Dakota manual transmission problem.

I have a 93 dakota sport, Its has the v6 with the 5 speed gear box,no
four wheel drive. The problem I am having is ,, all of the sudden i
could not get it to go into third or fourth gear at all. It goes into
first second and fifth and reverse no problem. I happened out of the
blue while i was driving through town. The truck is a great truck , I
have got over 280,000 miles out of this truck without any major engine
repair or tranny repair, (just a clutch a couple years ago). I Have
been driving it without those gears and it doesnt make any strange
noises. Anyone out there with any idea of what could be wrong inside
the gearbox please let me know what to look for. Either linkage or
internal . I am very mechanically inclined, I just need to know what
parts could have failed leaving me in this situation. Any help from you
guys will be greatly appreciated! Oh and the gear oil is up to snuff. I
have changed that religiously every 50,000 miles.

 

I have not touched a manual transmission for many years, but on the 4
speed
Chrysler A-833 that I worked on, there were two shift *forks.* One
would
shift between first and second, and the other between third and fourth.

Fourth, actually connected the main shaft with the input shaft, so that
it didn't use the countergear.

I am guessing that either the fork or the gear clusters that it slides
along the shaft
splines is binding for some reason. Reverse and fifth are most likely
on their own shafts, so that is probably why their okay.

Is there an inspection plate that can be removed to check for proper
operations?

With the mileage that is on the box, it is possible that some of the
bearings are worn.
If you *double clutch* is shifting any easier? If so, the brass
sychronization rings
could be worn. If many of the parts in the box are worn, and you don't
wish to
pay for a rebuild, you may be able to find a lower-mileaged used box at
a salvage
yard.

I would suggest locating a factory service manual that covers that
transmission should
you decide to repair it yourself.

-KM