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1996 LT4 with ZF manual transmission. Was shifting fine during 1000 mile roundtrip in the past week. Got home and found I could no longer move the stick into 1st or 2nd gear. Any ideas of what the issue and fix is?
Will it shift in with the engine off? If the answer is yes then the clutch is dragging and that could be a sign of low clutch fluid or some other issue with the clutch release. As noted check the fluid first.
Checked clutch fluid. All good. Drives, rides and shifts smoothly. I have to pull hard with both hands to get the shifter over far enough to engage 1st or 2nd. I don't see a way to upload a video here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CcCCvSpEk9w4w8837
Thanks. How would I check for sloppy linkage? Best I can find is to pull out the transmission to check for damage. I was hoping for something easier and less expensive. I live in a remote community in Northern British Columbia. I may have access to the local high school's lift next month. No local mechanics that I would trust my car with.
Thanks. How would I check for sloppy linkage? Best I can find is to pull out the transmission to check for damage. I was hoping for something easier and less expensive. I live in a remote community in Northern British Columbia. I may have access to the local high school's lift next month. No local mechanics that I would trust my car with.
You may need a friend. Shift the shifter while a friend watches the levers on the trans and make sure they are moving the full length or at all.
OOPS just noticed your is stick shift. Mine was auto. Hang in there someone will help.
I'm hoping that someone can help with this issue. My car has been stored for almost a year now. I need some advice on where to start with this project. I have a small garage but no lift so I was thinking to raise the vehicle up about 2 feet on blocks and start removing the supporting cross members (convertible) and the exhaust system to get access to the clutch and transmission. I have basic tools and DIY mechanical skills. I'd love to do this myself and there are no local mechanics that I would trust in this tiny northern community. Thanks!
If you can get it to shift into first, albeit with high force, I would say that the transmission internals are OK. The shifter/linkage are/is your problem.
Spitballing....
Is it at all possible something fell down into the shifter housing and has lodged itself so that it prevents you from easily all the way left to get it into that gate; something like a quarter or a toothpick or a bottlecap???
I also have the 4+3 so I don't know what or how all of the ZF shifter linkage sits in there.
I know that those ZFs had that CAGS stuff. I wonder if the lever/plate/thing that forces the 1-4 shift is broken and is preventing you from getting back to the 1-2 gate?
can't shift into 1st or 2nd
