air993

i am having trouble getting into first gear unless the car is almost stopped. i just had the transmission fliud changed, but that didn't improve the situation or make it worse. even when the car is stopped i feel like i am having trouble getting all the way into first. it feels like the gear is sometimes not totally engaged. the clutch is not slipping. what could be causing this? thanks in advance!

lucas

TMc993

Does double clutching (Clutch in - Clutch out - Clutch in - Shift) before shifting into 1st make it any smoother/easier?

black ice

So I went to the doctor and said, "it hurts when I do that." He said to me, "don't do that." 8^)

this was more pronounced on my car until my mechanic switched me to Swepco. I also find its not as bad just with single clutching (clutch in, goose the throttle, clutch out).

Please don't make fun of me if that's not single clutching.

dave

Mark in Baltimore

Sounds like your first gear syncros are gone.

NP993

Have you bled the slave cylinder recently?

Also, why exactly do you need to downshift into 1st while moving? 1st is so short that pretty much all it's good for is getting moving from a stop. If it won't go into first while you're stopped, that would be abnormal.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Lucas,

One need a lot more information to offer anything useful or constructive toward diagnosing your problem.

How many miles on the car?

How many miles on the clutch?

Have you ever bled the clutch hydraulics?

What oil is in the transmission?

air993

hey guys,
Thanks for the relpies so far. Steve, the car has 55,000 miles on it. I'm not certian, but the clutch probably has around 40,000 miles on it. The previous owner had trouble correctly using the clutch, and needed a new one after fifteen thousand miles. I haven't beld the clutch, but my mechanic used royal purple for the new fliud. There is no crunching sound when going into first. The car is just doesn't feel like you can use first unless you are stopped. Then after stopped it sometimes feels like first doesn't engage all the way.

MarkD

sounds like the PO put on some of those 40K miles too then?

in any case, probably not the clutch

maybe slave but if it isn't sticky in other gears... maybe not.
does the clutch pedal feel smooth and easy?

I would take a look at the shift components if it feels squishy.
though I would expect to feel wierdness in other gears too.

air993

yep the pedal is smooth and easy, andd all other gears are ok just first is giving me trouble. you called it right to mark. i got the car with a little over 40000 on it.

Erik@GBox

It sounds to me like you may have damage to the operating sleeve that actually engages the gear. This would give you the vague feel that you are describing, it could also have damage to the gear's dogring, and the synchronizer is certainly in need of replacement.

Long and Short of it here is that if you have tried a different oil, with no luck, it is probably time for a rebuild.

Let me know if I can be of any help to you with this.

Warmest Regards,

Erik Johnson
GBox Performance Transaxle
(303) 440-8899 work
(303) 895-4929 cell
www.gboxweb.com

chris walrod

Despite the recent clutch work, there is the possibility of the disk hanging on rusty/grimy input shaft splines. This has been known to cause this very issue.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Thanks for the info!

Clutch fluid is hygroscopic (it absorbs moisture and becomes compressible) and in your climate, thats one of the first things I would address. The clutch system should be flushed to get rid of any old fluid as a good start.

Chris raised a very good point and one I was going to, as well. Rust or corrosion on the input shaft of the transmission causes the clutch disc to drag or hang and this causes difficult engagement and/or disengagement of gears; the lower ones in particular. The transmission must be removed to inspect, clean and lubricate the input shaft to prevent recurrence. Again, this is more prevalent in hot, humid climates when someone replaces a clutch without properly lubricating the input shaft with the correct product.

Lastly, its possible that your transmission needs some internal work, but I'd deal with the above, before making the decision to open the transmission and inspect everything.

TheOtherEric

Why would you ever shift into 1st when you're still moving? Seriously, I never ever do that, because no 911's take that well. Certainly none of the 3 that I've owned.

And I don't do that in my other cars either. I don't see a need.

ironimages

+1, I go down to 2nd the just kick it in neutral from that point and brake to a stop, or just stay in 2nd until stopped.

air993

thanks for all the replies. we have a bunch of stop signs in certian areas of town and i downshift into first before completely comming to a stop. other times i shift into first to keep the revs over two thousand. is it not bad to lug the engine? i may need to change my driving habits. steve and chris thank you both. i will post results as soon as i get some. hopefully this doesn't involve opening the transmission
lucas