Fairly New kormex Tranny Whines

[Atrosity]

My second gear whines as if it has a straight cut gear in it. It sometimes grinds into gear and then it whines in second. This happened ever since I got it from them, FSR Motorsports told me to not to worry about it but I still want to know why this is happening.

My warranty is passed the 3 Months mark only because I could not afford downing my car for them to look at it.

[Maximal]

Have you tried changing the fluid? Sometimes something as simple as that helps out.

I know I had a tranny that whined because I didn't have the correct bearing shims in it. I was in a hurry getting it together and had something that was close. 4th gear whined decently but it was the only transmission I had that stayed together so I didn't want to mess with it.

[Atrosity]

I haven't changed the fluids, the transmission shop put the same fluids that Mitsubishi recommended for our cars. It is just weird that it whines like that, I will put in different fluids to see if this changes anything.

[Maximal]

I'm personally a fan of syncromech. Some people say it shears pretty easily but frequent changes will make that a non-issue.

[OhioSpyderman]

Count me in as a Synchromesh user :)

Run in all 4 of our cars!!!!

Bob.

[Atrosity]

Time to google synchromesh! how often do you change it?

[DocWalt]

MTL-MT90 user here... It's ok. lol

[OhioSpyderman]

Usually once a year or two if I forget ;)

I get it at Advanced....about $5 a quart....you'll need 3 (a little more than two per fill)

Come to think of it, I think I saw it at Pep Boys this weekend when I was replacing my rear diff gear oil (Stealth)..

Bob. :)

[Atrosity]

Alright I don't mind changing it once a year. I will look into 3 quarts.

[blindmist]

It is best to find something the the GL-4 in it. These transmissions wear much faster without the GL-4

[OhioSpyderman]

http://www.stealth316.com/2-pennzoil-synchromesh.htm

*Thanks Jeff*

[Chris GTO TT]

It has more to do with how many miles your car gets most people that I've seen that run Syncromesh change it every 5-7k mi.

[MADMarc]

Hey Eric,
My new trans from them whined for some a bit after the install. I run redline mt90 in mine and never had any problems (despite the noise). Part of me wants to say that the sound has gone away after 12k miles on the trans but then the other part of me wonders if I simply do not notice it anymore.

[Atrosity]

Hey marc!

Well, I have 9k miles on my transmission so we will see. :P

I am glad I am not the only one in this boat.
I should just change the oils to redline and see what happens, I am starting to think I have a supercharger only in second gear, I should just ignore it :P

[MADMarc]

hahahah supercharger. I know just what you mean! When I drive my car later I will be sure to come back and tell you if it's still doing it. Initially it was looooud. I ended up heading back to Kormex and had the guy drive it, he said it should go away and not to worry about it...hopefully yours goes away. I was, however, a little bummed that the car does not shift as smoothly through the gears anymore but maybe its because I actually CAN shift through the gears lol.

[MADMarc]

Just got back from driving the car around locally and the whine is still there but it is MUCH quieter than it was initially. Hope that helps, man.

[Irocurstang]

This worries me, I just bought a Kormex for my VR$. Have you tried callin Kormex to see what the cause of this might be? Im going to check aroun and see how many other people have had problems with Kormex.

[MADMarc]

This worries me, I just bought a Kormex for my VR$. Have you tried callin Kormex to see what the cause of this might be? Im going to check aroun and see how many other people have had problems with Kormex.

I wouldn't worry about the whine and, as stated, it has definitely become less audible in my car. I do have one gripe about my new trans from them....the damned thing leaks. Its nothing too bad but I told them about it and they said that they would reseal it if I brought it back into them (only about 20 minutes away). Since that would call for HOURS of labor which I don't have the time to do, and still risk the chance that it will continue to leak, I decided against it and just keep an eye on my fluid levels. Be sure to check for leaks once you get it installed....but you'll probably be in the same boat as myself if it does leak. I brought up the issue on "the other board" and numerous members told me it is not uncommon for a new getrag to leak a little after a build...but it's new...and new shouldnt leak is how I'm thinking, right?

[Ninja Performance]

Everyone saying "don't worry about it" stuns me.
If built correctly and with good parts it should not be whining. Why would you ignore a sound that the transaxle should not be making? Hoping it "goes away" or "self clearances itself"?

If it is making a noise that it shouldn't, it should be repaired. Not ignored. Ignoring it can lead to more damage.

