Shifter Alignment issue
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Shifter Alignment issue
I have a 2003 all stock manual 6 speed with 29,000 easy miles on her.
Had the console out so I decided to do a shifter alignment while things were apart because shifting was a little notchy.
Did the alignment EXACTLY as specified by GM manual.
After alignment (22 foot pounds torque) the shifter would not go into 6th gear with the car standing still.
Shifter went into all other gears OK --- just a wouldn't go into 6th with car parked.
So I decided to do the alignment again --- exactly by the GM instructions.
Same 6th gear problem.
But when I took the car out for a drive, I could shift into 6th easily,
Any Ideas what's going on?
Thank You for any help here
Had the console out so I decided to do a shifter alignment while things were apart because shifting was a little notchy.
Did the alignment EXACTLY as specified by GM manual.
After alignment (22 foot pounds torque) the shifter would not go into 6th gear with the car standing still.
Shifter went into all other gears OK --- just a wouldn't go into 6th with car parked.
So I decided to do the alignment again --- exactly by the GM instructions.
Same 6th gear problem.
But when I took the car out for a drive, I could shift into 6th easily,
Any Ideas what's going on?
Thank You for any help here
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
I have a 2003 all stock manual 6 speed with 29,000 easy miles on her.
Had the console out so I decided to do a shifter alignment while things were apart because shifting was a little notchy.
Did the alignment EXACTLY as specified by GM manual.
After alignment (22 foot pounds torque) the shifter would not go into 6th gear with the car standing still.
Shifter went into all other gears OK --- just a wouldn't go into 6th with car parked.
So I decided to do the alignment again --- exactly by the GM instructions.
Same 6th gear problem.
But when I took the car out for a drive, I could shift into 6th easily,
Any Ideas what's going on?
Thank You for any help here
Had the console out so I decided to do a shifter alignment while things were apart because shifting was a little notchy.
Did the alignment EXACTLY as specified by GM manual.
After alignment (22 foot pounds torque) the shifter would not go into 6th gear with the car standing still.
Shifter went into all other gears OK --- just a wouldn't go into 6th with car parked.
So I decided to do the alignment again --- exactly by the GM instructions.
Same 6th gear problem.
But when I took the car out for a drive, I could shift into 6th easily,
Any Ideas what's going on?
Thank You for any help here
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
I've only driven the car a few miles since my problem alignment to test things out so I can't really give a complete evaluation of all gears.
What I do know right now is sometimes it was very notchy puting the car in 1st gear from a dead stop and I would often shift into 2nd while standing still and then into 1st gear. Now it seems I can easily shift from neutral to 1st from a dead stop without any problem. Not sure yet about the notchyness from 3rd to 4th since I haven't driven the car enough since the alignment. My issue is from a dead stop, the car won't go into 6th and it did before I did the alignment ---- and i did the alignment twice. Not sure what to try next. I may just close the console up and drive the car for awhile as is. Car has never been raced or abused so I doubt there is anything bent. Very frustrating.
What I do know right now is sometimes it was very notchy puting the car in 1st gear from a dead stop and I would often shift into 2nd while standing still and then into 1st gear. Now it seems I can easily shift from neutral to 1st from a dead stop without any problem. Not sure yet about the notchyness from 3rd to 4th since I haven't driven the car enough since the alignment. My issue is from a dead stop, the car won't go into 6th and it did before I did the alignment ---- and i did the alignment twice. Not sure what to try next. I may just close the console up and drive the car for awhile as is. Car has never been raced or abused so I doubt there is anything bent. Very frustrating.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
I've only driven the car a few miles since my problem alignment to test things out so I can't really give a complete evaluation of all gears.
What I do know right now is sometimes it was very notchy puting the car in 1st gear from a dead stop and I would often shift into 2nd while standing still and then into 1st gear. Now it seems I can easily shift from neutral to 1st from a dead stop without any problem. Not sure yet about the notchyness from 3rd to 4th since I haven't driven the car enough since the alignment. My issue is from a dead stop, the car won't go into 6th and it did before I did the alignment ---- and i did the alignment twice. Not sure what to try next. I may just close the console up and drive the car for awhile as is. Car has never been raced or abused so I doubt there is anything bent. Very frustrating.
What I do know right now is sometimes it was very notchy puting the car in 1st gear from a dead stop and I would often shift into 2nd while standing still and then into 1st gear. Now it seems I can easily shift from neutral to 1st from a dead stop without any problem. Not sure yet about the notchyness from 3rd to 4th since I haven't driven the car enough since the alignment. My issue is from a dead stop, the car won't go into 6th and it did before I did the alignment ---- and i did the alignment twice. Not sure what to try next. I may just close the console up and drive the car for awhile as is. Car has never been raced or abused so I doubt there is anything bent. Very frustrating.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Just did a 3rd shifter alignment, This time I really loosened up all three T40 bolts until they were really, really loose. Then I giggled everything around and did the tightening sequence exactly as GM specified. Now I can shift into ALL 7 gears with the car off and standing still. Took the car out for a spin and all gears worked fine, but some notchyness going from 1st to 2nd. Trans oil only has about 5000 miles on it but I will get it changed ASAP. Should I use Regular GM recommended trans oil or is there a better choice. Thanks for you help
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1,389
From: Orange County, CA
Also might be worth considering changing clutch hydraulic fluid.
Did you happen to drive long enough for the trans fluid to warm up? In my experience the notchiness reduces with warmer fluid - my experience includes the trans in my C5Z that has fresh synchros and fluid.
Did you happen to drive long enough for the trans fluid to warm up? In my experience the notchiness reduces with warmer fluid - my experience includes the trans in my C5Z that has fresh synchros and fluid.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 455
Likes: 774
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
anti venom mod will do more for notchyness.
My car is notchy from 1st to 2nd until the transmission is warm (I've also tried aligning the shifter about 3 or 4 times)
My car is notchy from 1st to 2nd until the transmission is warm (I've also tried aligning the shifter about 3 or 4 times)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
Ya know, I had this strange sense of dejva vu.....
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,656
Likes: 7,296
From: CT
Ya know, I had this strange sense of dejva vu.....
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
OP - I see you traverse between FL and Norwalk CT. If you're still up north here, I'm in Wallingford if you ever have a question. I've done more shifter swaps than I care to recall. Though it sounds as though you've resolved the issue.