grind with up shift into 2nd

dan kerkstra · Sep 1, 2014

2002 Jetta man. when cold / frist start up shift is fine , down shift is always good, but after it warms up it will grind going into 2nd , if I when I take off in 1st at very low MPH it will go into 2nd w/o grinding,I just changed fluid and it shifts easier but still grinds, syncros ?

dan kerkstra · Sep 1, 2014

2002 Jetta has 332,000

Blackjedi · Sep 1, 2014

Syncros are bad, mine are too 1st is really bad and 3rd is bad as well. To avoid grinding don't jam it into gear kinda ease it in, you should be able to feel it kinda slip right in. That's what I do anyway and I don't grind them.

dan kerkstra · Sep 5, 2014

I changed the fluid and it shifts much smoother but still will grind with up shift, so now I shift asap into 2nd and it doesnt grind, just bopught a 04 Jetta tdi with 260 K and it does the sme thing os fluid chang and quick shift into 2nd on this one also lol

naturist · Sep 5, 2014

Yup, sounds like the syncros are worn out. You have a choice: repair/replace or learn to double clutch.

nkgagne · Sep 9, 2014

I double clutch 1-2 or 2-1 most times because of this. The 1-2 syncro has the most work to do of all of them, so it's nice to give it some help whenever possible. As well, I can almost never get down into 1 while rolling without either double clutching and rev matching or else stopping dead (it's a good deterrent to rolling stops, at least...)

shortyjacobs · Sep 9, 2014

So take this with a grain of salt, but my '04 GTI gasser, (think it was an O2J tranny?), had a horrendous grind going into second.

Based on some testimonials on the Vortex forums, I swapped out the fluid for some very specific GM tranny fluid, (I think?). I'd tried a few other tranny fluids with no luck, but the GM stuff worked a treat. Do some searches, the MK4s were known for 2nd gear grinds....there was also a modified gear ring you could try and swap in with teh right part #s, but the fluid swap was much easier to do.

dan kerkstra · Sep 10, 2014

thanks to all , you guys are graet, I will keep you posted

fossill · Sep 10, 2014

GM Synchromesh.......fixed my 1-2 shift grinding. That was 250,000km ago. I change it out every 100,000km.

dan kerkstra · Sep 11, 2014

Thanx ,my 2002 & 2004 po the same both grind going into 2nd , I will change to GM Synchromesh. will keep you posted.

dan kerkstra · Sep 12, 2014

ok, on the 2004 after the fluid was changed the problem went away, and it up shifts nice and smooth in the other gears. I used vw recomended fluid for this change, now I will drive the 2002 Jetta with the same fluid change to see if I get the same resaults

dan kerkstra · Sep 13, 2014

The 02 with 326K still has slight grin going into 2nd after it warms up, going to try the GM Synch. inthis one next week , will keep you updated.

Geobmx4life · Sep 13, 2014

I had 3rd gear syncro grind and changed the gear oil to Redline MT90....and I don't remember the last time it made the grind.

dan kerkstra · Sep 16, 2014

Can I buy Redline MT 90 at an auto parts store ?

VeeDubTDI · Sep 16, 2014

My Mk2 did this - had to double-clutch going from 1st to 2nd or it would grind every time. After 400,000 miles, I figured it is allowed to grind a little if it wanted to.

Geobmx4life · Sep 16, 2014

Redline MT90

dan kerkstra said:
Can I buy Redline MT 90 at an auto parts store ?

You should be able to.

dan kerkstra · Sep 17, 2014

I tried but no go, I bought 3 qts of GM synco fluid as fossill sugested , no more grind I'm going to promote this as a fix and the dealer only charged $16.00 a qt, thanks to all, smooth driving, PS remember this was after I changed it out with VW fluid

jimbote · Sep 26, 2014

synchromesh, synchromesh, synchromesh

legendman · Jul 2, 2015

Found this thread doing a search, have the same 1 to 2 upshift grind, and recently changed the fluid using the VW stuff.
Ordered some GM Synchromesh will report back if it cures my grinding.

Trans has 272k on it.

legendman · Aug 1, 2015

Update...
Been a week with the new fluid and no more syncro grind.

waltzconmigo · Aug 1, 2015

legend---thanks for the update, sometimes members forget to do that and it is very helpful to others who search and find a conclusion. (I know this is not your thread originally but someone will find it in the future and appreciate your input.)

UhOh · Aug 2, 2015

legendman said:
Update...
Been a week with the new fluid and no more syncro grind.

I'd researched this topic of transmission fluids quite extensively and can state that, as I found out firsthand, and that you now have, that this GM fluid has NEVER disappointed a single person! I did not find a single instance in which anyone replaced it with something else. I rank it #1, followed closely by Pennzoil.

Install a Sigma 5 short shifter and you'll really be happy!

grind with up shift into 2nd

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