NOT able to put in gear.. pls help!

[pooljunky]

The Jeep. 01, 2,5l ax-15 I think, mostly stock.

THe problem:

OK Gears are not grinding BUT If I put it in reverse I cannot put it in gears 1 through 5.. unless I push it in hard.  and then all gears are easy again to put it in.

Now I though it would be the syncros but would that grind the gears? I do not hear any grinding what so ever..

AND seems like when it is cold it is easier to push it in hard into the 1st or 2nd gear and after wards all is easy.. i drive anywhere does not matter how far going forward.. shifting gears all is normal.. 

But when I put it in reverse once. I cant put it in any gears. and then I like push it or slam it if you wish into first or second.. and then all works perfect.


Checked fluid in the transmission all seems good and topped off..

I need some ideas.. linkage getting stuck?  SYncros?

If no adeas im going to probably try a few things  if it doesnt work .. ill drop it and put in a used one in..


Thanks for the help!

[jandh]

Syncros make a ton of different symptoms, and its hard to say for sure without opening it up.

could be one of the three tabs fell out and creates a jam in a certain area, i had that happen to me with similar sounding issue to yours, also a bent fork or degraded syncro's could be the cause.

how does it shift if the jeep is not running?

[pooljunky]

running or not its the same.. everything works like perfect until its put in reverse.

 i think i should of put my winch in the back now lol

[TL-Iguana]

Are you using the clutch? 

[pooljunky]

Thw clutch is fine or i think it is.. because it does work the times im not having the problem.. i was thinking the release bearing.. but then again.. it doesnt work some of the time.. so dont know

[yellowjeep101]

Sounds like an internal transmission issue. Not clutch or release bearing.

[pooljunky]

that is my worry.. oh well i know what im doing this week end lol anybody want to have fun?
lol

[WagoneerXJ]

My AX15 was doing a similar thing, but only when you parked and left it in reverse. It would stay in reverse. It took me pushing with all my might, and dumping the clutch to pop it out of reverse. I swapped it with a spare AX 15 and all is well again.

[LLYJ]

Hey Pooldood - before you run out and buy an AX15 best check and see if you actually have an AX15 - its a fairly involved swap from the AX5 so unless you know for sure this has been done you most likely have the factory AX5 - I would think that if a previous owner did this he would have made mention of it when you bought the jeep.

Pretty similar trannys for the purpose of the diagnosis your doing but if your going to just replace it make sure you get the right one (I am swapping in an AX15 behind my 2.5L but just so you know it is not a bolt and go job - either need to piece together some odd/hard to find parts or buy an adaptor kit - pirate has a good write up on the swap)

[morerpmfred]

Before you put in a used tranny do two things first.
Change the tranny gear oil to a premium synthetic oil made for use with the brass syngronizers. Drive it for a couple days and see what happens.
Confirm your clutch is disengaging fully second thing to do. A bad master or slave cylinder, clutch release bearing or the fingers on the diapram clutch, bent or worn out could all do this.

[pooljunky]

Ax5.. your right

 And for last post if any part of the clutch or besring was gone.. there would grinding of the gears... because there would be a problem withengagement of the clutch.. this is not the case.

The issue happends after i remove it like nornal from reverse.. and it does not go in gear.. like a cement block was blocking it.. not grinding.

I appreciate all feed back thank u

[morerpmfred]

Reverse and fifth (going by memory ) have no either dog gears or sychromizers. So it is easy to shift onto reverse but not out. So try when putting in first to slightly engage clutch then disengage just to get the gears turning then should shift into first like butter. If it does that then change your oil.

[Evil-Jeep]

My jeep has always done this, all it takes for me to get into forward gears is to allow it to roll back or forward an inch or two, and gears go in like butter.

[Greg-100]

My nephew had the same problem...

The linkage was binding, did a tap with a hammer on the linkage underneath to loosen it up.

Never had any more problems.

Greg

[pooljunky]

Greg.. that might be the issue..  Ill try that before taking the tranny out..  and moreopmfred, no problems taking it out of reverse gear.. after i take it out wont go in any other gears..