Hard to get into first gear....

[slickn56]

I finished up college two days ago and packed up my car and drove it home. First thing i notice is that after getting to a stop light, the damn thing doesn't want to go into first gear. Or second gear. It is much easier to get it into second gear than it is first. I mean I have to really push it in there. I feel that im gonna break the shifter. So my question is do you think my clutch is in need of adjustment, my tranny fluid is in desperate need of help, or im screwed... The guy I bought the car off of said he just had a new clutch put in. I mean it feels like it is new to me...any help would be appreciated....

Nick
89 Sho

 

[RStalveyARFF]

sounds like the cable still has some slack. What you can do is lay upside down on the drivers seat, with your head looking up the clutch pedal. You'll notice there's a blue ratchet mechanism(plastic) holding a cable. With one hand push the clutch in, and then before releasing it, hold some part of the blue mechanism to keep it from moving, as you slowly release the pedal. You should hear one click. If you do, let go of the mechanism, if not, try it again. After that, drive it around and see if there's any improvement. If there's too little, just try it again.

 

[sdpatt]

Another way to take out any slack in the clutch cable would be to use the automatic adjuster and lift the clutch pedal up firmly. If you hear a click or two, your cable was re-tensioned.

 

[Sam]

I've had that problem for a long time. Tried synthetic trans fluid but it didn't solve the 1st gear "sticking". I shift into first gear before car comes to a complete stop; very smooth that way.

 

[RI-SHO]

The trick I use when my 1st gear sometimes goes in like halfway and wont go in further is to keep applying pressure into 1st and letting go of the clutch slowly, the gear will just click in easily w/o forcing it. I use the same method for getting into reverse when it will only go in so far.

 

[slickn56]

It seems this is a common problem with mtx shos... I tried the cable trick and that seemed to make it a little easier to get into gear, but like others have said, I now find myself putting it into gear before comming to a stop.

Nick