2003 chevrolet cavalier, manual transmission lost 2nd, 4th and reverse but still has 1st, 3rd and 5th gears.

time to put a new tranny in that jet most of the time it costs to much to repair it then replace it i have done may tranny rebuilds and replacements to me i would just tell you to replace it at least you will get a better warrentee and stuff

It is a 5 speed manual transmission? If it is noisey in all gears except for 4th, then the problem is countershaft bearings.

Car is in limp in mode unless you have the tools to work on automatic transmission you will need to take it to a transmission shop. Of course you can check oil level but I suspect you have other issues.

the function of the gears are to transfer and convert energy created by the engine into momentum

This is a fault mode in which the transmission either loses electrical power or the PCM deactivates all of the electronics. The transmission will default to max line pressure. The driver will have Reverse and 3rd, with manual 2nd available by putting the gearshift in 2 or 1 (doesn't matter). 1st, 4th, and TCC lockup will not be available. It will not hurt the car to drive it like this for short periods, but use manual 2nd to get the car moving, and be aware that the trans will generate more heat than normal while operating in limp-home mode due to increased torque converter slippage during 2nd gear starts and no lockup in 3rd gear.

Trans shifts into gear harshly, car feels sluggish off the line, No 1st, 4th or TCC lockup available, Manual 2nd, 3rd and Reverse are only available gears, CEL is on: Transmission is either in limp-home mode or has lost electrical power. If there are lots of error codes in the PCM, check the under hood fuse that powers the transmission, and if it pops again, look for a short in that circuit like an O2 sensor harness touching exhaust. Otherwise, check PCM codes for a particular fault in the transmission causing the PCM to put it in limp-home mode.

No 1st or 4th available; trans shifts 2nd to 3rd by itself in D or OD and locks the converter : ShiftA solenoid failed. Easy fix in the pan. Or a wiring problem from PCM to trans.. or PCM.

Car goes into gear but feels very sluggish like the brakes are dragging, but it will roll easily (starts out in 4th gear), you manually shift to 2 to get it moving, once it's moving you put it back in OD and the car shifts 3rd to 4th on its own and locks the converter at the appropriate time: ShiftB solenoid failed: Easy fix in the pan. Or a wiring problem from PCM to trans.. or PCM.

Hi:

Your transmission has 3 shift rails...
1st - 2nd
3rd -4th
5th- Reverse

If your 3rd gear doesn't work , you have an internal transmission problem, such as a syncronizer, or similar fail... There is not much you can fix, without removeing the transmission.

• No 3rd or 4th gear: “3-4” clutches are worn out. R&R. The car is safe to drive (in 2) until you can get it fixed.
• Trans shifts into gear harshly, car feels sluggish off the line, No 1st, 4th or TCC lockup available, Manual 2nd, 3rd and Reverse are only available gears, CEL is on: Transmission is either in limp-home mode or has lost electrical power. If there are lots of error codes in the PCM, check the under hood fuse that powers the transmission, and if it pops again, look for a short in that circuit like an O2 sensor harness touching exhaust. Otherwise, check PCM codes for a particular fault in the transmission causing the PCM to put it in limp-home mode.
• No 1st or 4th available; trans shifts 2nd to 3rd by itself in D or OD and locks the converter : Shift A solenoid failed. Easy fix in the pan. Or a wiring problem from PCM to trans.. or PCM.

Check to see if your transmission is in the limp mode, which would only give you 2nd, 3rd and reverse gears. No 1st or 4th gear.

Sounds like possibly the shifter linkage is loose and out of adjustment

Need to pull codes 1st, the electronics of the transmission can cease all proper operation of the transmission. Have the DTC's checked before proceeding.

It seems in the manual transmissions the first gear to go is 3rd gear..
signs of a failing trans