Cold ambient temp gear rattle fix?

[Ecocharge]

For those with 04 to 05 RLs, maybe 05 SS SCs, I am sure you all are familiar with the gear rattling noise that occurs with the clutch released in neutral. Has anyone found that using a different transmission fluid will aid in quieting this noise? Last year I replaced the fluid with part # 21018899 F35 MU3 fluid from Saturn. I know that the revised F35 MU3 88862472 fluid is a slighly lighter weight over the older fluid, but does it make a big improvent in aiding the rattling noise? Its getting annoying when people think my car is about to break becuase of the marbles rattling in a tin can noise, and it just makes the car sound like a complete POS. Besides putting in a new trans, which I am not going to do, anyone find anything that works on quieting this?

[Droxity]

Document ID# 1659117
2004 Saturn ION

Subject: Transaxle Gear Rattle Noise in Cold Ambient Temperatures with Clutch Pedal Released (Up) at 1500-2500 RPM (Install Leaf Springs Between Blocker Ring/Synchronizer Hub for 3rd, 4th, 5th, Reverse Gears) #05-07-29-004 - (05/18/2005)

Models: 2004-2005 Saturn ION Red Line Vehicles with 5-speed Manual Transaxle (RPO MU3)
Built Prior To and Including VIN Breakpoint 5Z145882

Attention: Fixed Operations Manager and Technician

Condition

Some customers may comment on a gear rattle type noise coming from the manual transaxle when engine speed is between 1500-2500 revolutions per minute (RPM) during the first 3 to 5 miles of driving. The rattle noise may be more pronounced after cold soak conditions with temperatures below 10° C (50° F) and may be misinterpreted as coming from the throw-out bearing.
Cause

The noise may be caused by the 3rd, 4th, 5th and/or Reverse gear blocker rings rattling within the transaxle. The transaxle and transaxle fluid temperature may also contribute to the rattling blocker rings.
Correction

To correct this condition, install leaf springs between the blocker rings and synchronizer hub on 3rd, 4th, 5th and Reverse gears. Follow the procedures in this bulletin and the referenced 2005 model year SI documents to complete this repair.
Service Procedure

1. Remove transaxle from vehicle. Refer to "Transmission Replacement" (SI Document ID #1386881).
2. Remove 5th gear synchronizer, Reverse idler gear and output shaft from transaxle. Refer to "Transaxle Disassemble" and follow procedure through step 37 (SI Document ID #1408030).
3. Install leaf springs between Reverse gear blocker ring and Reverse gear spring ring. Refer to "Reverse Idler Gear Disassemble" (SI Document ID #1408111) and "Reverse Idler Gear Assemble" (SI Document ID #1640966).
4. Install leaf springs between the 3rd gear blocking ring and the 3rd/4th synchronizer hub and between the 4th gear blocking ring and the 3rd/4th synchronizer hub. Refer to "Input Shaft Disassemble" (SI Document ID #1349208) and "Input Shaft Assemble" (SI Document ID #1640967).
5. Install leaf springs between the 5th gear blocking ring and the 5th gear synchronizer hub during transaxle assemble at step 42. Refer to "Transaxle Assemble" (SI Document ID #1349227) and follow procedure starting from step 9 through the end of the procedure.

Parts Information

[Ecocharge]

I remeber seeing that a while back, but no way am I going to disassemble it over this. I was just looking for a less invaisve fix, such as the trans fluid. Seeing as the new MU3 fluid is thinner than the previous MU3 fluid that came in the Saturn bottles, has anyone went to the new fluid and noticed a difference? Since the trans fluid is still relatively fresh, I don't really feel like wasting the time and money to find out no improvement is made

[Ecocharge]

So, will the new fluid not make much of a difference at all?

[qwikredline]

doubt it. My 04 doesnt rattle at all...
O
it has an LNF trans. lol
4.45
blueprinted
etc.

lifes a bitch hehe

[USMCFieldMP]

My 05 has never rattled either... so I'm not sure here.

[qwikredline]

I remeber seeing that a while back, but no way am I going to disassemble it over this. I was just looking for a less invaisve fix, such as the trans fluid. Seeing as the new MU3 fluid is thinner than the previous MU3 fluid that came in the Saturn bottles, has anyone went to the new fluid and noticed a difference? Since the trans fluid is still relatively fresh, I don't really feel like wasting the time and money to find out no improvement is made

check your vin against the break point. Get real. Different fluid wont do jack s***t if the issue is as described in the tech bulletin, and us saying its not that , to make you feel better, wont work.

Turn up the radio

[Ecocharge]

My 05 has never rattled either... so I'm not sure here.

Maybe it's just with the RLs then. Since 05 SS SC models came out at a later date where GM revised the MU3.

check your vin against the break point. Get real. Different fluid wont do jack s***t if the issue is as described in the tech bulletin, and us saying its not that , to make you feel better, wont work.

Turn up the radio

Mine falls within the VIN range. The only time I experience the rattle is if the car is outside for an extended period of time in below freezing temperatures, after running 3 or 4 minutes or so at idle the noise goes away. Above freezing, its quiet and fine. I am well aware that the problem is what is decribed in the bulletin. I didn't think it was too dumb of a question to ask, since the tech bulletin says the follwing in it

The noise may be caused by the 3rd, 4th, 5th and/or Reverse gear blocker rings rattling within the transaxle. The transaxle and transaxle fluid temperature may also contribute to the rattling blocker rings.

So apparently the fluid is somewhat of a factor in the trans rattle. I know that different fluid is not going to completely eliminate it, I never once thought that, but seeing as the LNF is supposedly a lighter weight fluid it seems that it could possibly aid the noise some. Wether it will or not, well that's what I was originally asking

[USMCFieldMP]

You might wanna try MT-90. The Jetta I used to have had a problem where it would give a quick grind going into gear, but similar to your situation, it'd only do it when it was cold. MT-90 eliminated that problem. I've run it in all my Volkswagens and noticed dramatic improvements in shifting, etc. I'll more than likely be running it in the Cobalt when I put it back on the road. I know ZZP runs it in all their race transmissions, as well. Its good stuff, well proven.