-Chris

[Irocurstang]

Agreed, last time I thought "naa its not a big deal", I shreaded my transmission to pieces. You live and you learn but most of the time I'm learning the hard way. :D

[MADMarc]

Theeere ya have it. Jack's transmissions ftw

[Polygon]

Everyone saying "don't worry about it" stuns me.
If built correctly and with good parts it should not be whining. Why would you ignore a sound that the transaxle should not be making? Hoping it "goes away" or "self clearances itself"?

If it is making a noise that it shouldn't, it should be repaired. Not ignored. Ignoring it can lead to more damage.

-Chris

Quoted for ABSOLUTE truth. I wouldn't mess around with a transmission that's making noises that are out of the ordinary. This has me wondering about getting a transmission from Kormex. These aren't the only problems I've head of with their transmissions and I live a LONG ways away from them.

[Maximal]

Ok but does anyone know why it is making this noise not if I should take it back or not..

My guess would be that the bearing preload wasn't set correctly. However there could be other things causing the transmission to whine.

[Ninja Performance]

You can send your transaxle to 3SX, we will rebuild it as we have been for many years.

-Chris

[colt45 gto]

a rebuilt transmission should last a while, it shouldn't make any noise from day 1, if it does it should be returned and repaired or replaced. this should hppen until the tranny makes no noise. if they cant fix the problem get a refund and buy elswhere.

[Atrosity]

Ok but does anyone know why it is making this noise not if I should take it back or not..

[colt45 gto]

possibly either shimmed wrong or the gear is faulty, it could be a number of things. the tranny needs to be split to find out whats going on. i'd assume 2nd gear is shiney as hell on the teeth.

you could drain the oil out of it into a clean container and inspect it for filings. if you find any then you have ground to return it.

[enigma9o7]

I had my tranny rebuilt at kormex last summer. Ever since I put it back in there is a whine in 1st gear that hasn't gone away, nothing to do with the fluid. Also shifting into 3rd at high rpm grinds. When I gave it to them, shifting to 4th always grinded, and that went away completely, so they obviously did something besides just paint it - for those that havent had a tranny rebuilt by them, they send it back what looks like spray painted silver or something ...

Kormex does gaurantee their work for a while... but the problem is, it's a hassle to pull a tranny for most regular people. It takes me a weekend. Then gotta ship it to kormex, wait til it gets back, then reinstall it, which takes me another weekend. All that time unable to drive. In my case, I was too lazy to deal with it during the warranty period, I'd already removed and reinstalled it once, didn't wanna do it again. I'm sure if I'd gone to the effort and expense of shipping it back, they'd have tried to fix it. But I read enough stories online about people sending it back and forth to them over and over....

[MADMarc]

I had my tranny rebuilt at kormex last summer. Ever since I put it back in there is a whine in 1st gear that hasn't gone away, nothing to do with the fluid. Also shifting into 3rd at high rpm grinds. When I gave it to them, shifting to 4th always grinded, and that went away completely, so they obviously did something besides just paint it - for those that havent had a tranny rebuilt by them, they send it back what looks like spray painted silver or something ...

Kormex does gaurantee their work for a while... but the problem is, it's a hassle to pull a tranny for most regular people. It takes me a weekend. Then gotta ship it to kormex, wait til it gets back, then reinstall it, which takes me another weekend. All that time unable to drive. In my case, I was too lazy to deal with it during the warranty period, I'd already removed and reinstalled it once, didn't wanna do it again. I'm sure if I'd gone to the effort and expense of shipping it back, they'd have tried to fix it. But I read enough stories online about people sending it back and forth to them over and over....

Just for those who are unaware, their warranty is 90 days - at least it was when I bought my trans. And yes, the silver paint is funny because it drips off with anything that touches it. I wish I would've read the reviews from others before going there. I'm even local and their price was the best by like 500 bucks but I would've sent it to CO if I thought there would be problems :( At least I can shift though! :D

[ChargerX3]

Just wanted to say stay away from syncromesh if you want your syncros to last. I had it in my car for less than 4 months and it went bad. The sad thing is that you dont see it coming. Sycromesh tends to sheer when subjected to hot and cold cycles. All it took was a week with 20 deg weather and it went completely bad ruining my 2nd gear syncro. Redline MTL on the other hand is an excellent choice. All around great oil and easy shifts.

