Yesterday I was cruising along in 6th gear on cruise control at 59 mph while towing a trailer across flat desert in California. After quite a few miles, it suddenly jumped out of gear. I tried putting it back in 6th, and it wouldn't quite lock down. Felt like it was about 1/2" short, and if I pulled back fairly hard on the shifter, then ease the clutch out, it would try to go, then jump out again. Tried it again a couple of times - carefully - then finished the final 600 miles of my trip at 60 mph in 5th. Shifting and driving is smooth and quiet, with no grinding or crunching at any time, except for not quite going all the way down into 6th. Tomorrow it goes in the shop, but I'd sure like an idea of what could cause this. I'm new to this area (Santa Fe, NM) and to the shop, and am unsure of them. Thanks. Lar.

 

probably just a shift fork pad. do you rest your hand on the shifter while you drive?

 

I do. Why do you ask?

 

Wears out shift forks prematurely due to constant pressure. My son is constantly wanting to shift and he thinks he needs to hold it in gear, drives me crazy.

jed

 

hmmm. I had no idea this would cause a problem...

 

Nope, I don't do that. Sometimes hold my hand on the shifter between shifts in traffic, but don't press on it, and don't do it on the highway.

This was sudden......cruising along, and after miles of it, suddenly it popped. Wasn't touching it, hit no bumps, cruise control was holding speed constant.

Does anyone know of a good transmission shop in Santa Fe, or even Albu-quirky ?? Thanks.

Lar.

 

I sure don't, and if you're at all concerned, you probably won't hurt anything driving back home in 5th.

the reason I asked is because it happened in 6th... USUALLY see this on whatever fork engages OD as guys will often rest their hand on the shifter while cruising down the highway. first time I saw it was an NV4500 where a guy was complaining it was popping out of 5th gear and was hard to get into 5th. cracked it open and one fork pad had already fallen off the fork and the other was almost worn through