OK, so either those couple of harsh years of autocrossing are coming back to haunt me, or there's something wrong with the shifter linkage, or ???

Every time I shift into first gear at a stoplight, one of three things happens.
1) I hit a "brick wall" and it won't go in.
2) It grinds, the car shakes/lurches a bit, and it goes in
3) It goes in smooth.

It was bad enough that I started using 2nd gear to drive away from stoplights.

I tried double-clutching while decelerating to get into first, it just grinds and goes in.

At a stoplight, I can get in every gear no problem, but not first. Sometimes is goes in easy though, I couldn't find a pattern.

Any ideas? I haven't been hard on 1st gear in a long time. I looked in the FAQ, and searches for "first gear shift" and such, but "first" is too common of a word.

I didn't notice this before my last track event. It could have happened at the event, but of course I never used 1st/2nd on the track. Again, I hit two mean cones dead center of the car, maybe one kicked up and attacked the shift linkage.

(This is what I get for not paying attention to the tranny threads. )

 

bent shifter fork?
ruined syncro?

Is the fluid fairly new?

 

I have the same problem

but It also grinds when i put in clutch, and shift to reverse.

I have ACT stage 3 clutch which's only 25k miles old.

 

had the same problem from the first day I bought her.

I ve tried Motul racing tranny fluid, It cured partially, checked the linkage and was okay, so my last bet is FRIST SYNCHRO IS GONE>

I found a pattern for it though as I have other plans to spend my money on.

I push te clutch all the way then push the stick shifter to the first gear but up to the the middle ( where u said there is a wall) and then let the clutch go up slowely but keeping the stick pushed at the point of the wall, and then it smoothly passes the wall stage,.

Also try putting in second and 4th then 1st.

other than that get a synchro changed if u got the bread.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bent shifter fork?
ruined syncro?

Is the fluid fairly new?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Could be the shifter fork. Actually I think that "could" be it, because the angle of attack I use to push it into 1st "seemed" to affect it. If I put it in close to the 3rd gear side it seemed better. My data set isn't really large enough to be sure.

Could be the synchro.

Fluid is "fairly new"... maybe 6 months? Maybe less? I don't remember.

Reverse seemed OK for me but I only used it once recently.

 

Do you have a short shifter? Subframe and motor mounts all tight?

 

Try going to 2, then 1 when sitting at a light.

Also try double-clutching.

I know these cars are kinda finicky, so double clutching seems to help to get the car to go into first.....

 

Get some Pennzoil Synchromesh and change the fluid, that stuff is incredible. It obviously won't fix a mechanical problem, but it sure makes it tolerable.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boondock Saint &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get some Pennzoil Synchromesh and change the fluid, that stuff is incredible. It obviously won't fix a mechanical problem, but it sure makes it tolerable.</TD></TR></TABLE>
GM &gt; Pennzoil
^^First hand experience

Just drop the tranny and see what you find.

 

Pennzoil is an oil company, GM is a car company that buys its oil from Pennzoil = same product.

 

NewBie Question:

When you are slowing down at 5th gear around 42 mph, because you are making a right turn, do you put in neutral? or simply slow to 20 mph, then shift from 5th to 2nd directly then gas up?

Thx

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mugen Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you have a short shifter? Subframe and motor mounts all tight?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Stock shifter/mounts/etc. Haven't even jacked the car up yet.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Black R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Try going to 2, then 1 when sitting at a light.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It will grind, and go in if I continue pushing. It certainly doesn't help the issue (yeah I do that too, when I can't get it in in normal cases)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wpsadmin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you are slowing down at 5th gear around 42 mph, because you are making a right turn, do you put in neutral? or simply slow to 20 mph, then shift from 5th to 2nd directly then gas up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

On the street, I'd probably push in the clutch, go 5-4-3, let the clutch out before starting the turn, and accelerate through the turn (at 20 MPH or whatever). On the street you really want to be in a gear most of the time, so you have the option to hit the gas to avoid something or maintain control of the car in a skid.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boondock Saint &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pennzoil is an oil company, GM is a car company that buys its oil from Pennzoil = same product.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Let me restate that

Friction Modified &gt; Reg Syncromesh

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bent shifter fork?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bent, or burnt?



