3rd gear, wtf?

[Jroc]

so after a spirited drive, my car has become damn near impossible to shift into third. its a little better with rev matching, but still extremely difficult.

i'm scared because all i see from searches is a trans rebuild..

before i jump into anything, is there any quick checks i can do?

I've never before had the slightest issue with third gear, and after one drive it barely works at all.

Also, reverse has always been a little tough when hot, since i've owned the car.. (march 2015)

[christianb5s4]

So describe spirited, did you try to bang it into third or do anything unusual before the symptoms started? Does it pop out of 3rd if you do eventually manage to get it engaged?

[Jroc]

wot thru a nice backroad.. about 10 minutes worth of driving.. i first noticed it when i downshifted from 4th to third. and when i tried to pull it out to go to second, it was extremely hard.. then putting it back into third was also hard.. and its been like that since.

[JVD]

Have you checked your shift linkage to make sure nothing has come loose?

Usually it'll feel sloppy if that's the case though. And you'll find out real quick. Lol.

[christianb5s4]

There's no grinding accompanying trying to shift into 3rd? Has the transmission ever been rebuilt?

[Jroc]

ive had a couple grinds downshifting into 4th.. and by a couple i mean maybe 3 or 4 in the year ive owned it.. probably driver error.. lol. no grinding. no rebuild to my knowledge. now that i think about it, i think it could use a fluid flush. ill check the linkage as well.

[Tjtalan]

When my transmission went south the last shift I made was a spirited attempt at third.

[landfill]

You probably crunched your 3rd gear
synchro when banging gears. My money
is on a bad synchro. Check your shifter
linkage and alignment though as well.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

You probably crunched your 3rd gear
synchro when banging gears. My money
is on a bad synchro. Check your shifter
linkage and alignment though as well.

My money is on a bent shift selector/fork, since he says it's also difficult to get into 2nd.

Trans rebuild time.

[Jroc]

yeah. im going for the rebuild. :(

[christianb5s4]

yeah. im going for the rebuild. :(

There are a few members selling rebuilt transmissions already, could be a cheaper/better route if you don't plan on doing the rebuild yourself. Then you can recoup some money selling your 01e.

[zillarob]

On the bright side, they shift like butter after a rebuild.
I am always jealous as hell after putting them together for people, makes mine feel like crap even though it is just fine. lol

[Schtug]

My money is on a bent shift selector/fork, since he says it's also difficult to get into 2nd.

Trans rebuild time.

Same thought crossed my mind as well.