I just got back from the dealer selling her a pretty clean '97 3.8 5 speed Maro. Not a bad deal...59k, no options to speak of, medium teal, 1 owner, front was clipped at some point (tape lines on the inside of the front fenders), clean overall...$6,400, and they're giving her $1,000 for her 136k mile '93 Saturn. Not bad, right?

Here's the deal. 2 problems.

1) Go down the road with it, go to pop it in reverse, at a stop, clutch all the way in, CRUNCH. It goes in, but grinds. I did NOT try the "first to reverse" method I've seen some of the LT1/LS1 owners try (didn't know about it til I just did a search). All other gears shift perfectly smooth, clutch seems ok. Should I be concerned? My dad said some sticks he's had, he needed to do the first to reverse thing. If you take it out of reverse, then put it back in, it goes in butter smooth. Whats the deal? A concern?

2) There appears to be a small oil leak...I can see oil on the front crossmember. Do 3800s have the same intake gasket issues the LT1s do? Mine has been done twice now...I wasn't aware of 3800s having any major leakage problem, but I know a few 3800s where I used to work (Olds Pontiac dealer) had intake gaskets replaced.

Overall, the deal seems good, car seems tight execpt for a hatch squeak, and it seems like a very solid deal...but this tranny issue bugs me. Opinions? Any help is appreciated.

 

it is common for the rear main seal to leak on the 3800. that could be your girlfreidns problem but besides the rear main seal i havn't hear of many other problems with the 3800. very reliable engine mine was in great condidtion with 105k. In not sure about the tranny though, (i had auto)

 

I swore it sort of appeared to be coming from somewhere near the front, but I could be wrong. If its a rear main seal, screw it...the spots under the car were not fresh, and the guy claims that car hasn't been in that spot long at all...so he may not be BS'ing me.

I'm far more concerned about the tranny at this point Thanks for your help

 

I have a 2002 v6 M-5 and it does the same bull****. Whenever I go into reverse from a stand still, it grinds and I have to go thorugh the first to reverse crap or sometimes I put it in 5th and then throw it in reverse and it goes in.

 

I don't go directly to reverse anymore. It's become a habit to go from first to fifth to reverse. I think some do it more often than others though. The Firebird grinds a lot more than the Camaro does. I have no idea why.

 

Its a ****ty T5 issue, my dad's 2k did it when it had less then 5k on the clock, my car always did it, jsut got 1st to reverse or 1st 5th reverse, will give you no problems. If I am right reverse is not a synchronized gear, and going to 1st or 5th does it.

 

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I'm gonna go back on Saturday on our way back from the bank and see if he'll let me take it out again. I wanna see if this first to reverse thing does the trick before we sign on the dotted line...otherwise I may throw in a cheap (as in about $300 his cost) Wynn's extended warranty to have AAMCO check the tranny out down the road. I've only driven new 3800 5 speeds on the lot at work...never a used one. My T56 has 0 problems...so I was not sure if this was common.

I'm somewhat relieved to see so many others already respond with this. Thanks for the responses.

 

t-5's don't have a syncro for reverse so they usally grind if you go into revere without first putting the stick in another gear

like I always put mine into 5th, then reverse

 

same thing happens in my 97RS, i always just go over put the shifter into 4th and then over to Reverse before i back up...it bothered me at first but now its just an act of habit...

 

Wow, well I guess I have nothing to worry about then, eh? I explained to her the idea of putting the car in gear, then reverse, and she said she can get used to that...so we're all good. I'm just paranoid to put her in a car that'll give her issues...its hard enough for her to afford the damn car by itself. Thanks for all the input...

So I take it I shouldn't even worry about the extended warranty then? The only other issue I could see is some oil seepage on the front crossmember...no idea where it may be coming from. However, the spots under the car appear to be old spots, not necessarily from this car. My uncle has a shop, he could probably fix it for a decent deal anyways....

Thanks again to everyone for their input! This is my first time over on the V6 board...