Last week I was stuck on a hill reversed out of a driveway, held it in neutral while another person backed out, and I tried shifting into first to go up the hill. It got STUCK, and I couldn't get it out. After stalling a couple times trying, and jerking it back and forth for minutes, it let loose with one final stall. I couldn't get it into neutral or anything; it was "in" first but wouldn't budge, just stuck and revved as if it were in neutral.

When I shift into first sometimes it gives me a lot of resistance. It's got worse since the above happened, but now it just won't go into first. It will take 5-10 seconds of me shifting wildly before it will shift (both while rolling to a stop and trying to take off). Has the most amount of resistance when rolling to a stop - easier when I'm stopped.

Background
Swapped from Auto to a manual back in January. Only put about 1,500 miles on the car since I swapped it. it's a Beta I tranny I believe, from MaierApril, with about 55,000 miles on it. Has a used pressure plate. Brand new clutch at swap. Not sure what else is relevant

any ideas? and suggestions? It just feels like something in the engine bay is hitting against the shifter cables keeping it from going into gear. Might be in the tranny giving the resistance. Sometimes when I'm sitting at idle in the garage, I can shift fine into any and all gears.

 

do a few things for me:

1. take the shifter ring off console and inspect, maybe regrease contact points.
2. take sifter assembly off transmission. Look for wear. Replace anything if necessary, grease connecting points.
3. bleed clutch
4. inspect shifter lines for wear, holes, especially where it goes through the firewall. Did you use a rubber grommet there?

I just did step #2 when replacing my clutch and it made a HUGE difference in shifting for me.

 

I have a similar problem getting into first, and don't know the remedy... I plan on replacing my tranny at some point within a year, but for more reasons than that (synchros...)

 

1. Done. Saw nothing noticeable in restricting movement.
2. newbie to trannies... explain?
3. really think it's the clutch? how do I bleed the clutch? See #2.
4. Done. Grommet used, nothing noticeable.

I will jack it up next weekend and inspect from underneath. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing. Any other advice? I'm new to transmissions

 

#2 on top of the tranny you'll see cables run to a shaft coming out of the transmission. if you are unsure have someone shift though the gears while you look under the hood. You'll see it. The bracket that holds it in places uses 2 bolts. Remove them and lube every contacting point then reassemble.

#3 well it's worth a try. you bleed it just like brakes but it's easier, also get a bleeding tool. more or less a hose with a resevour (no idea how to spell). Fill up clutch fluid. loosen up bleeding screw and hook up hose. pump clutch. Continue process till there are no bubbles and fluid runs clear.

of course worst case is bad transmission.

 

#2 - oh, that. Yeah, I watched them as everything shifted in and out fine. Didn't see any problems, but I'll lube 'em up.

I'm thinking the problem may be related to my inexperience with manual transmissions.

When I come to a stop, or under 10MPH, I can shift it into 1st. I have some resistance, but it will go. If I'm driving above 10MPH, it flat out won't go into the first gear position (with clutch engaged). Is this a safety feature, so you don't create an unnecessary 10,000 RPM and throw a few metal engine chunks through your hood?

 

If the car is moving faster than about 5 mph you really shouldn't be putting it into first gear, second would be a better choice. That is what I was told by my father and his friend that drives truck for a living. If you're moving it should be harder to put the tranny into first gear to keep you from frying it

When you swapped the tranny did you put a quality fluid in it? Our gearboxes have been known to have synchro issues. I had a similar issue and some new fluid helped but unfortunately its back again 02.gif

 

im having this same problem, did you ever figure it out?

 

You're not supposed to put the car into 1st gear unless you are stopped, or just barely rolling. This is a safety feature, and it's not good for the tranny when you do it. If for some reason you need to, try rev matching first (blip the gas pedal and then shift)

 

sometimes. Kinda like how you shouldn't throw it into reverse on the interstate? If you throw it into 1st gear at 70MPH, I imagine the RPM's would go sky highI determined my problem was just the lack of experience I have driving a manual, and that it was in fact a safety feature. I would try to shift into first when I knew I'd be stopping, and it wouldn't go and I freaked out. It only shifts into first if I'm at a complete stop... 2mph won't do it either. I've had no problems since I started putting it in first at a complete stop.

the one instance of the clutch getting stuck and me being neither in gear nor in neutral... that hasn't happened since.