Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear!
Hey, guys I have a 98 (6spd) corvette with about 73,000 miles on it. I had my clutch replaced once at 50,000 and again a few months ago at 70,000miles. I have trouble getting it into first gear sometimes. What I mean is, I put my foot on the clutch, and when I try to shift into first gear it seems like there is something there blocking the shifter from entering. Even if I let loose of the clutch, and clutch again it does not open. I am pushing down on the clutch all the way. I have found that if I sway the car a bit (bouncing in my seat) it releases sometimes. Other times I need to shift into second and then up to first. Does anybody have any idea what is possibly causing this? Any input would be greatly appreciated. :confused: :confused:
[Modified by C5 Rider, 3:47 AM 2/22/2004]
[Modified by C5 Rider, 3:47 AM 2/22/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
What happens if you pump the pedal 3 times then try to get it into first gear? What about going into second, then going into first? does any of those things help? or no?
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (vetterdstr)
Yes going into second and then into first always works with no problems. I have tried to pump the clutch pedal but that does not seem to help! Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
You may have syncro problems in first gear... as long as you can go from second to first without a prob.. I would not tear the trans down just to fix it until you cant get it into 1st gear no matter what... That is unless you are under warranty and can get fixed for free.
VR :cheers:
VR :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
I have a 98 as well. I have 40K very hard miles on mine with a bunch of extra HP. I too have had trouble getting into first for a while. It happens about half the time at a light when going into first from nuetral. I also have to go to second and then back to first when it happens, which lines everything back up. I have also started having more problems getting into fifth on the roadcourse lately.
I decided to pull the tranny and it is presently being upgraded and rebuilt with hipo syncro, sliders and billet keys as well as a few other goodies. They polish the hub for easy shifts as well. Good luck with your and I'll report when mine is done.
JB
I decided to pull the tranny and it is presently being upgraded and rebuilt with hipo syncro, sliders and billet keys as well as a few other goodies. They polish the hub for easy shifts as well. Good luck with your and I'll report when mine is done.
JB
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (jbsblownc5)
Thanks for your responses guys. Do you think I should just deal with it the way it is or have it checked out? A friend of mine told me to flush the transmission fluid, you think that will help?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,567
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From: Aurora IL
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
Sounds like your 1st gear synchro has gone west, you may need to have the trans opened and rebuilt. Use bullet proof parts for a longer lide of the trans or buy one of the bullet proof units that some of the vendors have.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (CAPN17)
New Tranny fluid will not help this problem. You need a rebuild. Been there done that twice on a 98 with over 100K miles. I had a problem with my original trans were it would pop out of first. Rebuilt and problem continued until transmission failed and was replaced. "New Transmission" has about 65K miles on it and I am starting to have a little trouble with first and reverse again. My car is driven very hard almost all the time so I am not suprised. My original clutch lasted over 75K miles and I am on a LS6 clutch now.
I have a question do you drive with you hand resting on the shifter? This is a big No No! Will cause premature synchro failure.
I have a question do you drive with you hand resting on the shifter? This is a big No No! Will cause premature synchro failure.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (gonbad)
Oh yeah your second clutch lasted only 20,000+ miles! What are you doing to kill a clutch that fast. If your drag racing the car and speed shifting the MN6 will definitely cause a problem in short order. The MN6 doesn't like it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (gonbad)
I replaced my last clutch after 20,000 miles because I was having some engine work done on the car, and my mechanic said he would replace it and not charge me for labor (so I ended up spending about $300). I do not drive with my hand on the shifter. My clutch was fine and worked very smoothly for the first couple of weeks after I replaced it, but then the problem started again. Thanks for your time guys.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
I don't race, but I do drive my car on a daily basis, in rough city conditions. (Lots of pot holes, and lots of stop and go driving in traffic).
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
I do drive my car on a daily basis, in rough city conditions. (Lots of pot holes, and lots of stop and go driving in traffic).
VR :p:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
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From: Beverly Hills Ca
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (vetterdstr)
Only Speed Bumps in Beverly Hills, (Los Angeles= potholes) :D
I like the pictures you took of your car. Looks Great! :thumbs:
I like the pictures you took of your car. Looks Great! :thumbs:
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 212
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From: Alexandria VA
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
I also have a 98 6spd coupe with 70K. I had the synchros replaced under my extended GMPP. Fixed the first gear problem that I also had and my fifth to sixth problem.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Toronto Ontario
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear!
This does not sound good :mad
I've got the same problem. I was hoping that it might be the shifter. Any idea how much it costs to have the transmission pulled and rebuilt.
Thanks
I've got the same problem. I was hoping that it might be the shifter. Any idea how much it costs to have the transmission pulled and rebuilt.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,073
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From: Official Misfit Cooler Owner
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (C5 Rider)
My '98 did this really bad also. I changed out my trans and diff. fluids to Redline and the problem went away. In over a year I have only had that problem maybe twice and before it was almost daily.
I am sure there is other high end lubs that will help also but Redline was my choice. I also changed out to magnetic plugs at same time. A forum vendor sells the oil and plugs as a kit.
I am sure there is other high end lubs that will help also but Redline was my choice. I also changed out to magnetic plugs at same time. A forum vendor sells the oil and plugs as a kit.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: barrie ontario
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (bob98)
I ALSO HAVE '98 COUPE WITH FIRST GEAR SELECTION PROBLEM . ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY TSB's OR RECALLS REGARDING THIS SUBJECT?I DO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH SHOULD COVER REBUILD HOWEVER WAS IT HARD TO CONVINCE THE DEALER A REBUILD WAS NECESSARY?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Alexandria VA
Re: Please Help! I have trouble getting into first gear! (molson)
I took the dealer's transmission man for a ride, I couldn't get the 5-6 grind with him in car, but I used the 4-6 shift to demonstrate that it ground every time, he also noticed a 1-2 noise--told me that the problem of getting into first gear was also synchro. They would not do anything until we took that ride. No problem after.