Just a manual tranny tech question...when you're in too low a gear, why does the tranny make a chugging, ratchety noise? What exactly is going on and what am I hearing?

I have NEVER been able to use the "advice" of the shift light. If I go into 4th gear under 40 MPH the tranny makes this ratchety noise that I've never been able to figure out, under acceleration AND deacceleration.

Thing is, the shift light will come on at around 33MPH.

I ask myself...There's no WAY this tranny did this when it was new, b/c anyone that actually used the asinine shift light would have brought it back to the dealer in a second after hearing that noise!!!

All I DO know is Reline MT90 has been keeping my AX-5 alive!!! I change it every 6 months no matter what!!!

Howdy 93 I get that noise with most trannys when I am lugging the engine.. If I have a tall gear and I shift too soon the noise tells me I should have got to a higher rpm before shifting.... Do you shift at bout 2800 or higher?
After getting the next gear what are the rpm when the noise comes around?
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Hey Jim...Yeah I always shift around 2800-3000...The tranny really only makes that ratchety noise if I'm shifting from 3rd to 4th...if I go into 4th under 40mph it does it. Even if I have it in 4th and start to coast in gear (say dowhhill) around that 40MPH mark it does it as well.

At 3000 RPM in 3rd gear I'm going 40-41 MPH exactly so that's when I always shift.

I just wish I knew what was making that noise!!! I don't know much about transmissions. I can change out a clutch for example but as far as the mechanics of the manual tranny to the extent of diagnosing this "problem" I'm lost.