If it happens, you'll know it. It's not something consistent. (For me anyway.) I experienced it once this winter and about 5 times or so last winter.

 

14,900+ miles, no problems knock on wood. If it happens, I'm comin back here. Thanks for posting this.

 

Mine was rebuilt, and it still grinds when cold. So I just baby it until the car warms up and it's ok. I've been hesitant to take it back because of all the mods I've done since. And there seems to be no guarantee that it will be fixed.

 

John H-
Good luck with your trans. Hopefully you can get the dealership to install a new transmission for you.

Randy tho-
I highly recommend the transmission be repaired before anyone installs an aftermarket shifter. The trans is the problem, not the shifter.

 

I posted a update in the thread about this in the warranty section, I had my tranny rebuilt last year due to the 3rd gear grind, it came back after a few months. Dealer just installed a brand new tranny this week, hope this will be the fix!

 

A very brief update: The dealership we went to couldn't duplicate the sound or problem. The tech did say he lubed the shifter and he said he heard some rattle that we never noticed so he adjusted the right heat shield, which apparently eliminated the rattle we never noticed. My girlfriend drove the Mustang home from the dealership and said the shifts felt smoother. But I'm sure once the roads dry up and we take it out, it'll probably do it again. And then we'll be back to square one.

 

I had this issue the first time and this is what I had to do. I had to take my car to the dealership on a cold night and left it there and did not leave my keys. I then got a ride back to the dealership in the AM and got a tech to go with me when I started up my car for the first time and I was able to replicate it that way.

 

Update:

Well, we've had the temps jump into the 60's here in the Cleveland area, so we've had the Mustang out the last 2 days. FWIW, we haven't had the 2nd-3rd gear grind happen yet. With our car, it didn't matter what the outside temp was as it was happening back in September when it was still in the 70's-80's. Hopefully what the tech did has resolved the problem, but I'm not going to hold my breath. For all I know it may do it again when we go somewhere with it today. For right now, it appears that the problem is solved. However, if it comes back, I'll update the thread.

 

My 2008 GT has been grinding 3rd since the day I bought it in August 08. During the summer it wouldn't happen after driving for a few minutes. During the MN winter I have been skipping 3rd gear until the car completely warms up. Some days in this state that can be a half hour.

I'm not bring it in until it grinds third when it is warm or the gear goes completely. I figure it is just wasting everybody's time if there is no permanent solution.

 

Since this seems to be an 08 only thing then has anyone heard what the problem is? From what it seems there was a run of improperly assembled or possibly a part that caused an irreparable malfunction to the transmission.

 

Update #2: After the car had been sitting the garage for about 4 days, my girlfriend drove it to work yesterday. He first shift into 3rd gear produced the grinding noise. So, we'll wait a while since it's hardly being driven during this weather, and then it'll be back to the dealership again.

 

What was done to attempt to correct the problem?

 

This is my previous update from above. I don't have the print out of what exactly was performed, but this summarizes it:

 

That's pretty much what I decided too. My '08 GT only has about 700 miles on it, but the first shift to 3rd always grinds when I'm starting out cold, unless I make a point to go back and forth through all the gears, into and out of 3rd a couple of times, while the car is sitting idling before I take off. I'll give it a year or two to get worse, then take it in before the basic warranty is up.

 

I took my 08 to the Ford garage because I also had the 2nd to 3rd grind. The mechanic was aware of the Ford service bullitin. After the transmission was rebuilt it still continues to grind. I guess I will be taking the Mustang back for a 2nd try

 

This happens on my 08 GT only when it's cold. I notice that if I pause and smoothly slide it from 2nd to 3rd 3 or 4 sequences it'll be ok. I'd rather do that as a workaround than have them take apart the transmission!

 

Basically what I'm doing now. They actually DID take my tranny apart and half fixed the problem, 'cause I had a full time grind. Oh well.

 

A friend of mine has the same problem with his '08 GT manual, grinds into second or third. The dealer has attempted to fix it twice now and the problem remains. He's giving them one more chance and then will ask the dealer to buy it back. He just bought the car in July.

 

Well if he takes it back 3 times and it's not fixed, doesn't that fall under the Lemon Law?

 

I asked my rep when I had mine fixed a second time(second time they replaced the tranny instad of rebuilding it again) and he said they dont have a lemon law here in missouri any longer. /shrug