Thread: p11 transmission problems

I recently bought a 2002 p11 manual transmission and installed it last weekend. I went to drive it and it was smooth throughout all the gears, but 1st-4th seem loose when I put it in the gears like it doesn't lock in. 1st and 2nd have popped out of gear while driving. 3rd and 4th haven't popped out but feels like they could. This is installed in a b14. The shifter linkage is not hitting off the shifter stabilizer bar, a hammer took care of that problem. This is for sure an internal problem. Has anyone come across this problem with the shifter popping out of gear? I have read around, but can't find a good enough answer. I don't think it would be the synchros then it would have a hard time going into gear which it doesn't....very smooth. I read something about dog teeth (whatever that is) being worn out could do it? What else could cause the problem? I plan on rebuilding the transmission and putting it back in the spring time. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.

um inside they tranny they are balls/dowel looking things that kind of hold the selector in gear, if there arent there then the tranny would feel funny. this being said that would mean the tranny was opened before and that you would have to investigate

I forgot to mention I did have this apart and yes it was opened previously. you talking about the balls and springs at the bottom of the shift rods? 5th and reverse are fine. Could it be something else, say bent shifter linkage inside the tranny? bent shift rods, or forks? I didn't see any missing gear teeth in the stacks.

Mine pops out of 1st never really bothered me.

There are check balls with springs inside. If some are missing it could cause that problem. If the shift linkage in the tranny is bent it could be the reason. If the gear stacks have been taken out, they might not have been put back in correctly, which can also cause this problem.