[enigma9o7]

If they did a great job in the first place, a 90-day warranty is fine. I think they bank on the fact that most people aren't going to send it back within 90 days if they find a problem cuz removing a transmission isn't super easy, nor is reinstalling it when you get it back. Imagine someone who is paying a shop every time to remove and reinstall it, that's gotta be like $500, plus the cost/effort to ship it (cuz you cant just take it to UPS Store, put it on the counter, an say ship it -- well maybe you can, but that'd probably cost crazy $).

[Atrosity]

Yeah man that is my whole problem, I really don't want to pay a shop to take my tranny out and put it back...It works in second gear but I wonder how long its going to last...

I am even local to them and they won't even take it out of my own car...

[blindmist]

Yeah man that is my whole problem, I really don't want to pay a shop to take my tranny out and put it back...It works in second gear but I wonder how long its going to last...

I am even local to them and they won't even take it out of my own car...

Smarter than I realized for what I am hearing. No one willing works on these cars that aren't the pro's for these cars like 3SX and what not. I cannot even really find a local shop here to touch this car really. The mitsubishi dealership wont even touch it. :P Good thing I have a thick head and hard hands, otherwise I would be 3x as broke just on labor alone. I just get a kick out of what people say/quote when I ask for work to be done on it. 90% of the time they say they cant work on it.

[Ninja Performance]

I don't get it. There is nothing magic going on. But I hear that all that same thing all the time.

-Chris

[brutten]

Have you called Frank yet and talked to him? In the past Kormex has really went the extra mile to take care of me.

[Atrosity]

Have you called Frank yet and talked to him? In the past Kormex has really went the extra mile to take care of me.

I have, he told me to come by and then told me to take the transmission out of the car. I get the impression that he is very rude.

[brutten]

I have, he told me to come by and then told me to take the transmission out of the car. I get the impression that he is very rude.

Sorry to hear that I know how disappointing it is to have to remove it again. I know they will take care of the transmission but the r&r costs is a sticky subject that would upset me as well.

[Ninja Performance]

To be fair, if he would cover it under warranty, he surely can't do it while the tranasaxle is in the car. There is nothing he can do unless it is removed and brought to him.

-Chris

[reallyxxxxxxloud]

Seriously if its not mentioned in the warranty you should be covered for remove refit if its found to be their fault...

[Ninja Performance]

Most if not all parts supply houses/rebuilders do NOT cover R&R or even damage to other parts caused by a failed part. Even if it's bad out of the box.

-Chris

[OhioSpyderman]

Not trying to stir anything...but I have Pennzoil Synchromesh in all 4 of our cars, and we have not experienced ANY issues since install...

We DO change our fluid every year....

Bob.

[ChargerX3]

Not trying to stir anything...but I have Pennzoil Synchromesh in all 4 of our cars, and we have not experienced ANY issues since install...

We DO change our fluid every year....

Bob.

How many years it it now? I hope you reconsider and put in the MTL. Its a much more stable oil.

[OhioSpyderman]

How many years it it now? I hope you reconsider and put in the MTL. Its a much more stable oil.

Almost 10 years on the Spyder, 4 or so on the Stealth and less than 2 on the boys cars.

I am NOT changing.

Bob.

[ChargerX3]

Keep on top of those changes then. I would hate to have what happened to my transmission happen to yours.

[Mitsuman03]

I think Franks eye's are getting a little tired. Years back , when my car had a new trans from him, it didn't work well, always had shifting problems, i called and spoke with him, he does get a little upset on the phone and a little hot headed and impatient. Yet, he still answers the phone and takes the time to talk to ya. Long story short, the grinding did go away when i switched to RedLine Lightweight gear oil..(some say thats "too thin)..it may have been, but i never had a transmission last long enough in my car to tell if it had any long term damage..haha...


But these parts are hit or miss. ANd he does offer a 90 day warranty. Then is, after all this i did find out that there are some places locally that would have rebuilt the trans for me for much less then frank, and would have covered the RnR if they were pulling it out. .

[Flamer]

I have, he told me to come by and then told me to take the transmission out of the car. I get the impression that he is very rude.

I've both talked to Frank and met him in person. Despite my age, he still showed extreme respect when I was asking him quite a bit of questions. He's just succinct, not rude bu then again, this is my experience with him.

[bboyalan]

Any update? I hope that this does not act as a costly hindrance later on. You should have went with Jacks!