Trouble getting into 1st gear
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Trouble getting into 1st gear
Ok, so the other day as I was driving home, I shut the car off, and when I got back in the car, it felt like I was pulling out in 3rd gear, but I was in first...
Now, when I fired up the car cold, it did it and then after 30 secs it was fine... I'd drive it a while and when I pulled to a light, it felt like it was in 3rd, but it wasn't.
Then It started to feel like it woudln't find 1st at all... If the car is shut off it finds it fine...
Is this the synchro going bad?? A local dealer had this car for a bad 3rd gear synchro and was told the whole thing was gone over and bad parts replaced.... totalling somewhere around $2000 ( their price ).
It's just happened all of the sudden now that it's cold outside.. could this just be something with cold weather? Or could this be the clutch needing bled or replaced?
2002 Z06 with 54K miles....
It was working flawlessly up until Thursday and it was just that night that it started acting up.
Now, when I fired up the car cold, it did it and then after 30 secs it was fine... I'd drive it a while and when I pulled to a light, it felt like it was in 3rd, but it wasn't.
Then It started to feel like it woudln't find 1st at all... If the car is shut off it finds it fine...
Is this the synchro going bad?? A local dealer had this car for a bad 3rd gear synchro and was told the whole thing was gone over and bad parts replaced.... totalling somewhere around $2000 ( their price ).
It's just happened all of the sudden now that it's cold outside.. could this just be something with cold weather? Or could this be the clutch needing bled or replaced?
2002 Z06 with 54K miles....
It was working flawlessly up until Thursday and it was just that night that it started acting up.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Always start with a shifter alignment. Its fast and easy to do. Past that, maybe you need to replace the tranny fluid. Others can advise you there but try the alignment first.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Can you point me in a direction on a link for showing How-To??? I've been doing a search on here and can't find the right words to put in the search to find it...
I'd really appreciate it
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Use the search as someone in here has pictures and the whole lot. I can tell you from memory, but allow for lapses..lol. Remove the center console. Take the cover off the shifter. You'll see the shifter and linkage. Note the alignment pin in the front of the shifter in the up and stored position. Its designed to slide down. Put the shifter into neutral, then push the alignment pin down all the way till it locks into the shifter mechanism and locks it in place. At this point, you shouldn't be able to move the shifter at all in any direction and please don't force it. Next you will see a large torx bolt on the linkage shaft. Loosen it. You'll see the linkage move to the neutral position if it wasn't in the correct place. Tighten it back up, withdraw and secure the alignment pin back into its stored position and put her all together again.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 1
From: Pompano Beach FL
I think dgrant3830 is right!! had the same problem this summer ,jumped the gun and ordered a RPM tranny ,started the tranny swap only to find the bolts on my shifter had gotten loose.Boy I felt like a jac**ss. Yes put it in any way ,glad I did !! Check that first doesn't cost anything. If it is cooked call RPM they will do you right!! Put in royal purple !!!
Last edited by 99TRFRC; Nov 30, 2008 at 08:40 PM. Reason: forgot something!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Thanks guys... I'll be taking the console apart tonight and making my way to the shifter...
I'll check some of the how-to threads for pics of the console and shifter removal...
I'll check some of the how-to threads for pics of the console and shifter removal...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
ok... I have the console torn apart and I'm looking at the alignment pin and the shaft you're talking about...
I did NOT move the pin down yet, but when I move the shifter sid-to-side, the BIG TORX head that you mentioned to loosen....it doesn't move in concert with the direction I move te shifter... it kinda plays catchup... I'm thinking that the bolt came loose??
I'm going to put the pin down, and loosen and re-tighten as stated and see what happens...
OK... when I moved the pin DOWN... it didn't move much, but 'clicked' like it was as far down as it would go... I was still able to move the shifter side to side....when I loosened the torx head up, it moved a little further left and that was it..
I did NOT move the pin down yet, but when I move the shifter sid-to-side, the BIG TORX head that you mentioned to loosen....it doesn't move in concert with the direction I move te shifter... it kinda plays catchup... I'm thinking that the bolt came loose??
I'm going to put the pin down, and loosen and re-tighten as stated and see what happens...
OK... when I moved the pin DOWN... it didn't move much, but 'clicked' like it was as far down as it would go... I was still able to move the shifter side to side....when I loosened the torx head up, it moved a little further left and that was it..
Last edited by AverageVetteNut; Dec 1, 2008 at 07:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Just wanted to say thanks for the info... that is exactly what the problem was... that big Torx bolt was loose and the shifter was sloppy.... WOW what a difference it makes!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Nut; you might also want to crawl up under the tranny and change out the fluid. It takes approx 3.7 qts of Dexron III ATF. Pick your favorite brand (I used cheap Pennzoil, and WOW). Usually makes a big difference in feel.
DG
DG
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 13
From: Anywhere where Cones need hit
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
CI-X Auto-X Champ (race tires)
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
actually, I'm ordering a jacking puck to get the car in the air ( only had the car 2 + months ) and over the winter, the DIFF oil, and tranny oil, as well as the brake fluid are all getting swapped out.