C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Manual C5Z won’t shift into gear

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 01:48 PM
  #1  
2015GTRBE's Avatar
2015GTRBE
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 91
Likes: 33
Default Manual C5Z won’t shift into gear

hey guys, 2003 Zo6 here won’t shift into first gear upon start up, however does get into gear if turned off. I have a tick installed, other wise everything is stock. I was thinking maybe I let air in the system when I did my last fluid change from the reservoir, but I’m not sure. I think it may also just be that the shifter may need a rebuild but I’m no tech. Any help or insight would be very helpful here.

One last note, the car will shift into gear once it’s warmed up a bit and I start the car in first gear to get it going. The clutch pedal does seem about 1/2”-1” too low (might be in my head) and the pedal throw feels shorter and less springy. I don’t drive the car that often anymore so I’m going off memory.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 01:56 PM
  #2  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Your clutch seems like it is NOT fully disengaging. The VERY FIRST thing that I would do is properly bleed the slave / master. Then properly adjust the clutch peddle throw.

Jack the rear of the car off the ground. Start the engine and have someone sit in the drivers seat, car in gear, clutch fully depressed. See if the rear wheel stop driving. A cold drivetrain will get some wheel spin BUT,,,,, you SHOULD be able to stop the drive by hand/foot.

If the wheels are being positively driven when the clutch is depressed, INCREASE the length of the adjuster rod on the clutch peddle a little at a time until the wheels STOP driving with the peddle fully depressed. I continue to lengthen mine about a 1/4 turn past that point to insure I have positive disengagement when the peddle is fully depressed.

Bill
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 02:02 PM
  #3  
2015GTRBE's Avatar
2015GTRBE
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 91
Likes: 33
Default

Thank you for the lightening fast response! One other note if it helps, if I attempt to put the car in gear, it won’t shift into gear but the car will move slowly forward.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 02:51 PM
  #4  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

TEXT BOOK clutch disengagement issue..

NOTE... The more you drive it that way, the more damage it will do to the synchros and blocker rings.

Bill
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:02 PM
  #5  
rrwirsi's Avatar
rrwirsi
Melting Slicks
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Your clutch seems like it is NOT fully disengaging. The VERY FIRST thing that I would do is properly bleed the slave / master. Then properly adjust the clutch peddle throw.

Jack the rear of the car off the ground. Start the engine and have someone sit in the drivers seat, car in gear, clutch fully depressed. See if the rear wheel stop driving. A cold drivetrain will get some wheel spin BUT,,,,, you SHOULD be able to stop the drive by hand/foot.

If the wheels are being positively driven when the clutch is depressed, INCREASE the length of the adjuster rod on the clutch peddle a little at a time until the wheels STOP driving with the peddle fully depressed. I continue to lengthen mine about a 1/4 turn past that point to insure I have positive disengagement when the peddle is fully depressed.

Bill
Bill, why would the clutch peddle all of a sudden needing adjustment? Is it clutch wear? If you have to do the adjustment often, is it time for a clutch replacement?

Thanks for your insight.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:16 PM
  #6  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by rrwirsi
Bill, why would the clutch peddle all of a sudden needing adjustment? Is it clutch wear? If you have to do the adjustment often, is it time for a clutch replacement?

Thanks for your insight.
IMHO,,, Its most likely a combo of needing bleeding AND the adjustment is not quite right (needing some more throw on the master cyl) Give it a bleed and see if that puts you back where you were and then see what the adjustment is doing.

BC
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:52 PM
  #7  
2015GTRBE's Avatar
2015GTRBE
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 91
Likes: 33
Default

Thanks Bill, Again I appreciate the help greatly. I have only driven with it twice for short periods trying to figure out what the issue was. Unfortunately I’ll have to drive it once more to get it bled because I don’t have the time or experience to do it myself at this time. I will update this thread once I can get it over to a mechanic.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Manual C5Z won’t shift into gear





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:59 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE