Starting off from a light today I quickly accelerated but didn't spin the tires. At the next light starting in 1st gear my car made a strange grinding sound. It sounded like it was coming from under the car. It also felt like the tires were about to spin but they didn't. Any idea what this could be? It also feels like their is something hitting the ground under the car, It only does this in first gear.

 

Your 1st gear syncro may be shot... Do you downshift into 1st?

 

I only downshift to 1st when i'm stopping. I noticed today it does it in first only if i go more than half way down on the gas, and it does it a little in 2nd, but if i accelerate slowly it is fine and drives normal. Could it be a transmission problem? If so what would it cost to replace the transmission?

 

Sounds like 1st gear is going out..???

Do you powershift that thing? If so, that may be why. Also, you should never downshift to 1st. Use the brakes!!

Now it sounds like clutch to me. The pressure plate...?

 

I do powershift. Could this turn into a problem where the car is not drivable? And what should it cost to fix?

 

Sounds like you're either loosing your clutch or 1st gear is shot ..... Try this, may narrow it down, pull your emergency brake, put the car in 1st gear, ease out on the clutch and give it a slight bit of gas. Does the car attempt to lunge forward ??? Or do you just hear the grinding noise ?

In either case, clutch or tranny, sorry to say it doesn't sound good !!!
I wouldn't be driving this thing if I were you !

 

I have no choice but to drive it, its my only car

 

Hope you have towing insurance...I'm afraid you'll find yourself stranded on the side of the road very soon !

 

The thing is it drives normal until i step on it a good bit, accelerating slowly it drives fine

 

Here's the thing my friend and I'm not tryin to paint this in doom and gloom for ya, but if it is the tranny and you continue to drive it will eventually eat itself up. However if you're able to get to a shop now the damage may not be as bad. Only tellin ya this from experience. I would put this thing in the shop ASAP ! Sorry !

 

I will take it to the dealership monday, that to long?

 

As long as you don't plan to drive it much ......

Is it still under warranty ?

 

No it isnt. Does it sound like I need to replace the transmission?

 

it could be a spring loose on the clutch assembly, it could be 1st gear syncronizers, it could be etc, etc...need to get it to a shop, up on a lift and go from there...just ease her around for now, no hole shots...lol...could be motor mounts as well...torquing over causes sounds like this if something is rubbing....get her to a shop...

 

Not the whole thing, but I (we) have a feeling it will have to come out for inspection. There is likely a problem with your 1st gear.. Synchro gears are usually made of brass, and help the drive gears line up when shifting. Since the brass is the softest part of the transmission, synchros are usually the first gear to wear.. 1st gear synchros usually go when the driver downshifts into 1st which is why 1st should only be used from a dead stop. If the 1st gear syncro were shot, only 1st gear would not line up right, and grind. If it were the clutch, the engine would climb while the speedo does nothing.. and that would happen in every gear, getting progessively worse as the load increased.

 

Ok since it only does it in 1st should I start in 2nd until I get if fixed?

 

I am almost positive that it is your clutch. You powershift a lot and guess what powershifting does? slips your clutch each time. Powershifting is a clutch killer and if you do it wrong, it will also kill your syncros along with your clutch.

Clutches cost arm and leg for these cars and that is without the labor. You are looking to spend some cash my friend. sorry

 

Best guess. Should be hundreds (~$850) if its just the clutch/pp. (By comparison, recent Mustang fix was $375).
Good four figures ($2k) for synchros and gears. (Working off of a lost 1st gear on my X 1/9).
Whole trans, find a donor or a rebuilt (not likely) if you have time and inclination. ($2k+ parts).
If you need a trans and have it replaced, you're looking at $5500+ w/labor. >$6k at dealer.
2 days to a week down.
Sry for the bad news.

 

For $6,000 I could get another crossfire from autotrader.com

 

Buy the Crossfire, pull the trans and sell me the car!
Need it for a project.