I've had my C6 MN6 for about 3 weeks now (500 miles) and have noticed that periodically (happens about every other day) it is difficult (almost impossible) to shift into 1st gear from neutral while stopped (engine running of course). For example, I'm waiting at a traffic light in neutral and the light turns green -- I attempt to put it into 1st and and it just won't go. I tried putting it back into neutral, releasing the clutch pedal, revving a bit, pushing the clutch pedal back in, but still it won't go into 1st. I can finally get it into 1st by shifting (almost forcing) into another gear (3rd or 4th) and then putting it back into 1st.

This morning I took off from a traffic light in 1st gear and then tried to shift into 2nd but couldn't.

I've been driving exclusively on manual transmissions for 15 years (cars & motorcycles), so I don't think it's improper clutching/shifting. Is this a known behavior? Could it be a maladjusted clutch or defective synchros? If this were the case, though, I would think that the problem would occur all the time and not intermittently.

Of course it's under warranty, but I don't want to take it into the dealership unnecessarily. Also, it would be hard to explain the problem to the mechanic since I cannot replicate it on demand.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

First, you are locked out of 2nd gear from 1st unless you have wound it out sufficiently to allow the shift into second. Did CAGS preventing that shift into 2nd?

Sometimes new syncros can be baulky until broken in. Never, Never force it into gear. You just could be making a bad situation worse. The best thing to do is to try shifting into second before going into 1st (with the clutch depressed through the whole movement) if your shifter is balky.

If this does not solve your problem, it's time to take it to you friendly neighborhood dealer.

 

Problem #1: N - 1 shift.
The stiff shifting into 1 from neutral may be a different problem if a shift into second gear, then into first does not make it easier over time... I would take it in for service and clutch/pedal adjustment.

Problem #2: 1 - 2 shift
The 1 - 2 shift "problem" sounds like the CAGS lockout... it forces a 1 - 4 shift (skipping 2, 3) to increase gas mileage...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=922914

 

Sounds like a problem to me.

But, try this...wait till you slow down to < 10 MPH and try shifting the car back and forth in nutrual (full left/right motion) before putting it in first.

I had a manual once that did this when it was new. One of the safety mechanisms to prevent you from downshifting into 1st when you were going too fast didn't catch properly until I wiggled the stick. It went away by ~500 miles I think.

Yours sounds a lot worse than mine, so I would have them check it.

 

Note that the CAGS that wwashing was talking about doesn't come into play if either: your engine coolant temperature is below 169 deg. F or you are at 21 percent throttle or less.

The only reason I mentioned this is that if you were not already familiar with CAGS, it might confuse you if it happens sometimes, but not at other times.

I frequently go to 2nd gear before going to first when setting still, waiting for the light to change or taking off from a stop sign. It seems to go into first easier that way on mine.

 

This does not sound like a CAGS problem. It sounds like your clutch is not releasing completly. You better take it back to the dealer pronto, before you damage a syncro.

 

I've not had that problem with my C6 Z51, but shifting is different than with any other manual tranny I've owned. Part of it is the gear ratios I think, but it does take some getting used to (very punchy, huge torque)... CAGs is there of course whenever you take it easy out of first gear... very good advice not to force it..., very hard on the synchros... Good luck!

 

I have the same problem. It happened twice today at a red light and the tranny balked from nuetral to 1st - multiple tries then it goes in. Definately not CAGS. Close to 2,800 miles on the car now.

I'll being paying more attention going forward and I will re-post.

 

First of all I hope you get the problem worked out.

One bit of advise, I can't advise sitting at a stop light in Neutral is a safe thing to do. That one time where you don't have time to get into gear could not only save you from an accident it could save your life.

 

Is there a "known issues" area of the forum? If not, it would be nice to start one so that people could check the status of such issues.

 

Yes, that's a good point, esp. if I'm the first one in line. When I'm on my motorcycle, I do, in fact, keep it in 1st and continuously look behind me in my mirror to see if an approaching car might not see me and squash me into the guy in front of me.

Although, if I'm in my car stopped at a light and there is an endless stream of bumper-to-bumper cars in front of me, behind me, and on both sides of me, I'm not sure if having it in 1st gear will do me much good, since I have nowhere to go.

 

It is safer, and good advice to have the car in neutral and foot off the clutch when sitting at a traffic light.
Additionally, On some vehicles (I do not think it is the case with Corvettes) sitting stopped with the clutch disengaged causes excessive throw-out bearing wear.

 

Actually this happened to me for the first time today with 925 miles on my C-6. First time I didn't use the following procedure coming to a stop at an intersection. I usually "clear the gears" by down shifting through 3nd then at about 10-15 mph go to 2nd then 1st while the clutch stays depressed, before breaking to a complete stop. Today I coasted to a stop form 25mph while in neutral (long coast), clutch not depressed. Thats when I had a hard time finding 1st. Finally went into reverse then back to 1st. Then I read this thread right after my problem. Now I'm interested in other's experiences!!!

 

I've had the same issue on both my 99 and my C6 on occasion. I agree that it does seem to happen more often when I drift to a stop with the car in neutral than if I downshift through the gears. Occasionally (I'd call it rare) I find that pushing in the clutch and trying to shift to first will result in what feels like a "lockout": can't get the lever into first. Usually when this happens, a quick snap back into second and then straight up to first without ever taking my foot off the clutch clears the problem. On the extremely rare cases where that doesn't work, leaving the shifter in neutral, releasing the clutch pedal a little for a second, pushing it back down, and then retrying first gear has corrected it.

I never thought much of it since my 99 did it too, and for me, I've seemingly found the easiest way to clear the problem. It may indeed be caused/exacerbated by rolling to a stop with your foot off the clutch after having previously taken it out of a high gear and not downshifting.

Mike

 

I've got just under 2000 on mine -on ocassion I have difficulty getting into 1st (never 2nd-I installed CAGS resistor from mile one) I believe its human error- Sometimes when the light changes we hurry the shift to 1st and possible miss it. I would wait before taking it to dealer-chances are you will wind up with more serious problems , once Mr Goodwrench gets his paws on it!!!

 

Look at the sticky called C6 FAQ on the main page of this section of the forum. Everyone who posts here ought to be required to read that first.

 

Had the same thing happen yesterday, just after I got the first 500 miles on it. I figured it was me, but I will pay more attention now, in case it wasn't!!

 

I have 313 miles on my C6. Unfortunately, I have nothing to compare to since this is my first manual shift vehicle. I'm getting used to it and it is work, but fun. More interesting than my auto C5 was. I have a question based on what I have read here and wonder if someone can help me on this. I see that some of you coast in neutral as you approach a red light, stopped traffic, etc and some downshift "through the gears". Which way is correct? I tried downshifting once and felt the car jerk on every shift into a lower gear. Am I doing something wrong or is it personal preference? Also, is it OK to start from a stop in 2nd gear? I have done that sometimes and it gives better acceleration than starting in first. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I have the same problem on my C6 about once every week or so, the trick of putting it into second then first solves the issue.

Should not happen ever IMO. It has happened about 10 times since I've owned the car which now has around 2600 miles on the odometer.

 

In addition to my normal "clear the gears" method, once I'm completely stopped is when I have the options to either: 1) Put it into neutral and let out the clutch (waiting for a long light) then depress clutch/ pull into 2nd before going to 1st, or 2) or keep clutched depressed after stop with it in 1st gear. I may be wrong about this, but the secret is to get the internals of the transmission to stop turning after you stop, while having all the gears positioned such that you can engage any gear easily from neutral. This works for me, now the technical rebuttals!