Hello, In my 91 SER when I am going between 50-60mph in 5th the shifter makes a strange rattling grinding type noise which subsides under any sort of preasure on the shifter. Could this be something simple or is it in any way a sign of impending popout. any help appreciated.

My '93 did that the other day. Same thing; sounded like a marble tapping against the shifter. It went away. It was coming directly from the shifter, so it didn't worry me. Probably a rock that got stuck.

When you accelerate in 5th, does the shifter move alot? Do you have any engine "slop" when you're accelerating and/or braking?
If so, you're in need of new motor mounts, especially the dogbone and firewall mounts. If you have too much slop in the engine bay, this will eventually mess up your transmission, i.e. the dreaded 5th gear pop out.

It may be just a rock that got up there, but check it out anyway. Motor mounts are cheaper than a new tranny. Another thing, I hope you're not resting your hand on the shifter for longer than it takes to shift gears.

Course, if your engine does none of the above, I'm just talking out of my butt.

Later,
Mark

my MM aren't as bad (judging by the way the shifter reacts under acceleration) in my 91 as they are in my 92. the shifter in my 92 would visibly move sometimes. Whats the deal with touching the shifter when it's in gear? I don't usually, but have heard about this. Since I noticed this rattle I have been holding it while I pass through the range where it rattles becuase once I get up to 70-75 it is quiet again.

UH OH, Mine did that before it broke. TRanny blew and you guessed it the Mounts were bad rear mounts