Another Mondial question

When was your last gearbox oil change?
What oil did you put in?
Does your clutch dis-engage totally?
(While standing, engine in idle and gearbox in neutral, press de clutch pedal and put in reverse. Any crunching?)

 

Welcome to life with a Mondial! I've been shifting 1st-3rd-5th for the first 10-15 min since I've gotten the car. I'd be less worried about the transmission and more worried about the belts and tensioner pulley if the car has been driven that little since '97. You should change the transmission fluid while doing the 30K major as it sound like the car probably needs both.

 

2nd gear is always an issue like this. My GTS QV does the same thing, but after giving it a little time to warm up it really does work like all the rest of the gears. Mine usually takes a mile or two before I "get" second and it does depend on the weather - warmer weather takes less time.

I know thats not a lot of help, but you get the idea.


PDG

 

Red Line MTL seems to help. My second gear loosens up quickly, when warm its fine, although the shift is still a bit "notchier" than in the other gears. I also have only about 50km, the car has been babied so I doubt it's the synchros, looks like a poorly designed shifter/transaxle, when working well its just ok, not a benchmark for nice shifting cars.

 

My Mondial is heavy shifting. There is a lot of stuff being moved. It's a solid shaft all the way to the back.

 

My '84 Mondial qv was a nightmare to change gear, hot or cold. I spoke to guy I know at Castrol and he recommended an oil for me to use (Castrol of course). The result was amazing from being a real pain (so much so I was thinking about selling the car) to it being bliss to drive.
Moral.... Change the oil.

 

Sounds like about what mine does. If 70 is the half point and it is at the 1/4 point that would be about 35?

 

If your Mondi is loaded the linkage adjusted properly, engine mounts are ok, using Redline, it will shift like butter assuming your 2nd gear sincro isn’t worn completely down. Even cold with temps < 40F.

 

Had my 3.2 engine out last year for belts change and other engine works. Noticed the same with shifting, took it back and it was a simple shifter unit linkage adjustment!

 

I've noticed this problem with my 3.2 Mondial... a shift into reverse is often very crunchy. My workaround for this has been to shift into 1st (not crunchy) then shift from 1st straight into reverse.

Shifting while driving isn't super smooth otherwise. Gearbox oil is barely a year old, shouldn't be the issue there.

I'm going to assume my clutch isn't fully disengaging. Is this a simple pedal adjustment or should I start shopping for a new clutch?

 

95% of the time a change of oil does the trick.

 

My 87 3.2 Mondi is hydraulic clutch release. Bleeding the system may assist. When the tranny gets warm I have the reverse issue you mention. Had the same issue with a Honda years ago, and like you, I put into first then to reverse and rarely have a problem. It was only one time in 10 where it would crunch into reverse, but that wasn't fun. It's actually become a habit for me. I do the same with my Ford Ranger pickup. Don't know if it has a problem. I don't know how big a problem crunching the gears is other than sounding bad. I do it all the time in my Dad's Model A Ford and it keeps rolling along happily

 

My '81 Mondial 8 (48 K miles) has the usual 2nd gear stiffness until warm. I also shift 1st - 3rd until it's warmed up. I recently put full synthetic 75W-90 Castrol in the trans, and did not notice any difference. According to Jh355 Redline is the product to use. I'm definately going to give it a try as soon as I get to Watkins Glen where I can buy it.

 

I read so much about the old "first to second" issue, prior to getting Rachel, my 92 Mondial t Valeo - - and that was almost six years ago - - that I almost immediately adopted a "first five minute ritual" of shifting from first to third. Of course I tested my approach a few times, by trying to go from first to second straight away - - nah.........

I feel that this first to third "required five minute drill", is just part of the deal. The earlier year's trannies are not like a 458 Italia's dual clutch rocket. Five minutes of driving, and we can then include "second" in our shifting activities. I don't find any of this to be too horrible.

Hey, you can look at it this way; it's just part of the mystique

Cheers all,

Hank