AX-15 Transmission problems cont...

XJNick · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:34 PM

Hi

Well, I've been having problems with my '97 wrangler (AX-15 transmission), mainly with 2nd gear grinding. After switching to Pennzoil syncromesh last weekend, the problem pretty much went away. But it's coming back.

I had also been noticing reverse was a little hard to get in/out of, and now I've discovered that I cannot engage reverse while the engine is running, or it grinds.

So I'm now led to believe that I'm looking at a hydraulic clutch issue, since reverse isn't syncronized and I believe there should be nothing moving or spinning inside the transmission with the clutch pedal in and the Jeep at a full stop on level ground.

I see no bleeder valve for the system and so I've learned that apparently the Clutch Master cylinder, Slave cylinder, and fluid line are one complete unit

??? None of the auto parts stores can get me the parts

???

What do I do? I noticed these problems become worse the longer I drive, and everyday it is slowly getting worse

.

I'm frustrated, I just can't believe this. Thanks for any advice

-Nick

Bounty__Hunter · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:48 PM

Have you tried pumping the hell out of the clutch and see if it still grinds going into reverse?

Snitty · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 07:27 AM

there should be a bleeder somewhere on the slave... have you checked your fluid level? and like bounty said, pump the living shat out of the clutch on different angles of ground

GreenReaper93 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 10:42 AM

XJNick... I've dealt with that a few months back. Check the fluid in the Master. Do you have trouble shifting in all gears? The Hydraulic system are seperate, but still a pain. There should be a bleeder valve on the back side of the slave. You might also have a problem with the clutch fork not engaging all the way. My $.02 I guess. Keep us posted

XJNick · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 06:43 PM

I tried pumping it and I'm not sure it made a difference. The Master cylinder is full.

I still see no bleeder valve... I guess I'll keep looking? This just looks like a complete assembly of some sort?

It originally only happened in 2nd gear... then after about four days I began to notice it in reverse,
now this afternoon, I'm noticing that 1st is beginning to make a slight grind noise when I try to engage it.

When I try to engage second or reverse with the pedal to the floor, I can feel that something is spinning inside the transmission slowly. Then after it grinds a little, what ever is spinning stops. It is as if the clutch isn't releasing all the way (causing it to still spin a little), then when I get it in gear, there is enough force in the transmission to make the clutch fully release (or it's dragging slightly). Does this make sense?

Thanks for the help

-Nick

Snitty · #6 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 03:09 AM

do you have the proper fluid level in the tranny? when you push the clutch, the input shaft may still spin until it loses momentum, and the fluid usually helps dampen the spin... when you pull it into gear, the synchro will speed up or slow down the input shaft to the corresponding speed of the layshaft, that is why it stops once it grinds a bit... it sounds like your synchros are gone... that happened to me, it started going fast, then i started hearing parts flop around in there... i would start searchin hard for a new tranny... for now, you can baby it... when you shift, don't pull "through" the synchro, just pull until you feel it "touch" the gear, then apply slight pressure into it, and allow it to "fall" into gear.. it will buy you some time

XJNick · #7 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 04:55 PM

Well the problem is worst in reverse which is NOT syncronized.

Also, I'm quite positive it isn't just momentum, since when I try to engage reverse repeatedly, whatever is spinning never slows down or stops until I actually get it into gear, then it just stops.

Anyways, I've ordered a Master/slave cylinder set that I hope will solve the problem.

Thanks again

-Nick

Snitty · #8 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 02:38 AM

if you are hearing things INSIDE the transmission, the clutch cylinders will probably do you no good. in many vehicles, it is normal to hear some spin in the transmission though, the parts inside ARE spinning, sometimes just a little louder than others... but... i hope i'm wrong, i hope the cylinders do fix your problem