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Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:36 pm
by Drurban
Hi All,
I have a 1997 Isuzu Mu 3.1L TD Manual, I have started to notice that it is hard to get it into first or reverse, it does not do this all the time some days it is easy to get into gear with out a problem.
Has anyone had this issue? also how can you tell when the gear box is on it's way out.
If someone can shed light on the subject would be great.
Thanks
Ruben
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:53 pm
by GotFlex
Hows the clutch, could be slipping?
just to clarifyyou are stopping the truck from going forward before you select reverse?
joking!! Isuzu gearboxes typically are pretty strong, how ever they run a very light 10w30 engine oil.
When bearings wear out they will damage the internals and tend to require most of the bits to replaced (mainshfts etc)
This was the advice i got from geartech when i looked at re-bearing my gearbox.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:55 pm
by pouw
Is it hard to go into gear when it is cold but easy when it is warm? Cheers
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:56 pm
by Drurban
Well the clutch is not that old and should be still good, I will have to look at the paper work to see when I got it done.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:58 pm
by Drurban
pouw wrote:Is it hard to go into gear when it is cold but easy when it is warm? Cheers
Yeah as today it was quite cold and it was hard to put in gear but when it warmed up it was getting easier.
Cheers.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:59 pm
by meatc
Try changing the oil, its probably full of water and crap and not workin as it should
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:04 pm
by Drurban
meatc wrote:Try changing the oil, its probably full of water and crap and not workin as it should
Yeah I will do that and see what happens, also when changing down from fifth to fourth it didn't want to go in ( did not force it ) and made a horrible noise just for a few seconds and back it off, maybe I was still going to high for the gear change.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:18 pm
by Drurban
GotFlex wrote:Hows the clutch, could be slipping?
just to clarifyyou are stopping the truck from going forward before you select reverse?
joking!! Isuzu gearboxes typically are pretty strong, how ever they run a very light 10w30 engine oil.
When bearings wear out they will damage the internals and tend to require most of the bits to replaced (mainshfts etc)
This was the advice i got from geartech when i looked at re-bearing my gearbox.
Thanks GotFlex, Yep Iam deffinitley coming to a complete stop before a put it in reverse

, I will have to do some research on this.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:28 pm
by GotFlex

yeah give geartech a buzz, they seem to know there stuff
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:43 pm
by mud_slinger
if your running a heavy oil it can be hard to shift when it is cold mine is until it warms up. i'm in the process of putting 15w40 in my boxes.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:19 pm
by FORGE1
Mine used to do the same thing but for 1st, 2nd and reverse. I ended up replacing the gearbox becasue it also had a bad whine.
I also run Auto trans fluid in mine and its all good no problems and no noises.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:45 pm
by Drurban
FORGE1 wrote:Mine used to do the same thing but for 1st, 2nd and reverse. I ended up replacing the gearbox becasue it also had a bad whine.
I also run Auto trans fluid in mine and its all good no problems and no noises.
Yeah mine is the same as yours 1st, 2nd and reverse but no whine tho.
Will have to see what I will do.
Cheers
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:38 pm
by GTS
Mine gets hard to change when the oil gets low.I destroyed the front bearing and the input shaft got so hot the whole gearbox locked up.I replaced the front bearing and seal ($100)and its still going strong (but very noisy) its got no hard serfaceing left on the gear on the input shaft and its been 10 months.so I would try changing the oil first I just use the same oil I do in my engine.
Re: Trouble Changing Gear
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:44 pm
by dirtysouth4x4
i have the same problem with my mu , do you suggest geting an oil change ? is there water and shit in there?