Problem shifting into 1st gear
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Problem shifting into 1st gear
Does anyone have problems shifting into first gear from neutral. It happens maybe 30% of the time at the stop light.
Anything I can do to prevent this?
Anything I can do to prevent this?
Last edited by nastyc6vette; Jan 16, 2008 at 06:50 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers FL
Yep
My 05 is like that. From what everyone tells me it's normal. The 08's are said to be better. Here's what I do, when I'm rolling to a stop, I shift it into first. Always goes right in then.
That's my only complaint about this car is the clunky transmission.
That's my only complaint about this car is the clunky transmission.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach FL
Option 1:
Get the skip shift eliminator... That fixes it most of the time... $20 dollar part = no more shift problems
Or get an automatic... But I think you'll like option 1 more
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
The GAGS has nothing to do with the root cause of the 1st gear engagement concern at the stops.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 9
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,529
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
There is a fix if it happens often enough, I think more than 10-15% of the time. Synchros not lining up. Very common with any manual tranny. My '05 does it occasionally and I just ignore it, or shift to first before I stop, or double clutch it. Even my Miata had this going into reverse. My C6 has trouble going into reverse too occasionally.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Most cars won't shift into 1st when moving, not when stopped. Not sure what is up with yours. If it was my car though, I would drain the ransmission and refill it with a good gear oil such as Redline, Royal Purple, or Amsoil.
Redline Synchromesh did wonders for my 1999 Subaru tranny. It would absolutely not go into 1st unless the car was going under 5 miles an hour. That pretty much fixed the issue. The synchros need some friction modifiers to work properly and as heat breaks those down the transmission won't shft as well.
Redline Synchromesh did wonders for my 1999 Subaru tranny. It would absolutely not go into 1st unless the car was going under 5 miles an hour. That pretty much fixed the issue. The synchros need some friction modifiers to work properly and as heat breaks those down the transmission won't shft as well.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 12
From: KITCHENER ONTARIO
shifting to first
I had same problem with my 2005 convertible. Dealer did $3,000 work under warranty. Problem was significantly reduced. Dealer made further improvement with anti-venom method. You will find this method posted on the forum. Basically involves placing a copper washer at connection to transmission to reduce tension. I plan to replace transmission fluid with mobil synthetic in spring as this is said to further improve shifting.
Regards,
Rich
Regards,
Rich
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
There is something you could do... Had that issue with my 06 GTO and it drove me crazy and I got rear-ended once because of it...
Option 1:
Get the skip shift eliminator... That fixes it most of the time... $20 dollar part = no more shift problems
Or get an automatic... But I think you'll like option 1 more
Option 1:
Get the skip shift eliminator... That fixes it most of the time... $20 dollar part = no more shift problems
Or get an automatic... But I think you'll like option 1 more
I downshift into 1st by the time I stop for a light. My 2005 MN6 is actually does quite well going from nuetral into first gear. It's balked on occasion but not enough to consider a problem. If you have trouble going from nuetral into 1st gear, try bumping it into 2nd gear and then going up into 1st.
You might also try using Royal Purple Synchromesh tranny fluid. I changed to RP but not because of any problem I was having. Many RP users report that RP helps with smoother shifts. Frankly, if it's doing it 30% of the time I'd have your transmission checked.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I had my transmission upgraded to a level 4 from Cartek. They put in carbon fiber synchros and it fixed that problem nearly completely. I see it 1% of the time. Thats right in 5 months its happened 3 times. Reverse is the curprit for me if I am not on flat ground.
CAGS has nothing to do with the problem. The skip shift eliminator is a resistor and doesnt do anything to first gear.
CAGS has nothing to do with the problem. The skip shift eliminator is a resistor and doesnt do anything to first gear.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
There's a technical service bulletin out to address this problem. It deals with an incorrectly cut first gear synchro that should be replaced under warranty if manifested more than a certain number of times per shift. I'm taking mine to the dealer next week to try and get this fixed. It pisses me off that a car this expensive has such stupid and weak problems. If this is chevy's flagship how bad is their other **** that people buy?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 786
Likes: 58
From: New Paltz NY
Any transmission is tight into first gear or reverse gear because of the synchronizers (invented by Porsche BTW).
Leaving the clutch in at a stop light is not correct, and besides being bad for the clutch, it is also a bit unsafe.
When you're ready to go into 1st, press the clutch and put the shift into any higher gear than then push it up into 1st - release clutch.
Same when you go into REVERSE, clutch in, put the shift into a higher gear than into REVERSE - release clutch.
Without even driving a Vette (yet), this is the standard procedure for driving any manual tranny. I know this will result in silky smooth engagement into your problem gears - and it is the way to properly drive a stick.
This all helps align the syncros.
Leaving the clutch in at a stop light is not correct, and besides being bad for the clutch, it is also a bit unsafe.
When you're ready to go into 1st, press the clutch and put the shift into any higher gear than then push it up into 1st - release clutch.
Same when you go into REVERSE, clutch in, put the shift into a higher gear than into REVERSE - release clutch.
Without even driving a Vette (yet), this is the standard procedure for driving any manual tranny. I know this will result in silky smooth engagement into your problem gears - and it is the way to properly drive a stick.
This all helps align the syncros.
Last edited by joliett; Mar 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM.
