Won't stay in 5th gear
 

So after a little spirited driving/shifting my car won't stay in 5th gear now. Press the clutch in, put it in 5th (feels like it goes all the way in) then when I let out on the clutch it grinds and pushes it out of gear. Also it is harder to get into reverse now. 4th feels a little "spongie" now too. Could cable system have come out of alignment? Thanks for any help.

never heard of that or cable adjustment eliminating any "grinding" of a gear :eek:
notchy engagement? or imprecise shifting sure.. but grinding!

i fear you have trans work ahead.

I'm scared too. I just went out to the garage and I can put it in any gear, start to let out on the clutch and it will start to pull except for 5th gear. As soon as I start to let out on the clutch it grinds and pops out of gear.

oh man... bummer :(

well. you gotta get it to a REALLY experienced pcar shop that knows turbos. you'r best bet is to read up on some 2nd gear popout threads for an idea of what you're looking at $ wise to get in/out of the box. parts of course will be damage dependent. i'd say good luck, but it's probably gonna take more than that. sorry to say.

Thanks. I'm reading some other threads now.

could be the cable

I sure hope you're right, but I'm doubting it.

Is the adjustment problem usually on the trans side or the shifter side?

It doesn't appear that I'm ever making it all the way into 5th gear. With the car off, I put it in 5th gear and I can get out and push the car and I hear gears clicking like it's not fully engaged. Which obviously it's not because I can move the car by pushing it.

Like Joe said, it sounds like a cable issue. Check that the cable end is in properly at the trans. Not the end on the linkage but the outer cable end that mounts on the trans housing. Most people zip tie it or tie wire them to the mounting bracket. You may have also broken a shifter bushing. Pull up the shifter boot and look at the two white bushing, make sure they are in (stock shifter). Aftermarket will have those machined out of aluminum.

I looked at both ends. Under the center console and on the transmission. Nothing looks out of place to me. Maybe I'll get back out there and take some pictures. I really appreciate the feedback/advise from you guys.

I lost 1-3-5 on my car from a cable issue. If it's grinding and popping out it cause it's not going in all the way.

1 and 3 seem fine. I'm hoping it's a cable issue too. I'll inspect a little further and then may take it to someone else to look at. May be a good time for ssk and cup cables if that is the issue.

If the cables are all good it could be the set screw on the shift fork loosened? that would let 6 gear engage with a shorter stroke then 2nd or 4th would also cause a notchy feeling when you go side to side with the shifter passing the gates.

Hmmm. I assume the shift fork is in the trans?

Yes it is. 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th are pinned to their shift shafts. 5th, 6th and reverse have pinch bolts that locate the shift fork on their shift shafts.