Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting 2nd gear crunch when cold...?

In the morning when the car is cold, 2nd gear crunches when I shift into it for the first couple of times. After that it is perfectly fine.

Anyone know what is causing this and if I should be concerned? Or is this a "feature"?

Thanx much!

mine too! Wouldn't worry about it too much..I've never given it a secon thought. I have notice many manuals do that in various gears when cold..depending on how COLD we're talking about..I wouldn't worry about it..I found that pushing the clutch in a few times when warming my car up stops it from hapening. It's just a cold and not quite as slippery and lubed as it is when warm...I'm guessing judging by mine..that it happens about 1-3 times before going away??? That's about how long it takes for a manual to warm up to a nice guey/lubed temp.

Yup...exactly. Weird thing is that it's only in 2nd gear. Why not 1st, 3rd, etc.?

You're beginning to lose the synchro ring on second gear. Start saving your $$$ for a tranny rebuild. It will get worse.

And that will run me in the neighborhood of how many dollars?

Funny thing those synchros. Mine was doing it going into 5th gear while under warranty. I took it to ford and they put in all new synchros. Thereafter, 3rd gear gave a harsh feel. They couldn't ever (duplicate it), so I figured it needed to break in. Well, 25K miles later its still there and it may be a tad worse.
Oh well.

warmonger

Greetings, my E0 "older brother!"

It's a "feature." I deal with it by not hurrying my shifts until things get warmed up. Just take it easy and don't force the lever.

I noticed in your sig you've switched to synthetic tranny fluid (I have, too)... By chance, did you add a dash of Ford Friction Modifier? It's part of the "official" tranny fluid mix (per TSB, don't remember the number), and supposedly leaving it out prevents the syncros from working as well as they could (this is one instance where friction is a good thing ).

Since you report the shifting is fine after warming up, I suspect you used the friction modifier. Just had to ask.

Garrick, maaaan, I so hope you're right. I really don't need to cough up big $$$ for a tranny re-build right now. My stock shocks are on the way out and I was eyeing the BAT suspension kit.

Have you had this "feature" since new (assuming you bought it new)? I've only had mine for about 15 mos.

I didn't add the Ford Friction Modifier when I did the synthetic MTF switch. I thought that was used in combination with regular tranny fluid? I was under the impression that once you went to an all synthetic fluid, that you didn't need that stuff.

Correct me if I am mis-informed...again.

Thanx!

700-1000 pull and refit engine trans assy,throw in another 2-300 for the tranny strip and repair parts.....better take care of those trannies boys!!!!!

Holy Crap...!

On the other hand, if I ever thought about putting in a Quaife LSD...I guess now would be the time to do it.

Maybe I'll stop throwing away all those "pre-approved" credit card offers I get in the mail every other day.

I so don't need this headache right now...

:rolleyes: