Buying a Used Man. Trans Whine 1st & 2nd

Looking at buying a really nice 2004 5spd 2wd with 77k on it. Just noticed some Trans whines a little in 1st and second. Very Faint. Common? I have read to change the fluid to Redline. Had V6 Mazda MX6 5 speed and did this. I put GL5 Valvoline in it first and wouldn't shift very notchy and grind on down shifts. Switched to 2 MTL's 75-90 & 1 MT90 and it was buttery smooth.

I have read here that this happens with these trans but is there any reliability issues? If it last 150k or more no biggy if it makes a little noise.

 

Yeah probably just bad fluid. I would switch to redline MT-90.

 

I would offer the seller the price he is asking less what a transmission would cost to repair, unless the seller is willing to change out the fluid, and test drive it again to see if the noise is still there.

 

You sure it's an abnormal whine? I'd try to somehow ride in a few other trucks similar to yours. Mine has a kind of high pitched whine that fades out through 3rd and 4th. It has always done it so I'm assuming it's just a relatively normal low gear whine.

 

my manual trans whines when you downshift to 1st and 2nd gear...always has...pretty sure its normal.

 

A little whining in 1st is normal due to the lack of synchro's, but you shouldn't hear any noticeable whine in 2nd/3rd/so on.

Do the fluid change first & if nothing changes you may have an input shaft bearing thats getting tired, now what does that mean ? It means that the bearing could go out altogether this afternoon or you may drive it till the engine wears out & still have the same noise, thats how those bearings roll....

 

I have a 2004 and there is no whining, if there is you would have to be listening very hard and with no other background sounds. Is there no synchromesh between first and second I do not believe that, I believe it is a fully synchromesh 5-speed, if it wasn’t it would grind.

I recently test road a 2010 and it had a horrible whine between 1st and 2nd, it only had 12K on it.

You should not hear any whining sounds, engine braking typically occur as low as 2nd gear, not in 1st then first is engaged and you should not hear whining at all. In some instances you may not be able to coast down enough, however still too slow to accelerate in second, then a slight engine brake occurs as you down shift into 1st and still should not whine.

I suspect that instances of whining are from abuse, worn and or damaged components in the synchromesh from excessive engine braking in first gear or over revving and shifting hard from first to second. Probably somebody popping clutches and revving the shit out of the engine.

 

Just to be clear, you are talking about the W59 for the 4 banger and not the R150F for the V6 right?

 

Hey jarnold
So did you try redline for the trans noise ? mine does the same in my 2000 toyota tacoma 2.7 5sp and wanted to see if thats what I need to do to make it stop the whining sound or if its a waste of money and I should just look at waiting till something just goes on it lol No slipping or any funny feeling to the clutch tho except that 5th gear goes in a bit ruff when I let the clutch out while giving it gas. No other gear does this tho.
Steve

 

I didn't say it didn't have ANY synchros, just not as many & yeah it WILL grind or go in rough if your rolling too fast for the down shift

Yeah I know I'm answering from a year ago !!

 

It sounds like when you go in reverse but its in all gears. Runs great tho lol ..so would it be the bearing perhaps ?