brogden31

i have a 2000 with 66000 mile and sometimes it is a pain to put in first or it seems like it is in gear then when i take off it pops out then some times it is perfect (6 speed)

louzon

Have you changed your fluid?
I have found changing the fluid makes a big improvement.
I have been using Mobil 1 ATF since the car was new.

Silver98

uncle52

is Mobil 1 ATF ok to use on a six speed? I thought ATF meant automatic transmission fluid or am I just misunderstanding? thanks for the heads up. I too have the problem with my '99 poping out when I know I put the shifter in right.

louzon

MOBIL 1 ATF is automatic transmission fluid.
Mobil 1 makes more than just motor oil.

cruisemon

The recommended tranny fluid is in fact ATF as described. Search the forum for specific brands. One that pops up regularly that is a good value is O'Reilly brand ATF. Mobil 1 is good, as is Amsoil and a number of other boutique lubes. The key is to be sure the specs on the fluid, no matter what it is, meet or exceed the requirements set by the General.

Charlie

dazman

well, i have good news and bad news....

lol...

my car started doing this same thing around 50,000, so its going to happen... good news is that now i have 148,000 on the car and tranny is in same shape... yeehaw

mike

louzon

I just broke 100,000 miles and have changed the fluid twice, when ever the shifting got "sticky", clears it right up.

.

VetteDrmr

Mine does the same thing: 144K+ miles and counting!

Have a good one,
Mike

uncle52

thanks for the responses on my question. i have found out more about things on this site than i can ever hope to hear from just a manual. you guys and gals are awesome. it's a whole lot better sleep when i read how you tackle some problem or other. I will get the tranny oil changed. Any idea if it's a good idea to take it to a quick lube place or should i go to a dealer? (i think i just opened a can of worms!)

Z06-Nomad

If your shifter is stock, try adjusting the shifter. Seems to be a deep dark secret but the factory shifter is adjustable...

MD.

uncle52

thanks Nomad. will attempt.

dazman

i took mine to Dale Ernhardt chevrolet, and they have no idea what it is.... just some stupid vette problem. LOL....

cruisemon

Where can we find info on adjusting the shifter? The only one I know about is the neutral pin indexing step. I'm ready to get in there with tools when I find out what can be adjusted.

Charlie

racetchr

brogden I know it sounds crazy, but changing your fluid will make a HUGE difference. When I took delivery of my '00 at less than 1k miles I had the same problem. Wouldnt go into 1st and would jump out of 1st one out of five starts. In lieu of having the dealer take the tranny apart I put Redline D4ATF in and have had no further probs. 202k later.

Z06-Nomad

I have found that very minute adjustments in the shifter can make a big difference. It's all documented on this thread...

http://corvettemechanic.com/board/in...ST&f=3&t=3496&

MD

cruisemon

I printed this thread off and read it completely. As incredible as it may seem, as little as 0.030" movement of the shifter assembly in ANY direction from the "right" position can cause shifting problems.

This thread should be required reading for anyone with any shifting issues before replacing the shifter, or having a mechanic chase the problem. The best part is that one part of the thread seems to suggest you can make small adjustments by just pulling the boot up over the shift lever and to turn it inside out. The needed access to the screws is then available.

Charlie

Z06-Nomad

Hey Charlie,
Even though I started that thread, we have a big debt of gratitude to
C4C5specialist for showing us that the shifter is adjustable in the first place (never found that on any other board).

As someone may conclude it seems like getting the pefect setting is some science, some trial and error and some luck! a bit of a black art.
The stock shifter seems like such a rudimentary device, but it's not.

Unfortunately the bad news is that you do have to take off the console to get to the adjusting bolts. The good news is that you don't have to take off the shifter **** (no fighting with the demon key) and you dont have to take off the shifter boot (you just pull it up over the **** like Marilyn Monroes skirt in that famous photograph) The reason for having to take off the console is because under the boot there is a fairly big rubber "plate" (seals the hole in the tunnel where the shifter pokes through) that you have to pull up and hold out of the way in order to get to the now famous 3 #40 Torx bolts that hold the shifter.

What I think you misunderstood was that I said to test your adjustment you don't have to put the console back on. You adjust as indicated then lower the rubber plate, lower the boot and go for a ride. You can repeat this procedure (raise boot and plate, adjust Torx bolts, lower plate and boot and go for another ride) as many times as you need, without re-installing the plastic console piece (which is really the biggest PITA of the whole procedure). Then when you are sure The shifter is as you want it, you re-install the console and re-assemble everything. Remember your transmission is going to feel different when it's cold than when it's hot, so don't go for too short of a test drive before you button it up for the final time.

Just to illustrate how true it is what you say about very small adjustments being important, C4C5specialist (pro Corvette tech) mentioned that some people come in saying they have bent shift forks and all it is, is that the shifter was not properly adjusted.

MD

toolluster

I installed a B & M shifter and I changed to Red Line ATF but the shifting is still knotchy. Can these shifter adjustments be done on a B & M??

Z06-Nomad

My experience is that the transmission is knotchy by nature (especially when the car is cold). One hint that I discovered by accident is that when the shifter is "right" it's still knotchy but it's equally as Knotchy in all gears and then smooths out as the car warms up. When the shifter is "off" it tends to feel smooth in one gear and extra-knotchy in another.


But to answer your question...Yes. Any shifter can be adjusted because the little hole that the locking pin goes into (to lock the shifter in neutral), resides on the base of the shifter. In the original article from corvettemechanic (there is a link above), there is a diagram of the stock shifter (which comes from the factory with the alignment pin). I would get the pin from the stock shifter or maybe improvise with a similar diameter allan wrench, to lock the shifter in place, and then proceed as directed.

MD