so i noticed my car has trouble getting into first sometimes. When i try to push it in (clutch is in) it won't pop into gear, it doesn't make any griding noise that i can hear and after trying a couple times to get it in it evently jumps in. its starting to get annoying and i was just wondering if any of you might know whats up. i thought it might be syncro but then wouldn't it make a grinding noise?

 

That can happen if the tiny **** on the synchros happen to be lined up exactly.
If it happens, let the clutch out in neutral for just a sec and it just be "fixed".

Bill

 

Is that what old-timers refer to as double-clutching? Before they had synchros.

 

Yeah I guess you could look at that as double clutching- sorta.

First of all, what he said is right- put the car in nuetral and cycle the clutch once, then it'll go right into gear. That's true for every manual I've driven.

Double clutching is where you let the clutch out in nuetral, rev the engine to match the drivetrain speed, then you push the clutch in slide it into gear (usually into a lower gear). If you did this every time you downshifted, your synchros would last forever, since you are doing all the work for them. Double clutching is similar to just heel/toe revmatching (and you can double clutch and heel/toe at the same time also of course), but takes it one step further by not only matching the engine speed to the drivetrain, but the transmission itself.

Everyone should at least learn to heel/toe when slowing and downshifting - even around town. It's much smoother, faster, and better for your car - and more fun, too.