I've been searching around here and online and I can't find anything, so I'm kinda starting to freak out.

All of the sudden, my car wont shift into 5th gear. All the sudden I couldn't do it while driving, after being in 5th earlier that drive. I parked it and it won't even go into 5th with the engine off, I can't even force it in there.

I got the car in November with 106k miles, I'm now at 113k, but the previous owner had the clutch replaced at 92k miles so I have no idea what's goin on. Anyone have any knowledge of this being an issue? or what it could be?

 

Oh yeah, and I replaced the tranny fluid with GM Synchromesh about 2k miles ago

 

make sure the tranny fluid is not low, since you've changed that.

also, it could be the synchros

 

I've been searching around here and online and I can't find anything, so I'm kinda starting to freak out.

All of the sudden, my car wont shift into 5th gear. All the sudden I couldn't do it while driving, after being in 5th earlier that drive. I parked it and it won't even go into 5th with the engine off, I can't even force it in there.

I got the car in November with 106k miles, I'm now at 113k, but the previous owner had the clutch replaced at 92k miles so I have no idea what's goin on. Also I changed the tranny fluid to GM Syncromesh about 2k miles ago. Anyone have any knowledge of this being an issue? or what it could be?

 

If I remember correctly, there's piece on each gear inside the transmission called a blocker ring that prevents the shift collar from engaging engaging a gear until the gear's speed is synchronized with the layshaft. If there is damage to the blocker ring and or the synchronizer, then it can make the gear difficult or impossible to engage (particularly if the blocker ring is cracked).

It sounds like this might be your problem, since you said it won't even engage when stopped. Can you still shift into 6th normally? If so, that would pretty much eliminate a problem with the shift fork.

This is just my best guess. If some of the people who may be more knowledgeable on manual transmissions want to chime in....

 

Off the cuff, it sounds like the 5th gear synchros. Hopefully the 6MT tranny experts will chime in. Car was probably driven hard or incorrectly (as seen by the new clutch at 92k).

Sidenote: Did the previous owner do the 105k maintenance (timing belt/water pump etc) and show you the receipt?

 

Yes, I can go into 6th, or any other gear for that matter, including reverse. If it is a blocker ring or the synchronizer, what is the fix for that?

 

I figured that it was driven hard or wrong by the early clutch change, but thought that a new clutch would fix any issues that would've come along with that hard driving? Also, I did the 105k service when I got the car.

 

Mods: Please note this is a duplicate thread with same thing posted in the Problems and Fixes area.

 

If it is the synchro/blocker ring then the whole transmission would have to be removed and disassembled to replace it.

 

Thanks, yes it is with https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=863338.

Threads merged......

 

It could really be any one of a number of issues, like:
Bad synchro ring (if you're able to get it in 6th easily, the synchro sleeve and hub are likely OK)
Bad synchro spring
Bad synchro teeth on 5th gear
Something obstructing the shift fork

No matter what, the tranny needs to come out to fix it. Your best bet would be to just replace it with a used tranny for ~$1,000-1,5000 + labor.

If you're mechanically inclined (as well as have access to a press), you can take apart the tranny yourself and fix/replace whatever it is causing the issue. In which case it would likely only cost you a couple hundred bucks to fix. Not to mention all the money you would save in labor.