I need some help from you guys. ANY help is appreciated in advance, so thank you for reading:
Simply speaking, my 95 3000GT SL has lost it's 5th gear and is now qualified to be having a "transmission problem". A little background on what the symptoms were/are and how it started:
Essentially, when I bought the car, back in Dec 2007, there were absolutely no transmission problems. Maybe a slight hiccup in going into 1st, but even that was occasional. Since then, I have driven the car up from 77,000 miles (4X,XXX on the engine) to 95,XXX, with some heavy commuting done in the last 9 months, basically, almost 100 miles a day, for 5 days a week. In the last month or so, I noticed that when I shifted to the 5th gear, the shift knob would move back and forth, depending on my foot going on or off the gas. Progressively, the distance in the movement widened, until you could even HEAR the lever going back and forth. I took it to my mechanic, before the extent of the sound coming, and he simply stated (after some external checks), to let the problem get worse, until it starts popping out, cause it's going to require opening of the transmission, which would be a big expense.
I listened to his advice, until last week the gear finally popped out of 5th for 2 days and like twice, until the gear finally came out and would not go back into the 5th again. The gear does actually go back in, however, it grinds and pops right back out.
At this point (even though I did some reading), looking into how to fix this seemingly "known" problem, wouldn't apply to me, because I am extremely oblivious to the art and pleasure of mechanical jobs, and I do not own any tools, nor the space to do such work, so I need someone to fix it for me.
With that said, currently, I am looking for any advice on how to make it out of this problem, with some "lessons learned" and also if someone can suggest any mechanics that might have worked on 3/Ss before, maybe even on transmissions? I am reaching out to folks who possibly live in the Philadelphia area, as that is where I reside.
Unfortunately, I work full-time, 5 days a week, and time is of the essence here, as this is my primary means of transport, so I am really looking for some help. I thank you folks in advance for reading this message and for ANY help that you maybe able to provide! Take care guys!
If your mechanic wasnt a complete moron and knew 3s's this could have been fixed months ago and simply.
All that has probably happened is the stake nut on 5th gear came loose. Because it has been let go so long you may have created more damage than necessary. All that is necessitated is taking the end case off and tightening of the stake nut and restaking it.
Thank you for your response Stealthee, as I predicted, that would have been the case. The good side of it all is that, all of this happened just NOW, so the problem might STILL be that easily fixed.
My primary issue right now is finding a mechanic that is trusted and known, who can help fix this issue on my car, in the Philadelphia area. So, if you or any other 3SI members can help me in that regard, please do so. I also appreciate any other advice that you guys might have to offer, like Stealthee's words. Perhaps things to look for on parts, where and how to get them, possible fair prices of the problems involved and so on. The current mechanic I have found is in Delaware somewhere, which means I have to either risk driving the car around 50 miles at the 4th gear and break it further, or have it towed for that far, which, due to no towing service, will cost me a fortune. Please help guys, thank you!
You can check out Pat's Transmission in Folsom. They rebuilt the weird 4+3 trans in my dad's vette a while ago. He's been using them for transmission stuff for a while as well.
Their number is (610) 586-4800
and the address is
101 Swarthmore Ave, Folsom, PA 19033
The guy I go to is pretty good as well, he had my trans and other 3S trans apart before. He is in Myerstown, PA. like.. hour and a half tops for you to drive. He prolly could squeeze you in on a saturday. PM me if interested, I can give you his address and number.
Plus you could make the drive in 4th and not even use 5th at all, No biggie.
The guy I go to is pretty good as well, he had my trans and other 3S trans apart before. He is in Myerstown, PA. like.. hour and a half tops for you to drive. He prolly could squeeze you in on a saturday. PM me if interested, I can give you his address and number.
Plus you could make the drive in 4th and not even use 5th at all, No biggie.
Thank you very much for your help and contacts, guys. About your advice, Patch, I think I would have to drive the car and not get it towed, as I don't have roadside assistance. Do most of us agree that it's not brutally damaging (to the car), if I risk a 30 mile + drive to the shop of my choosing?
Again guys, your input is really appreciated, thanks for your help, I can really use it .
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Calling out to my Philadelphia 3SI friends...
Re: Calling out to my Philadelphia 3SI friends...
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