Tranny Probs, Need Help ASAP Options

[j0ch0a94ST]

My 94 ST is having issues recently. I have noticed that over the past couple of months the transition to 2nd hasn't been up to par. It grinds slightly when transitioning to 2nd. Its not often...maybe once or twice every 30-50 shifts to 2nd or so. I've noticed that its normally in the upper RPM's(past 4000 rpm) that the chance of a slip is likely. I really hadn't thought much about this because of its infrequence. Over the past couple of weeks I've noticed that the transition to other gears (ie 2nd to third and third to forth) have "felt" different. With the clutch compresed during transition it more or less feels like it "falls into gear...keep in mind there has bee "NO" grinding in these other gears. I noticed this problem being extremely frequent yesterday. I got home around 6 when it was getting dark so I couldn't really give a great inspection but when I attempted to leave for work this morning I was unable to get the car into any gear with the clutch to the floor. Attempting reverse ending in just grinding. I have no idea what is more probable so I come to you guys for help. Could it be syncro's going bad, the clutch or should I be worried about the tranny in general. The car and the tranny have exactly 199,876 miles on em. Thanks guys

[j0ch0a94ST]

Bump b/c I still need answers!

[808celica]

assuming you have clutch line pressure??

things to check:
gear oil level
how many miles on the clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing
shifter cables (stretched or broken/breaking)
shifter selector arm bushings (in the engine bay)
shifter bushings (inside car)

[Detatch]

have your master and slave cylinders checked THOROUGHLY by a certified mechanic, that's most likely your problem... it's probably not the synchros because if your clutch was functioning properly, you wouldn't have that grinding when you put 'er into reverse... your reverse gear (as with most 5sp cars that i know of) is un-synchronized...

if you have an area to do so safely, try starting the car in first, and see if she rolls rolls as if you're letting out on the clutch while it's to the floor... if so, it's something with the clutch system for sure... in that case, while allowing her to roll, try slipping into neutral. if it rolls and comes out of gear just fine, the clutch disk itself is good, and more than likely your pressure plate and flywheel are good to go too, leaving the problem to be the slave cylinder, or one of the hoses between the cylinder and the actual clutch mechanism.... if it doesn't come out of gear at all, it could be the slave cylinder, the hoses, pressure plate, pressure plate, etc...

i'm willing to bet she'll roll in gear with the clutch to the floor, slip into neutral while rolling with the clutch pushed in, and shift between gears if you time it right... when you take it to a mechanic, start her in first, rev slightly high, then LIGHTLY (do NOT force it) pull the shifter towards second, as you allow the RPM's to drop, until she slides into neutral... from there, LIGHTLY push towards second, rev the engine if you need to, and as the RPM's drop, it should fall into second with no problems... same for 3rd, 4th, and 5th.... for stop signs, if there's no traffic, hope there aren't any cops.. if cars at stop signs, or if you're at a stop light, put her in neutral, then kill power, put in first, and when you're ready to start again, you turn 'er on... that's how i had to get my saturn to the shop when i had that exact same problem...

as for syncros, it sounds like you may have the one usual problem-child going on, but it sounds like it's very minute... you can have them replaced, or get a new transmission, either one is expensive. i would just deal with it until it's beyond bearable, then replace the whole transmission if i were you.... see, with me i didn't think at the time to turn the car off to use first gear (there was a large truck with what i suspect was a junkie hopped up on coke barreling towards me), so i just pushed as hard as i could towards first with my defective clutch pushed in, and floored it... car barely creeped out of the way, but i have no synchronizer in first gear on my satty now...

best of luck, and hope i helped....