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ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: SGV_Power on April 05, 2011, 06:22:24 AM

Title: Gearbox question
Post by: SGV_Power on April 05, 2011, 06:22:24 AM
I just picked up the 2001 GV.  I noticed that going into 2nd gear is kind of rough.  I have to kind of force it in there.  Does everyone else have an issue like this or is there a real problem with the gearbox?

Thanks,

Jay
Title: Re: Gearbox question
Post by: fordem on April 05, 2011, 09:06:33 AM
You may have a worn synchro.

However - what I have found is that the tranny on my GV does NOT like to be "hustled" through the gears -  if you fight it (which my wife does), if fights back and you'll grind the gears, but "caress" it into gear and it'll shift smoothly - it's not a second gear thing for me, happens with every shift - it's a matter of not grabbing the shift and wrestling into position, just guiding it works better.

Everyone I've asked about this has reported that theirs behave in a somewhat similar fashion.
Title: Re: Gearbox question
Post by: Novadon on April 05, 2011, 10:14:40 AM
SGV...do you have the correct amount of clutch pedal "free-play"? A 1/2" - 1" is plenty. Much more and you won't get full clutch disengagement, which can hamper shifts.

Have you also tried switching to a synthetic gear oil like Redline brand or ? That will provide smoother shifting too.  ;)
Title: Re: Gearbox question
Post by: SGV_Power on April 05, 2011, 10:30:49 AM
I've read about the synthetic oil.  I'm gonna go to the mechanic and ask him.  It only happens in second gear though.  All the other gears seem to be fine. 
Title: Re: Gearbox question
Post by: IanL on April 06, 2011, 12:43:26 AM
Some Japanese gearboxes (my Cappuccino for one) develop a crunching habit on a particular gear (2nd in this case) - the complete cure was a Castrol fully synthetic gear oil.  Marketed here as Castrol SMS-X, but being replaced by Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90.
Title: Re: Gearbox question
Post by: fordem on April 06, 2011, 06:19:28 PM
Some Japanese gearboxes (my Cappuccino for one) develop a crunching habit on a particular gear (2nd in this case) - the complete cure was a Castrol fully synthetic gear oil.  Marketed here as Castrol SMS-X, but being replaced by Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90.

That IS a worn synchro - the synthetic masks it, but the correct fix is to replace the synchro ring, but the synthetic is so much cheaper and easier - I did the same thing with my Swift (switch to a full synth - I used Mobil1), and that thing shifts like the proverbial hot knife through butter - you really can feel the difference in the way it just slips into gear - unfortunately - the full synth does not have the same effect on the GV transmission.