Cannot Put Her Into First Gear

[TimmyC]

I'm pretty new to driving stick and have had my car for almost a year. I bought her used and she now has almost 29k miles. One time during the summer when I came back from vacation (1.5 weeks of not driving her) I turned her on and gave her 10 minutes to warm up but I couldn't put her into reverse. I just rolled down the driveway and put her into first and started driving then after a short drive, reverse worked fine. Earlier today at a stoplight I could not put her into first. I was at a complete stop, clutched in and it felt as if I would break something if I were to jammed it into first.

Has anyone else had this problem? This has only happend once and it is my first MT car so I'm quite confused.

I dont know if this matters but maintence wise I have only done one oil change at 27k miles (got the car at 22500 miles) and going to bring her into the dealership to do a 30k soon.

[Flashfire88]

Engine oil change has nothing to do with the tranny, do all the other gears go in smoothly?

[Ultramaroon]

It's normal for a manual. No need to jam it. Just pick a different gear to jostle the innards a little then try first again.

Same with reverse. If it doesn't go, stick it in first, inch forward, and try reverse again.

[TimmyC]

Originally Posted by Flashfire88

Engine oil change has nothing to do with the tranny, do all the other gears go in smoothly?

2nd gear is always good, 3 is sometimes like... "Crunchy" not too sure how to describe it. But for the most part good. And 4,5,6 is good. Oh and sometimes when I put into first it feels as if I missed the gear and hit the spot between 1st and 3rd gear. It's not in gear but it's not exactly in neutral if that makes sense.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by TimmyC

2nd gear is always good, 3 is sometimes like... "Crunchy" not too sure how to describe it. But for the most part good. And 4,5,6 is good. Oh and sometimes when I put into first it feels as if I missed the gear and hit the spot between 1st and 3rd gear. It's not in gear but it's not exactly in neutral if that makes sense.

Makes perfect sense. Also normal. Shift collar gets past the synchro but doesn't engage the gear.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

It's normal for a manual. No need to jam it. If it doesn't go, stick it in first, inch forward, and try reverse again.

Ohhh so thats the Birds & the Bees.




...Im trying to channel my inner Tcoat.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Ohhh so thats the Birds & the Bees.




...Im trying to channel my inner Tcoat.

Needs work.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Needs work.

ohhh yeah eh. I dont have 40 years of sarcasm built up from the driest jokes on the office floor waiting to be released upon the internet, either.

[churchx]

"couldn't put into reverse", "could not put into first", "was at complete stop, clutched in", "it felt as if I would break something".
If you are absolutely certain, that you had completely disengaged clutch (it's common for MT newbies to press it partially, then gear engages usually come with loud crunching mechanical noise, as gears/synchros crunch in), then clutch might be not completely disengaged for whatever other reasons, and imho simplest would be to take to dealer/service shop, to have them take a look, while it's still in warranty.

It might be hard to engage first after second if you are at high speed at most MT (mechanical safeguard to not mistakenly over-rev engine damaging it & tranny);
On our cars there is small known glitch, that when gearbox is not warmed up by short driving, there is some hesitation to put into 2nd (but should be fine, once driven a bit & warmed up gearbox).
But from what/how you describe it's not any of these, if it's not driver's error of not completely pressing/disengaging clutch (imho should be easily repeatable/verifyable by you or service shop guys), then it certainly isn't normally and should be taken in for check/repair.
(BTW, maybe you had done some clutch pedal travel/bite point adjustment mod and overdid it a bit, causing partial not complete disengage?)

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

ohhh yeah eh. I dont have 40 years of sarcasm built up from the driest jokes on the office floor waiting to be released upon the internet, either.

Only Tcoat can do Tcoat but you got a good chuckle out of me.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by TimmyC

I'm pretty new to driving stick ...........

Like @Ultramaroon says, sometimes ya just got to mess with the transmission for a spell.

If it balks about going into reverse, just move the shifter a few cycles through the other gears. Then put it into 1st and let the clutch out till the car slightly moves, then put it into reverse.

If it can't find 1st, cycle between 2nd & 3rd, let the clutch out, then push in on the clutch and then it should go into 1st.

Sometimes manual transmissions can get "hung" or "not meshed" and don't want to go into 1st or reverse gears.

At your next service, you may consider having the transmission oil changed.

Are you ready to hit the mountain roads this year ...........


humfrz

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Ohhh so thats the Birds & the Bees.




...Im trying to channel my inner Tcoat.

Oh ....... NOOOOOO one @Tcoat per forum is enough ...........


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Only Tcoat can do Tcoat but you got a good chuckle out of me.

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh ....... NOOOOOO one @Tcoat per forum is enough ...........


humfrz

There is actually a team. They work a rotating continental shift to ensure coverage and have very strict guidelines they must follow.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

There is actually a team. They work a rotating continental shift to ensure coverage and have very strict guidelines they must follow.

He's right ^

Status report: It's been a quiet night.

My shift is over. The helm is yours, captain.

*Signs off*