3rd Gear Changing Issue

[crumpledoor]

Hi all
Just bought myself an 04 Lancer CH 5 speed and am very happy with it. My first Lancer! Wanted one for a long time.

Anyway, in the last 2 days I have noticed that it has a slight issue changing into 3rd gear. Every gear has no issues but when changing into 3rd when the car hasn't quite warmed up to operating temp it feels harder to shift than the other gears and its almost like I can here it pushing past the syncro. All other gears drop in as expected and without issue. After a while when the car is at operating temp it certainly isn't as bad, almost unnoticeable.

Owning and working on many varieties of cars over the years I am suspecting the syncro may be worn but given it seems to diminish almost completely when the car is up to operating temp then perhaps its a clutch/fluid issue.

So I am just after peoples opinions as to whether it is:

Clutch Adjustment
Fluid Level
Syncro worn or wearing out
All of the above

Any help is greatly appreciated guys as I don't really want to cause damage &/or further damage to my gearbox.

Thanks!!

 

[hotwyr]

My CE has the same issue, it's normally a combination of slop in the shifter, slightly worn syncro and requires an oil change with the right grade of oil.


First things first, change the gearbox oil and make sure it's what's recommended for your car, that should solve most if not all of the issue considering its temp related.

 

[crumpledoor]

Thanks hotwyr

Yeah thats what I thought, start with the cheapest solution, oil change. Who knows when it was last done, although the service books are up to date so I can only assume its been done. But some mechanics will tick it off when in fact they just top it up with generic oil, I have seen this many times!

At least if I change it I know when and what was used. I guess the manual will tell me what the correct grade is.

 

[StarGrinder]

My old camry did the same thing, sounds like a bit of a crunch as it goes in when it's cold, yea? In my case it was worn out synchro.