Problem?? when putting car into first gear...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
Problem?? when putting car into first gear...
OK, im gonna start off by saying that my 99 FRC is the first M6 i have ever driven as a DD. So my question is: why sometimes when i first start my car does it take a couple times to put the tranny into first gear. Its like it makes it half way there, but it wont go all the way into place. I have to put it in neutral and just move it back and forth until it finally goes into gear completely. After a short bit of driving it shifts perfectly. The car is stock and never abused or raced hard. The temp around here has been about 30-40 F recently and maybe that has something to do with it, but i dunno. any suggestions on what it might be??
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
I've always found that if it won't go all the way into 1st, I just immediately put it into 2nd and then 1st again. Slides right in. Don't even move the clutch while you do this, just leave it in.
Happens once every few months. You do have to be pretty firm to get it into 1st sometimes. It should be quite rare to not be able to get it into 1st at all though (at least, without significant pressure).
Dope
Happens once every few months. You do have to be pretty firm to get it into 1st sometimes. It should be quite rare to not be able to get it into 1st at all though (at least, without significant pressure).
Dope
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 0
From: California
mine only did it sometimes when i put it reverse, but after i got my tranny fluid changed it stopped doing it... i dont know if it had anything to do with it or not but it hasnt happend since
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: PA
The ONLY gear I ever grind is first! At a stop light, or what ever, it seems that there is a 2 position 'bump - feel', and if I don't take that extra 1/2 second to ensure I'm all the way up into first, it pops back and I grind the gear. 
It does NOT seem to be temperature correlated though. On a few occasions I find myself starting out in second
since I don't want to grind a gear if I'm sitting next to someone.
Ideas?
It does NOT seem to be temperature correlated though. On a few occasions I find myself starting out in second
since I don't want to grind a gear if I'm sitting next to someone.Ideas?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
My 98 coupe would sometimes do the samething. I up-graded to some Mobil-1 synthetic ATF and found that it shifts much cmoother and the shift problen is GONE!
Bill C
Bill C
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
I changed to Mobil 1 synthetic ATF also and it made no difference - still hard to get into 1st at times. I understand from others on here that a linkage adjustment can be made to correct it though.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 746
Likes: 1
From: salem or
Yep, mine has done this since new as well. Also, it will sometimes pop out of first or sometimes reverse if you don't apply a little pressure. Synthetic hasn't helped. I just passed it off as being related to the heavyduty gears.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
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From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Originally Posted by Dope
I've always found that if it won't go all the way into 1st, I just immediately put it into 2nd and then 1st again. Slides right in. Don't even move the clutch while you do this, just leave it in.
Happens once every few months. You do have to be pretty firm to get it into 1st sometimes. It should be quite rare to not be able to get it into 1st at all though (at least, without significant pressure).
Dope
Happens once every few months. You do have to be pretty firm to get it into 1st sometimes. It should be quite rare to not be able to get it into 1st at all though (at least, without significant pressure).
Dope
Also you may want to double clutch it (is that the right term?), if it doesnt go in first gear, pull it to neutral, let out the clutch, put it back in and then it should go.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
cool....i was really worried that my tranny was messed up or something. im gonna have a tranny flush here in a week or so. is mobil-1 the best or should i go with redline or royal purple? I heard that royal purple is actually not very good in comparison to mobil-1...but when i ran it thru my camaro it really felt like it had more power and shifted a lot nicer.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Pensacola FL
I think a fluid change may help. I used GM synchromesh in all 3 C5's i had with no problems. Def makes a difference. Also, I found when I get this, it helps to let the clutch off the floor just a hair, it seems to slide right in. Just keep normal pressure on the shifter and ease the clutch pedal off the floor slowly. Don't know why this is, but it has been that way on all my C5's. SCOTT
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There is a linkage adjustment procedure that you may want to try. I dont have it, but in other post it has been discussed. Just for grins, check your clutch fluid and make sure it isnt dark and nasty. Bleeding the clutch is difficult buy may help. Just shooting out ideas. 
I hope it gets resolved.
Bill C
I hope it gets resolved.
Bill C
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 19, 2005 at 08:45 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,923
Likes: 6,716
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Until I learned to make an extra effort to be sure it was fully in first, my '01 did the same thing. I attribute it to not being used to having to move so much mass around with such long (high mass) linkage.
No problems since. It's been my daily driver for almost 4 years.
All the best.
No problems since. It's been my daily driver for almost 4 years.
All the best.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by 99 The Hard Way
Also, I found when I get this, it helps to let the clutch off the floor just a hair, it seems to slide right in. Just keep normal pressure on the shifter and ease the clutch pedal off the floor slowly. Don't know why this is, but it has been that way on all my C5's. SCOTT
This should only be noticed if the clutch is pushed in for a bit (a couple seconds maybe). If you're stopped and in neutral the input shaft is still spinning so pressing in the clutch just long enough to try to stab first should not be long enough to allow the input shaft to stop.
Perhaps we need lighter fluid to allow the synchros to spin longer? Its definitely worse when cold. I run Mobile 1 ATF BTW. Either that or our synchros are worn. With 80k on the ticker mine sure could be.
Last edited by 5 Liter Eater; Jan 20, 2005 at 01:09 PM.
