All,

I bought my 242ti a couple months ago, I've replaced the harness and done some other stuff that make the car functional, the one thing affecting the

drivablility is the trans... The car has 154k on it, I can't downshift into first without a major clash, I've got to be at a near complete standstill. It shifts fine into the gears at a standstill for the most part (all gears). There's no clash going into reverse, First to second is fine. As I let off the gas for third it pops out of second...shifts into third fine, fourth is fine too, I can downshift to third and second ok...I have checked the slack in the clutch cable and am confident that the cluthc is fully disengaging.

I drained the tranny and refilled it with mobil 1, the shifting improved but didn't change the clashing of first, inability of a downshift to first or the popping out of second. I located a used m-46 with 100k on it, good price and someone I trust that I can assist in the installation.

Idheld out a little hope with the mobil 1, this weekend I went out and got four quarts of Redline MTL, I guess part of me still holds out a little hope. I spent 34 bucks on the oil, the new used tranny will be a little over twice that much. I thought I might try the Redline in the tranny just for kicks but think I might just save it for the new one.

As there were not significant improvments with the Mobil 1 I feel doubtful that the Redline could reverse the popping out of second and the strong clashing...I'll never know till I try but I seem to feel that the new tranny may lack the severity of problems that the current one has.

Do yaw'll think that this M-46 is beyond what Redline could do for it? The viscocity is different from the Mobile one so I still wonder but can't nearly bring myself to possibly waste it on a trans that may really need a rebuild.

Thanks for any opinions.

I have a feeling that your 1st gear syncromesh is on it's way out... gets like that from too much shifting down to 1st at high speeds. I had the same problem once with my subaru... changed it, and volla! (But why change only 1... change all of 'em... and while you're there, get new bearings!) Change the mount first. Redline isn't gonna help much... I have a M40 and I can downshift from 3 to 1 really easily...

I don't believe first gear is sychronized so 'Yes', you will have to be at a slow roll to attempt to put it into first.

I saw the comment about the trani mount, what causes the pop out with the bad mount? Is it because the shifter leans on the body of the car as you take the torque off the engine???

Crash boxes went out in the 50's and early 60's. First is synchronized, reverse isn't.

Josh, You need to check your tranny mount when they need replacing it will cause it to jump out of 2 & 4 gear. You need to re-adjust the clutch cable too it is not disengaging completely. Good luck

Thanks,

I'm sure I've got the cable adjusted properly. I went under and added a touch more play to it, so it exceeds the 4mm recommended by a couple mms. The mount sounds like a smart thing to do, you're right, as well the engine mounts. Between shifts, especially 1st to 2nd there is a great jarring, probably because of the play in the mounts. I think that the need for me to be at a complete stop in order to engage first is unusual. In my 1800 I can downshift at a moderately slow speed, maybe it's what I'm used to. For example in turning the corner I'll downshift to second at the approach and just as I turn the corner I'd normally downshift into first and rocket out of the corner, that's just imppossible now, or before I put the mobile one in. Perhaps if I replace the mount and put in the Redline I get better results. I dunno.

Josh, The clutch cable will need to be adjusted the other way, it needs less free play. Tony is right when the mount is bad it allows the shifter to hit the body and knock it out 2&4.

Winston,

Thanks, I was able to adjust the slack out of the clutch. This made the clutch actually feel normal, it was so heavy before...The gears shifted a bit easier, but I was not able to adjust the 1st gear clash out of it. I'm assuming we can safely say that the first gear synchro is dead. No matter how much I adjust the clutch I can't get downshift to first without a clash. I clash at modertely slow speeds, 20mph. for sure, heck nearly at a stop...Tell me if you agree, I do have a line on a used M-46 for a good price.

Josh, Sorry it didn't fix your problem! I have to agree with you, if you can't stand the clashing of the first gear it's time for a change. Good luck

Winston,

Thanks, should I tighten it up just after the free play is taken up or go a little further? I may also see if the trans mount could stand some more torque.

Sounds like your original trans has more probs than you'll ever cure just by changing fluids BUT do you know that it's suppose to use Type F ATF (not Mobil 1 engine oil)? Being that it has an OD unit that has materials that need what's required in Type F ATF, unless you're using a known type fluid that's similar, I wouldn't take chances next time with your next trans.

Besides, 3 qts of Type F ATF is cheap and it rarely needs changing in that trans, most never change it and few seemingly have problems with it either.

Whatever problems that trans or any M46 trans has, it'll never be cured by replacing ATF to something other than what's normally required unless you're in an extremely cold place (like northern Canada), then Volvo makes a synthetic ATF for that trans for better cold weather shifting but it'll have to be special ordered from a dealership and it's not cheap either. Few know of its existance but it's mentioned in the OEM Volvo trans manual.