I just bought my mom a 2000 base manual with 168,000 miles. the shift linkage is sloppy, to say the least, and I'm looking into the MGW short shift kit to fix that part(open to alternate reccomendations) but I'm worried I have a separate issue.
My issue which has happened 2 times so far is when taking off in a parking lot I put it in first, it clicks in but when I launch it acts as if the brakes are locked up. If I let the clutch out it stalls, if I put it in 2nd, 3rd, or N and back to 1st I get not change.
My get-it-moving fix is to shift through the gears 1-6 then reverse then put it in first and it's fine.
A few notes about the car that may be relevant: The seller claimed to put a new transmission In, upon visual inspection it's obviously not a new trans as the sticker is mildly faded but the trans is pretty clean, 's likely a rebuilt one if new at all. 2nd note, if you click to 1st wrong it hits a false neutral and with the clutch fully depressed if you try to fully push it into 1st it grinds. To get around this I take it out and put it back in.
It grinds 1st to Reverse but not 6 to Reverse.
lastly, I notice the clutch grabs low and harshly.
I've seen some torque tube issues that sound like they could match my symptoms as well as some clutch/throw-out bearing issues. Has anyone dealt with this issue or have any diag tips?

 

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