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wpsadmin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you are slowing down at 5th gear around 42 mph, because you are making a right turn, do you put in neutral? or simply slow to 20 mph, then shift from 5th to 2nd directly then gas up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I guess we have a difference of opinion here.

I decide what speed I want to slow down to, and what gear I want to be accelerating from after slowing down. When I downshift, I go directly to the gear I want to be in, skipping gears if necessary - but I make sure I match revs (meaning, matching them to the road speed, using the accelerator to set the RPMs right where they will be after I let the clutch out). I never put it in neutral.

As far as gear selection goes, I might choose second gear if I planned on slowing down to 20-40 mph and then accelerating hard, or third gear if I were just poking around in traffic and didn't see a need to accelerate hard. (Two general rules: 1. For maximum acceleration, keep the car in the lowest gear you can without exceeding redline. 2. For maximum fuel economy, keep the car in the highest gear you can without lugging the engine.)

 

Bent Shift Fork (Unlikely)
or
Bad 1st Gear Syncro Slider

You know whats funny Chris...is I was working on your car yesterday and I was thinking "Wow, I can't believe he hasn't had any trans problems yet"...I Jinxed You.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Suprdave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bent Shift Fork (Unlikely)
or
Bad 1st Gear Syncro Slider

You know whats funny Chris...is I was working on your car yesterday and I was thinking "Wow, I can't believe he hasn't had any trans problems yet"...I Jinxed You.</TD></TR></TABLE>

bastard.



I wonder when the hell it started though-- seriously, driving to the track was no issue, I didn't use 1st gear at ALL on the track, then I towed it to your place.

I'm going to take a look at the fork. I really don't beat on first gear, or any gears really (except maybe the 3rd gear synchro, but it's still good!)

 

The Fork is in the trans, Chris...

I would honestly check the fluid level like i told you...could just need some freshness.

 

If you have you have good hydraulic pressure and your clutch is known to be good, I would suspect a bent selector mechanism tab for 1/2 fork (1/2 and 5/R bend easy because they are little thin metal tabs). It takes a lot to bend a shift fork (like dropping a tranny off a forklift 5ft to the ground . Or...could be something with the synchro. Does 2nd gear feel absolutely fine?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I decide what speed I want to slow down to, and what gear I want to be accelerating from after slowing down. When I downshift, I go directly to the gear I want to be in, skipping gears if necessary - but I make sure I match revs (meaning, matching them to the road speed, using the accelerator to set the RPMs right where they will be after I let the clutch out). I never put it in neutral.

As far as gear selection goes, I might choose second gear if I planned on slowing down to 20-40 mph and then accelerating hard, or third gear if I were just poking around in traffic and didn't see a need to accelerate hard. (Two general rules: 1. For maximum acceleration, keep the car in the lowest gear you can without exceeding redline. 2. For maximum fuel economy, keep the car in the highest gear you can without lugging the engine.)</TD></TR></TABLE>
oh yes, this is totally what i do

 

too lazy to read the whole thread...but my car did this too, and it ended up being one of the dampening springs on the friction disc popped out and rubbed on the pressure plate...not allowing the input shaft to be completely disconnected from the flywheel and overtaxing the synchro's. Check that, and also bleed your clutch system. Gimme a call if you need any help...things seem to be slowing down at Charlie's.

 

just had the EXACT SAME thing happen to my buddy as you had happen Cone...

just finished pulling the trans an hour ago, had the same symptoms (wouldnt shift nice, tons of chatter) and the springs were all messed up, disc is TOAST.

good thing matt jensen con'd him into an ACT at WMHM

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by redzcstandardhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just had the EXACT SAME thing happen to my buddy as you had happen Cone...

just finished pulling the trans an hour ago, had the same symptoms (wouldnt shift nice, tons of chatter) and the springs were all messed up, disc is TOAST.

good thing matt jensen con'd him into an ACT at WMHM</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, Jensen put a CM Stage 3 in, that was the one that got own3d...I'm now rocking an ACT, feels a ton better, but a little more pedal effort. I now see where all the CM horror stories come from.

 

bad 1/2 syncro

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dan GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bad 1/2 syncro</TD></TR></TABLE>

ITRs have half gears?

 

ugh.... I guess i assumed too much

1 to 2 syncro