Hard time getting in gears

Calvin · 04-20-2011, 02:00 AM

For some reason, when I first engage my clutch to shift into either First Gear or Reverse, I literally have to force the gear in with 70% of my strength, if I don't let go of the clutch after being in gear, I can shift smoothly back and forth.

After I release the clutch, as I clutch in again to shift back into first, the gear becomes super stiff and hard to shift into again, while clutch is still engaged i can shift freely and smoothly after the first shift being stiff and hard,

sorry for sounding like a noob but is anyone also getting this problem or know what is the cause of this?

jaedub · 04-20-2011, 02:11 AM

I know what your talking about. Yeah, its hard to explain. Anyhow....once youre stuck in that position trying to force the gear in, ease up the clutch and give it a little gas while shifting. Your gear will go in without you straining yourself.

So next time, dont force it. Just lean the knob naturally into your desired gear while gently pushing the gas and easing up the clutch.

If it dont work then it could be some other problem.

supraman626 · 04-20-2011, 03:59 AM

i have the same problem shifting into first during a cold start, but goes away after a couple mins of driving, try maybe changing the trans fluid to redline. I've this topic b4 on other threads, if that doesn't work then i would say to take it to the dealer.

Sizzle · 04-20-2011, 05:08 AM

My neutral to first and first to second shifts are stiff until it warms up as well...

USINC97 · 04-20-2011, 06:38 AM

Always a little stiff when going from 1st to 2nd when first starting off. After everything warms up, no problems.

kenchan · 04-20-2011, 07:11 AM

Double clutch (clutchin, n, clutchout, clutchin, 1st or rev) and if possible let the car roll forward/aft. You should never force the lever into gear.

spearfish25 · 04-20-2011, 08:12 AM

Or just work out more so it only requires 50% of your strength.

rambunctious · 04-20-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Or just work out more so it only requires 50% of your strength.

Red__Zed · 04-20-2011, 08:59 AM

There's a wide range of things that could be causing this.

See what happens if you shift into second, then first. This should happen pretty easily.

You could try changing the trans fluid as well. This helps a lot of people with this issue.

Sometimes the shifter just needs an adjustment--this seems like a possible solution since you have issues with 1st and reverse.

You could be having issues due to a worn clutch, or insufficient fluid. Check that out.

There's a good chance though, that if you drive aggressively, you have damaged the synchro's. If that's the case, the 2nd to 1st trick will help for a while, but you may have to rebuild the trans eventually.

Finally, since your car is under warranty, you might just talk to Nissan about it.

Mt Tam I am · 04-20-2011, 10:10 AM

This seems to be a wide spread issue. I do not suffer from this one, just most of the other problems.

ChrisSlicks · 04-20-2011, 10:24 AM

The oil in the transmission slows down the input shaft very quickly when the transmission is cold. For an ideal shift the input shaft needs to be still spinning when you select a gear.

If you are stationary and trying to select 1st or reverse try to do it a little more quickly. If it baulks just lift your foot of the clutch and press it down again and it should slot in the 2nd time. Giving it a small rev (1500 or so) can help get the input shaft spinning a bit more quickly before you clutch in and make it easier to select a gear.

For the 1-2 shift I usually just double clutch when it is really cold, it helps to keep the input shaft spinning just before you select the next gear.

christian370z · 04-20-2011, 11:37 AM

When cold, once in a while it is a bit tough to shift into 1st or reverse but rowing into another gear then going back normally solves the issue. This only happens to me while the car is cold, never after I start driving.

6MT · 04-20-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin

For some reason, when I first engage my clutch to shift into either First Gear or Reverse, I literally have to force the gear in with 70% of my strength, if I don't let go of the clutch after being in gear, I can shift smoothly back and forth.

After I release the clutch, as I clutch in again to shift back into first, the gear becomes super stiff and hard to shift into again, while clutch is still engaged i can shift freely and smoothly after the first shift being stiff and hard,

sorry for sounding like a noob but is anyone also getting this problem or know what is the cause of this?

