2000 2WD 5 speed clunking noise

[decolores9]

Vehicle is a 2000 2WD 2.4L XL with a 5 speed manual transmission and about 150K miles. Clutch was replaced at 120K miles or so.

Symptoms:
1. Hard to shift into gear from a stop (feels like the gears are not lined up so they won't slide in) - but if I wait a few seconds for it to "wind down" it shifts easily.
2. On the highway, when I coast then accelerate, there is clonk.

I have tried rotating the driveshaft by hand, there is noticeable play - how much is normal?

Sound resembles a failing U-joint clonk. However, when I hold the U-joints on both sides and twist, I cannot detect any movement.

When I rotate the driveshaft by hand, I can hear a clunk when it stops. The sound seems to be louder and more like the noise I hear when driving when I listen at the transmission end.

I am aware of the sliding tail issue, and lubricated the splines well when I did the transmission. In addition, this appears to be a different sound and symptom.

Any thoughts on the problem or how to further diagnose the issue?

Thanks.

 

[RonD]

Not shifting into 1st when stopped with engine running will be a clutch issue, could need to be bled again, got some air inside.

Transmission always rotates at Rear wheel speed, not engine speed.
When stopped transmission is at 0 RPMs
Engine at idle is 700 RPMs
So when you push in the clutch to shift into 1st the syncro gear must slow down the input shaft RPM to match output shaft RPM, so from 700 RPM down to 0 RPM.
If the clutch disc is rubbing, even a little, that becomes harder to do.

For now try shifting into 3rd or 4th first, more slow down RPM leverage, then when input shaft is at 0 RPMs 3rd or 4th engaged, shift over to 1st.


Clunk will most likely not be the transmission, u-joints as you suspect are usually issue, then rear axle, then transmission.
Have trans in neutral, parking brake on, try to move drive shaft, any play will be from u-joints or axle