving the car more, and have a better overall description of what is doing.

The weird "kick" I mentioned feels like something is hitting the lift linkage, it can sometimes be heard as a clicking as well. Not a gear grinding noise though. Only seems to happen when shifting up, down shifts seem to just pop right in. It only happens when car is moving, not when stationary. "kick" is mostly on 2nd gear, but can be felt on 1st and 3rd regularly, and occasionally on 4th and 5th. Sometimes I get a smooth shift into 2nd, but can never really replicate it.

As for the not going into gear thing, I seem to have gotten a feel for when it does not go in so can mitigate.

[01SG]

These are very robust transmissions. They are also very finicky. I have to concentrate more with this car than, for example, an e36. The Getrag does not seem to like anything but a perfect shift. There may well be a real problem, but you might benefit from changing your technique first. I have to shift this car faster than others. I think I get what you are talking about when I go from second to third too slowly, and on first to second without enough revs.

[tlow98]

All this talk makes me want to keep my ZF 5 speed, but I really wan the sixth ratio as I’m getting more aggressive rear end gearing. Le sigh!

the ZF is so incredibly smooth and easy. I knew they upgraded to the 420g, but I don’t think we really needed the torque coverage that the 420g provides. Then again, I don’t know all the trade offs the engineers had to make.

[01SG]

The ZF is a gem. No doubt it is easier to use. But as you mentioned, the Getrag has a lot more power to deal with, and that changes its nature. When you think about how the e39 m5 uses the same transmission, maybe it did not have to be that tough. Then again, they also used it on the Euro e36 m3.

It is still a great box and a joy to use. It is just high-strung and takes some getting used to. Also, it is more satisfying when you get it right.

[sapote]

Not a gear grinding noise though. Only seems to happen when shifting up, down shifts seem to just pop right in

Only happened when driving aggressively? During shifting up, the next higher gear needs a lower engine RPM, and I think you had too high rpm and the synchro blocked the shift.

[Lee_Enfield]

Only happened when driving aggressively? During shifting up, the next higher gear needs a lower engine RPM, and I think you had too high rpm and the synchro blocked the shift.

Nope, just normal driving around town. I avoid reving too high in the neighborhoods to not annoy the neighbors, in this case I shift around 4k and it happens.

On the other spectrum when I do shift higher it happens as well.

It happens probably 80 percent of the Time, sometimes it pops in smooth.

[sapote]

1. "kick" is mostly on 2nd gear, but can be felt on 1st and 3rd regularly

2. Nope, just normal driving around town. I avoid reving too high in the neighborhoods to not annoy the neighbors, in this case I shift around 4k and it happens..

1. Shift into 1st is not an up shift. Say you was shifting 2nd to 3rd, was the shifter kicked back to neutral? If yes then it seems the shifted slider hadn't fully engaged in the synchro teeth and clutch was engaged causing too much load and the barely engaged gears were popped out.

2. Say you were in 2nd and at 4k rpm, then after disengaging the clutch the tranny input shaft needs times to slow down below 4K in order for the gears to shift into 3rd.

HAve you checked if the clutch is fully disengaged when pedal is down, and how did you know if total disengged?