SLO VETTE

When rolling off to a slow start, or even slightly spirited, I've been experiencing 1st gear popping out of gear. Not a pleasant experience whatsoever.

Any ideas on what's causing this?

It's an '04 Z06, about 38k miles. Just had a new C6 Z06 clutch installed about 1k miles ago.

voda1

Rebleed the clutch.

Readjust the shifter.

SLO VETTE

Thanks I will have that looked into shortly. Appreciate the heads up.

SLO VETTE

Any other suggestions on this item? Ideas welcome, so I can better understand what might be going wrong when I speak with a mechanic.

Thanks.

WICKEDFRC

Popping out of gear, I would start with removing the center arm rest console and working your way to the shifter boot and housing to get a socket down inside where your shifter fulcrum is located and do a simple re-adjust. One or more bolts may have loosened contributing to the problem.

It's relatively easy to do.

And there should be an alignment hole you can slip a Hex Key into to hold the shifter dead center while torquing the bolts.

Make sure you use a dab of Loc-tite. Medium.

My 2000 FRC did the same and everything was fine once I re-adjusted the shifter inside the fulcrum.

You got this!!

SLO VETTE

Thank you! I can't believe the issue to be a worn out transmission, I generally drive very mellow at least 90% of the time, and the other 10% is just a spirited romp thu the gears now & then. Car only has 35k miles, and past 10 years maybe 5k on it.

Bill Dearborn

C5 transmission are at least 15 years old now. I had similar problems with first gear pop out on my 97 back in 1997, things are probably a lot worse now that cars have more miles and age on them. There are more synchronizers when engaging 1st gear and it takes more force to engage it. If you don't get the transmission shifted all the way into 1st the shifter will kick out and more than likely you will hear a loud grinding of the gears as it kicks out. One of the things you can do to avoid the problem is push harder to make sure the transmission is actually going all the way into gear. At the same time you may have to let the clutch out just a little until it starts turning the transmission input shaft while you are pressing the shifter into 1st. That lets the gears turn a little so they mesh Vs clash and usually the shifter will make a significant forward movement when you are having trouble getting into 1st.

I did that for 6 years and 22K miles before trading my 97 for an 03Z. It was a habit that didn't break until I traded for a C6Z in 2009. Never complained about the issue and never really had any problems with the transmission. Try it and see if that helps you avoid the kick out and gear clash.

You can also get the same problem when trying to shift into reverse and the same solution works there.

Bill

SLO VETTE

BIll I have a brand new clutch, would that have anything to do with it? It's a C6 Z06 clutch.

SLO VETTE

Thanks again for the suggestions on this. Car is at mechanics this week getting some fixin's.

LTCHAPPA

Shifter adjustment

redzg

Please do an update when it's back to let us know what you find/found.

Evanslooten

I have this issue but with second gear. Very interested to know what your mechanic comes back with.

redzg

Tried this yesterday for ***** and giggles as I was at a red light. **** moved forward something on the order of 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Crap. I thought I was in gear, but was definitely mistaken. So now I'm doing it every time I go into first or reverse. Doesn't matter every time, but maybe 1 out of 3 it does.
Thanks!

SLO VETTE

Turns out there was a clip of sorts (reverse lockout?) that was disconnected.

Clutch was bled, air outta the system, so that plus some other things has me back in the saddle.

SLO VETTE

You are spot on in that description. Been trying it lately. Goes into gear like hot knife thru butter when letting out the clutch just a tiny bit.

It's a tricky habit to get into but I'm working on it.

Mechanic bled the clutch, haven't had any problems since. Knock on wood.

rollin59

When I first bought mine, it sometimes was very hard to get into first and second, and would sometimes pop out of first.
(had only 41,000 miles, now about 51,000 2 years later).

I had the Chevy dealer change the transmission fluid, and that tremendously improved shift quality, much easier
to get into all gears, especially 1st and 2nd (owner's manual says trans fluid is "lifetime"...yah, right).

Ditto on comments about making sure it's truly in gear, especially first and reverse.
Sometimes these feel like they are in gear but aren't. I never have it pop out anymore.
It takes a firm hand and a bit of experience of the correct "feel" when it's really in gear.

Later I also had the clutch fluid changed, but it didn't make any notable difference in drivability.

SLO VETTE

It's back to popping out again. Interestingly, I've found it more prone to doing so after driving it for awhile, maybe after 30-40+ minutes. Gonna take it to another mechanic for some diagnosis. WICKEDFRC, thanks a lot for the tip, I will print this thread out and give to mechanic.

Bill Curlee

CALL ME!!!!!!!!! PM SENT! Before you waste any more cash at the shops, I have some ideas for you to try..

ttchybrid

Your 1/2 shift fork may have the plastic tabs damaged, preventing the 1/2 synchro to completely sliding over first gear. the synchro and gear are probably damaged. You'll probably need the 1/2 fork, 1/2 synchro and first gear, and while your at it replace 2nd gear as well. I used to repair these trannies daily at my dealer for this problem..

Rpinaiii

I have a C7, stick. Only 3400 miles and notice my 1st gear pops out as well. But i think it's me and getting used to the shifting or engage point in 1st. This is my 1st Corvette. Doesn't happen in any other gears. But I think I may look at what one of the poster said about the bolts being tight. Glad I found this thread.