difficulty shifting into 1st from a stop? read...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 22
difficulty shifting into 1st from a stop? read...
many of us have noted that sometimes it is impossible to shift
into 1st gear from a stop in a C5 or C6. page 2-26 of the C6
owners manual has the following note that indirectly implies
that GM considers this an inherent characteristic of the tranny
design:
"If you come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into first,
put the shift lever in neutral and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into first."
Cycling the clutch as suggested works perfectly, just as it did in the C5.
some have theorized that this is a synchro issue and have solved
it by using other brands of transmission fluid, but personally id be
surprised if that actually makes it stop. for me its infrequent enough
to ignore.
into 1st gear from a stop in a C5 or C6. page 2-26 of the C6
owners manual has the following note that indirectly implies
that GM considers this an inherent characteristic of the tranny
design:
"If you come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into first,
put the shift lever in neutral and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into first."
Cycling the clutch as suggested works perfectly, just as it did in the C5.
some have theorized that this is a synchro issue and have solved
it by using other brands of transmission fluid, but personally id be
surprised if that actually makes it stop. for me its infrequent enough
to ignore.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 10
From: Austin, Texas
I have experienced this as well, and have been successful getting it into first gear after re-depressing the clutch. However, I have had instances where that does not work either. In those instances depressing the clutch and shifting to a "couple" other gears, then redepressing the clutch and babying it into first will work. It's a pain when this happens because it is usually at a light with traffic waiting behind me. But, as you state, it is infrequent enough that it is not too big of a deal.
I am going to have the transmission fluid changed since I am at 30K on the clock.
I am going to have the transmission fluid changed since I am at 30K on the clock.
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Thanks for the info. Another GM quality issue?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,738
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From: Austin, Texas
Originally Posted by Dope
Oh, and it's a T56 thing. I have a buddy with a Viper with the same problem, and both my Camaro and my Vette have done it off and on.
Dope
Dope
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,456
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From: Bothell WA
You are trying to get 2 gears to mesh together. Picture the 2 gears with their teeth coming together. If the gears happen to be in the position were the tops of the teeth hit one another when the gears come together, then you get this problem. As others have said, I've experienced this in all manual transmission cars that I've owned, foreign or domestic. I usually place my car in 1st gear before it comes to a complete stop so this isn't a problem for me. If I need to stay stopped for anything other than a short period of time, then I shift to neutral and leave the clutch out while waiting. I immediately shift to 1st after depressing the clutch so the input shaft is still rotating and again there is no problem. BTW, if the gears won't mesh, you can also release the clutch very slightly while holding light pressure against 1st and the gears will slip together.
- Mark
- Mark
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 22
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
Thanks for the info. Another GM quality issue?
manual transmissions from many manufacturers.
not desireable, but normal nonetheless.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by Dope
On the rare occasion that this happens, I always leave the clutch pushed in, put it in 2nd and then back into 1st. It's quick and it works every time.
Dope
Dope
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
This happens to me on an irregular basis. Every once in a while I have to work the clutch to get it into first. This is usually after I've just backed up. It also sometimes pops out of first when I take off. Neither one happens very often, though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
Originally Posted by v.vet's C5
I think that is just the uniqueness of manual transmissions. I've been driving with 3-4-5-6 speeds for 47 years and have had that situation with all cars....GM, foreign, etc. 
Same here, in every manual tranny I've ever had:'65 Mustang - BW T-10
'66 Vette - Muncie
'68 SS396 Chevelle - Muncie
'62 Austin-Healy Sprite
'71 Pinto
'80 Honda Civic
'84 Vette - 4+3
'89 Isuzu P-up
'92 Isuzu Amigo
'99 S-10 Pickup
'01 C5 Vette
Every stinkin' one of them -- its just the nature of synchros
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg Va
My 69 Corvette does the same thing.
If anything I put shift into second let the clutch out a little, then it slips into first every time.
I am so used to it I don't even realize I do it sometimes.
Rd
If anything I put shift into second let the clutch out a little, then it slips into first every time.
I am so used to it I don't even realize I do it sometimes.
Rd
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,487
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From: Naples Florida
Originally Posted by DaBoz
I've no problems... On a rare occasion I don't fully engage the transmission and it pops out of first or reverse, but that's the drivers fault,,,, i.e.. ME!
I hate when that happens!