6spd MT Can't shift into second with these cold temperatures

[imanedrn]

Originally Posted by Slick

I wish that was our coldest weather, been -30C recently, that's -22F for those of you south of the border.

How long does it take your car to warm up?

I've never lived anywhere that cold! I'm such a wuss in the cold though. The coldest I've experienced was 20F a few winters ago, when I lived in Savannah GA. Vegas doesn't usually get lower than the 30s. We're only in the 40s right now at night. 50-60s in the day. Atypical for this time of year.

[jonbonazza]

I don't have this issue, but I do notice that 1st can take a couple tries to get in when its cold, but if I ma at a complete stop, it usually isn't an issue at all.

[White64Goat]

I just go 1st to 3rd when cold until it gets a little warmth into it.

[ZionsWrath]

0:47

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-bN-RkJLM"]The Fast and the Furious (2/10) Movie CLIP - Winning's Winning (2001) HD - YouTube[/ame]

[raven1231]

That's what happens when your shifting and not double clutchin like you should

[radroach]

Double clutching doesn't always work. You'll get stuck in neutral slowly going down the road, revving and trying to get it in 2nd gear.

I think it's the car's design literally telling you "the car isn't warmed up for this kind of driving", the shifter literally sticks itself in 1st gear and wants to stay there until it's warmed up. I could work it out of gear, but that would not feel very good.

Recall that thread with the toyota engineer explained how the gearbox was designed to feel positive at it's best when driven in an ideal situation (warmed up temperature, driving and accelerating quickly), therefore there is a compromise to how the gearbox might feel when cold, and driven slowly.

But for my advice, and considering it's the best way to avoid syncro damage and have a comfortable drive is to let the car properly warm up. A couple minutes extra of your time of letting the boxer engine warm up the rest of the car really makes a difference for positively shifting and enjoyable drives.

[Wilso]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

0:47

Lmao I just watched this the other night. Thanks for the lols!

[Wilso]

I've got 10k on my car right now. It wasn't toooo bad in the 5 to -5c degree weather, but anything now (-5c to -25c) is brutal! I was thinking of switching to redline but I didn't want to cause anything with warranties :/

[pche]

Once the gear oil warms up it'll go away. An warm engine doesn't equal to a warm manual transmission.

[PMPB]

I just stay out of first....

The first 10ish cold days this winter I was trying to just drive through the 'pain' of shifting from 1st to 2nd in the cold. But the amount of force required + the mini-grind was making me sick to my stomach. I rather replace a clutch a couple thousand km early that have to go in for a tranny rebuild because the 2nd gear synchros have been weakened so much from cold shifting.

I couple times I almost had to use 2 hand to get it back into first after stopping. The transimission is so different on a cold day that I was starting to doubt whether I was using the clutch properly, or if my clutch wasn't disengaging correctly. This gear box is such a dream when it's fully up to temperature, it may be worth it...

[FLYFISHR]

I usually don't move the car until the idle drops after starting the car. But while I'm waiting for that I move the shifter back and forth a few times to start off then with the clutch in I run through the gears as best I can. This keeps me entertained until the motor has warmed up a bit. I think that moving and holding the shifter to the left and the right while the clutch is engaged helps stir the transmission oil a bit. While this may not be the answer it does seem to help a bit for me.

[PMPB]

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

I usually don't move the car until the idle drops after starting the car. But while I'm waiting for that I move the shifter back and forth a few times to start off then with the clutch in I run through the gears as best I can. This keeps me entertained until the motor has warmed up a bit. I think that moving and holding the shifter to the left and the right while the clutch is engaged helps stir the transmission oil a bit. While this may not be the answer it does seem to help a bit for me.

You should at least leave the clutch engaged while idling, at least that way the input shaft is turning and causing some friction.... albeit, not too much. Rowing the gears while idling is literally doing nothing but swapping cogs around.... cogs that aren't even turning.

[t.chk]

I have a similar experience, mine lets me move from 1st to 2nd but it has some resistance (no grinding noice that you mention). It just takes a little fineness to make that first shift. When I mentioned the resistance to my Subaru dealer they said that it is normal in the cold...so I am taking that at face value. I am very gentle until my engine is warm and the trans is nice and smooth.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Norton 850

The "hard" shift from 1st to 2nd in cold weather is a common problem with the Aisin gear boxes that are installed in the FRS and BRZ. Unfortunately, there's no known cure for this nagging and, in my mind, unacceptable fault.

However, draining and filling the gear box with Redline 75W 85 gear oil will make a HUGE difference. Some people have even reported that it "cured" there shifting problems.

Hope this helps.

Good first post ..... welcome to the gang ......

humfrz