I didn't find mine as bad as you're describing. But I saw an improvement when I changed the fluid. Red-Line fluid showed an improvement. Just a suggestion.

onzedge · 04-20-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sizzle

My neutral to first and first to second shifts are stiff until it warms up as well...

chops · 04-20-2011, 12:18 PM

it used to happen to me quite often, until i was told to just throw it back into neutral, clutch in, then itll shift smoothly into 1st or R again.

04-20-2011, 02:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
Calvin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Castro Valley, CA Age: 33 Posts: 1,418 Drives: 4GS, R8v10 Rep Power: 17	Hard time getting in gears For some reason, when I first engage my clutch to shift into either First Gear or Reverse, I literally have to force the gear in with 70% of my strength, if I don't let go of the clutch after being in gear, I can shift smoothly back and forth. After I release the clutch, as I clutch in again to shift back into first, the gear becomes super stiff and hard to shift into again, while clutch is still engaged i can shift freely and smoothly after the first shift being stiff and hard, sorry for sounding like a noob but is anyone also getting this problem or know what is the cause of this? __________________ BUILD THREAD SPONSORED BY: SPEEDELEMENT

04-20-2011, 08:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Or just work out more so it only requires 50% of your strength. abm89 likes this. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

04-20-2011, 10:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3842	This seems to be a wide spread issue. I do not suffer from this one, just most of the other problems. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

04-20-2011, 10:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	The oil in the transmission slows down the input shaft very quickly when the transmission is cold. For an ideal shift the input shaft needs to be still spinning when you select a gear. If you are stationary and trying to select 1st or reverse try to do it a little more quickly. If it baulks just lift your foot of the clutch and press it down again and it should slot in the 2nd time. Giving it a small rev (1500 or so) can help get the input shaft spinning a bit more quickly before you clutch in and make it easier to select a gear. For the 1-2 shift I usually just double clutch when it is really cold, it helps to keep the input shaft spinning just before you select the next gear. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

04-20-2011, 11:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 431	When cold, once in a while it is a bit tough to shift into 1st or reverse but rowing into another gear then going back normally solves the issue. This only happens to me while the car is cold, never after I start driving. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

04-20-2011, 02:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
jaedub Track Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 906 Drives: 2010 Black 370Z MT Rep Power: 304	I know what your talking about. Yeah, its hard to explain. Anyhow....once youre stuck in that position trying to force the gear in, ease up the clutch and give it a little gas while shifting. Your gear will go in without you straining yourself. So next time, dont force it. Just lean the knob naturally into your desired gear while gently pushing the gas and easing up the clutch. If it dont work then it could be some other problem.

04-20-2011, 03:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
supraman626 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sf, ca Posts: 58 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z PW M6 Rep Power: 16	i have the same problem shifting into first during a cold start, but goes away after a couple mins of driving, try maybe changing the trans fluid to redline. I've this topic b4 on other threads, if that doesn't work then i would say to take it to the dealer.

04-20-2011, 05:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sizzle Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 45 Drives: 2010 Black Roadster Rep Power: 14	My neutral to first and first to second shifts are stiff until it warms up as well...

04-20-2011, 06:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
USINC97 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 104 Drives: 09 370Z 6MT/09 Cube Rep Power: 14	Always a little stiff when going from 1st to 2nd when first starting off. After everything warms up, no problems.

04-20-2011, 07:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	Double clutch (clutchin, n, clutchout, clutchin, 1st or rev) and if possible let the car roll forward/aft. You should never force the lever into gear.

04-20-2011, 08:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 119	There's a wide range of things that could be causing this. See what happens if you shift into second, then first. This should happen pretty easily. You could try changing the trans fluid as well. This helps a lot of people with this issue. Sometimes the shifter just needs an adjustment--this seems like a possible solution since you have issues with 1st and reverse. You could be having issues due to a worn clutch, or insufficient fluid. Check that out. There's a good chance though, that if you drive aggressively, you have damaged the synchro's. If that's the case, the 2nd to 1st trick will help for a while, but you may have to rebuild the trans eventually. Finally, since your car is under warranty, you might just talk to Nissan about it.

04-20-2011, 12:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
chops A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NA Posts: 1,732 Drives: NA Rep Power: 21	it used to happen to me quite often, until i was told to just throw it back into neutral, clutch in, then itll shift smoothly into 1st or R again.

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