I have a 1990 Geo prizm with 310,000 miles on it. There was an engine rebuild at about 150,000, questionable about whether the tranny was replaced at this time, though I would assume it was, or at least rebuilt.
Currently it is popping out of 5th gear about 2-3 times a week. I drive about 50 miles a day round trip to work and back, mostly highway.
Does anyone think they can forecast how much longer this will last before I am "that guy" on the side of the road during the morning commute with a cellphone in hand.
Update:Just to add, I guess most people aren't aware that this car is Geo in name only, all the parts are Toyota. So I am not suprised at the milage at all. I am suprised that I haven't any real problems with it. Also, the clutch was replaced about 25,000 miles ago. And as for routine maintanence, I add a quart of oil every couple thousand miles and put gas in it. This car is amazing. I am just wondering if there are any transmission experts out there who have experience with this kind of car (either this car or the same year of the Toyota Corolla).
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Well first off , I would NOT assume that just cause the engine was rebuilt that the same was done to the tranny. Manual tranny's can last damn near forever, if taken care of properly, which of course is no small task. Unless it was stated specifically then don't assume they did anything other than the engine.
As for it popping out of gears, check to make sure that the clutch and pedal are adjusted, installed properly. Was anything else replaced with the clutch?You may need a new fork or something else. The syncros on a manual will eventually wear out and this can cause that problem as well, in which case a rebuild becomes necessary.
Almost impossible to make more than an educated guess about the break down, keep your cellphone charged.
Hope this helps
My attention was drawn mostly to this "Also, the clutch was replaced about 25,000 miles ago." Not too long ago.
I had the same experience after replacing a clutch. While checking for proper adjustments I noticed 1 of the bolts that holds the transmission to the engine had loosened (it was obvious). After re-tightening all the bolts it never happened again. I am certain I tightened all the bolts, but every transmission to engine bolt was loose.
you may just have a clutch problem. There is no way of determining how long your tranny will last, however if you continue to drive your vehicle I would reccommend preforming continual maintenance, i.e. fluid changes every 25-30 k miles, and clutches as needed. Plus if it isn't broken no need to fix it. Best of luck
Standard or automatic?
Automatic: If it has not been rebuilt... I would venture a guess... any minute now.
Standard: There will be a probably be a problem with the clutch before the transmission.
I bought a truck once that would't stay in gear. It had been driven daily in the mountains and the guy geared it down all the time coming off hills. Try this: Get a bungie cord and when you get into 5th gear wrap the bungie cord around the shifter so that it won't pop out of gear.
Wow, That is amazing to get that kind of mileage out of that kind of car.
I would start preparing for the inevitable now, and consider yourself very lucky.
Those kind of cars are disposable after 100,00 miles, you have gone twice that long..
1 minute or 2 if u r lucky
37 minutes. 310k on a Prizm? Wow!
150$ JUNK YARD BUYES YOU A NEW TRANS,TRY TO GET BY TILL CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT,THEN CHANGE TRANS.TAKE SHIFTER OUT OF TOP OF TRANS IN NEUTRAL THE FORK UNDER SHIFTER SHOULD HAVE TO PIECES OF PLASTIC PUSHED ON BOTTOM OF FORKS,PROBABLY LAYING IN BOTTIM OF TRANS CASE.IF SHIFTER KNOB SHAKES VIOLENTLY IN 5 GEAR,TRANS HAS BAD SYNCRO GEAR NEED TRANS CHANGED IMMEDIATLY COULD LOCK 2 GEARS AT SAME SHIFT LEAVE YOU STUCK IN ANY GEAR,