Hi this is my first time on this Forum. I happen to have a 1999 tracker which is truining into a lot more fun than I ever expected. This particular vehicle happens to have a problem with the syncromesh gears going into 3rd gear. I am having a little trouble finding a tranny for this model year. Do any of you happen to know what Chevy did in 1999 when they put the botie on the grill? The engine and tranny look the same as the 1998 and previous years but the books say they are different.

Ahh yes, the 1999 and up 5 speed, I have one in my 2000 and I know what your talking about.  My bigger problem was going from 5th to 4th.  At anything over 50 mph I just usually double clutch.  One thing I've noticed is form 35,000 miles from when I bought it to 55,000 mile on it now, it actually shifts better.  I changed the gear oil to a synthetic and that actually seemed to help.  Its a bit stiff in colder weather untill its driven a little while, but hte best thing to do was to just shift easy and drive it easy and eventually the tranny might come around.  Mine stopped the 3rd gear gring a long time ago.  I think if you shift them too fast or too hard its hard on the syncros.  There is a bulletin on it and pretty much you have to take it to your local Chevy dealer and they replace all the syncros in it, I didn't want to trust them to do that, so I just left it, and its really not all that bad.  Try double clutching (I know it may be a pain) but in time it'll help wear the syncros back in a little.  

      I know, this sounds like the lazy way out, and somewhat unbelievable, but it does help, don't push it too hard, go easy, and in time it will get better, also the synthetic gear oil might help a bit too.

    How many miles on it???   HTH Dave

These folks should have a rebuild kit for it:

Spencer Hodes
Transmission Exchange Co.
1803 NE ML King Blvd
Portland, OR 97212
800-776-1191

txchangespencer|removethispart|@earthlink.net (paypal ID)

http://www.txchange.com/

   I work at a GM dealership the bulletin for this is #745085 it involves changing 6 springs the part # for the kit is #91176347 I can get it for about $8 bucks thats the quick fix it goes on to state in the bulletin that to correctly fix the problem you should also replace 3rd and 4th gear in addition to the above parts. this bulletin is for 99-00 5 speeds let me know if you need anything or if I can be of any help

Hey Waggon, does the 99 tracker have a steel front end? I also work for a GM dealer and that info would help me alot.

Thanks,
 Kevin

 no     but I sure wish it did

no      but the 02 and up zr2 trackers have a very cool skidplate that should bolt on any 99 and up tracker

They do, I like front skid plate on my 02 4dr ZR2  

Hey Waggon, does the 99 tracker have a steel front end? I also work for a GM dealer and that info would help me alot.

Thanks,
 Kevin

That was only offered on the Suski models.  Never GM ones.

Thanks guys. You came up with a great option. I have done a lot of things but never dug into a tranny. Are there a bunch of special tools to get into this project?

Ahh yes, the 1999 and up 5 speed, I have one in my 2000 and I know what your talking about.  My bigger problem was going from 5th to 4th.  At anything over 50 mph I just usually double clutch.  One thing I've noticed is form 35,000 miles from when I bought it to 55,000 mile on it now, it actually shifts better.  I changed the gear oil to a synthetic and that actually seemed to help.  Its a bit stiff in colder weather untill its driven a little while, but hte best thing to do was to just shift easy and drive it easy and eventually the tranny might come around.  Mine stopped the 3rd gear gring a long time ago.  I think if you shift them too fast or too hard its hard on the syncros.  There is a bulletin on it and pretty much you have to take it to your local Chevy dealer and they replace all the syncros in it, I didn't want to trust them to do that, so I just left it, and its really not all that bad.  Try double clutching (I know it may be a pain) but in time it'll help wear the syncros back in a little.  

      I know, this sounds like the lazy way out, and somewhat unbelievable, but it does help, don't push it too hard, go easy, and in time it will get better, also the synthetic gear oil might help a bit too.

    How many miles on it???   HTH Dave

Dave,
Right now we have around 73k.  I am going to try the synthetic oil 1st then I am going to look into the kit that Wagon mentioned. thanks, John

Oh, ok, how long have you had it?  You may not notice a diffrence right away with the synthetic, like for me, one day I just so happened to down shift from 5th to 4th at something like 55 mph and it went right in.  And it never did that before.  Trannies and differentials and clutches are not my bag buddy.  I leave that up to the professionals with the fancy tools .  I think you'll be happy with it, especially if you try double clutching for  awhile, it helped mine, surprisingly.  Have fun,     Dave

Oh, ok, how long have you had it?  You may not notice a diffrence right away with the synthetic, like for me, one day I just so happened to down shift from 5th to 4th at something like 55 mph and it went right in.  And it never did that before.  Trannies and differentials and clutches are not my bag buddy.  I leave that up to the professionals with the fancy tools .  I think you'll be happy with it, especially if you try double clutching for  awhile, it helped mine, surprisingly.  Have fun,     Dave

I have had the car from around 45,000 miles to current at 73,000. It has always been a problem with 4th to 3rd gear. I'll give it a try and keep you posted. thanks for the pointers.
John