I have an '01 MN6 with a Hurst shifter. Over the last few weeks, I've experienced the gear shifter popping out of first when I begin to move from a stop. Then, this morning, I couldn't shift into 1st, 3rd or 5th and got the car into reverse only with great difficulty. I had no problem shifting into 2nd, 4th and 6th (so with the car's good torque, was able to make my commute with a 3-speed!). This evening the problem persisted, although during the drive home it seemed to get a little better -- if I really pushed hard and held the shifter forward, it would stay in gear in 1, 3 and 5.

I've tried to think of all the possibilities:

1. Shifter adjustment. Seems possible because the problem is related to shifter position (forward).
2. Shift linkage. Same reasoning as #1
3.Clutch adjustment. Doesn't seem likely, since the problem varies with the gear selected.
4. Clutch. Same as #3.

The Hurst was installed at ~20k miles and the car now has ~34k miles, all on the original clutch.

Any thoughts, tips, etc. would be greatly appreciated.


Greg Burch -- -- 01 Torch Red Coupe MN6: http://gregburch.net/cars/vette20020907.html
Performance Mods: Blackwing filter/intake, drilled "foglight ducts", Granitelli MAF, Vortex airbridge, smooth coupler; Z06 wheels & tires, Borla Stingers, X-pipe, Hurst shifter
Information Mods: Pentium 4, 10" screen; GPS nav (EarthMate/Delorme); EFILive car data system; 10+ GB of MP3s
Appearance Mods: BPE fixed headlights, blacked-out lower rear fascia; TR exhaust plate; CAU lettering inside & out; body-color radiator cover, coolant tank & windshield washer tank; painted front calipers; polished stainless under-hood accents
Upcoming Mods: ???
Previous Vette: 95 Torch Red MN6 Coupe (aren't all vettes red?)

 

Take the shifter apart and see if anything got stuck into it. I was making a pass the drag strip and the car would not shift into 4th. It was stuck in 3rd gear and i was freaking out. I took the shifter apart and noticed the nut that keeps the springs in fell into the shifter and prevented the stick from moving.

 

Try checking th shifter stop, there is one on the front of the shifter that handles 1st, 3rd and 5th, there is also one on the back that handles 2nd, 4th and 6th. The front screw may have come loose and turned in, from what I have read the MN6 has internal stops and you could remove the Hurst stops altogether. Also if you get a chance change the trans fluid to a synthetic, it really smoothes out the shifts.

 

That was it! It was an easy fix -- thanks.


Greg Burch -- -- 01 Torch Red Coupe MN6: http://gregburch.net/cars/vette20020907.html
Performance Mods: Blackwing filter/intake, drilled "foglight ducts", Granitelli MAF, Vortex airbridge, smooth coupler; Z06 wheels & tires, Borla Stingers, X-pipe, Hurst shifter
Information Mods: Pentium 4, 10" screen; GPS nav (EarthMate/Delorme); EFILive car data system; 10+ GB of MP3s
Appearance Mods: BPE fixed headlights, blacked-out lower rear fascia; TR exhaust plate; CAU lettering inside & out; body-color radiator cover, coolant tank & windshield washer tank; painted front calipers; polished stainless under-hood accents
Upcoming Mods: ???
Previous Vette: 95 Torch Red MN6 Coupe (aren't all vettes red?)

 

I had a problem like that when I bought my hardtop. Yours sounds alot worse but I eventually replaced the tranny fluid w/ redline synthetic and had the dealership align the shifter. By the way it came w/ a B&M shifter. kaley