1996 S14 5th gear would not engage

[snuvet75]

Hey guys. Still in the middle of sorting out all the issues. Then I noticed yesterday, it was becoming harder and harder to engage 5th gear. It just would not engage. It's not that it goes in and pops out. All other gears are fine although I have had occasional issues shifting to reverse. But I had the reverse issues in past cars sporadically. I know the reverse and 5th gear share the common rod. Do you think that could be the issue? If so, shouldn't I be having the same issue with reverse??
When car's off, I can shift all gears alright. But when it's in 5th gear, I don't hear that typical click when I shake the shifter. Could this just be the linkage problem?
According to the factory manual, there's OD position switch connector on the transmission although mine is manual. Could this be the issue?
I am just hoping I wouldn't have to have the transmission down. Online research mentions synchronizer, whole clutch replacement and so on that I'm not familiar with. I'm still new to fixing complicated issues like this.

[AZhitman]

This could be, as you mentioned, a couple possibilities. Insufficient clutch engagement or bad synchro are my guesses.

I suspect you're going to need a trans shop.

Just for the hell of it, do a drain and fill on the gear oil, let's see how it looks (preferably in a black pan, then shine a flashlight on it in the dark to look for synchro material).

[snuvet75]

This could be, as you mentioned, a couple possibilities. Insufficient clutch engagement or bad synchro are my guesses.

I suspect you're going to need a trans shop.

Just for the hell of it, do a drain and fill on the gear oil, let's see how it looks (preferably in a black pan, then shine a flashlight on it in the dark to look for synchro material).

that's good idea although I changed the oil only 2-3 weeks ago. I will look for the material. It is brass so should be gold color correct? If so, synchro gears are shot? Does that mean I will have to visit trans shop anyway? Oh f....
I just got under the car below the shifter. There is nothing for me to see... The shifter goes right into the trans case. I was hoping it would be an easy fix... Maybe I will open up the shifter tomorrow and see if there is something that stands out...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I changed the oil only 2-3 weeks ago.

Which oil did you use? Hopefully GL-4. Some GL-5s eat yellow metals (your synchros).
If it wasn't GL4, you should drain it immediately and replace it.

If it was GL-4, can you double-clutch into 5th to fix the issue?

[snuvet75]

I changed the oil only 2-3 weeks ago.

Which oil did you use? Hopefully GL-4. Some GL-5s eat yellow metals (your synchros).
If it wasn't GL4, you should drain it immediately and replace it.

If it was GL-4, can you double-clutch into 5th to fix the issue?

Hey Papasmurf. I have tried to double clutch but it didn't work. I will try that again when I fixed the diff. That one bolt from the subframe is so tight that I have not been able to take it out for the last 3 days. I was going to go to a trans shop yesterday but cancelled it due to the diff issue.
I used Red line GL4. I checked the fluid recently again and it was still quite fresh and full. Didn't take out the drain bolt though as I was going to take it to a shop anyway.
If I can engage 5th with double clutching, does that mean something specific by the way? Thank you for chiming in.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah if double clutching works, that usually means your synchro is toast. You can also try and rev match the engine to what your rpms would be if you were driving at that speed in that gear...
Another thing you could do is pop off your shifter bezel and take a look down there and make sure there's nothing impeding the rod/shifter from going to where it needs to go.

[snuvet75]

Yeah if double clutching works, that usually means your synchro is toast. You can also try and rev match the engine to what your rpms would be if you were driving at that speed in that gear...
Another thing you could do is pop off your shifter bezel and take a look down there and make sure there's nothing impeding the rod/shifter from going to where it needs to go.

Hey Papasmurf. I will def try double clutch again. Well after I sort out the diff issue.. I already checked the shifter assembly. Nothing wrong there.