Shifts hard

[aznlonewolf135]

Aside from the Starter which i'll have looked at on tuesday....My car is shifts hard.

I really have to force the shift lever into 1st...

[aceyx]

Does this happen in all gears, or only first?
Does this happen on cold starts, or all the time?

[CirrusSR22]

Service Information - Bulletin Number 23 01 99

SUBJECT: Manual Transmission Difficult to Shift - Diagnostic Tips
MODEL: All with Manual Transmission
SITUATION: Transmission may be difficult to shift especially first gear
engagement and/or gear shift linkage is binding. Note: Field observations
have indicated that a transmission which is difficult to shift (especially
into first gear) is primarily a clutch related problem and only in isolated
cases a failure in the transmission itself.

PROCEDURE:

Verify the customer complaint:

Note: Engage the parking brake and assure that no people or objects are in
the vehicle's path.

- - Run the engine at idle speed
- - Press the clutch pedal to the floor
- - From the neutral stick shift position engage first gear

If first gear is difficult to engage, hold the stick shift at the
resistance point (approximately half of the total stick shift travel) with
constant force.

Then switch the ignition off with the other hand.

DIAGNOSIS 1:
If first gear now engages completely, i.e. the stick shift moves to the end
position without any additional pressure applied, there is a problem in the
clutch system.

Explanation:
Because the clutch does not uncouple completely, a residual torque is
transmitted to the transmission input shaft when the engine is running.
This inhibits the release and meshing of the sliding sleeve, in the
transmission, at the end of the synchronization process. Turning the
engine off relieves the input shaft of this torque thus simulating a
completely uncoupled clutch.

DIAGNOSIS 2:
If the stick shift remains at the resistance point, there is a problem in
the external gear shift linkage or in the transmission.

CAUSE:

DIAGNOSIS 1:
Possible causes for a clutch problem as per Diagnosis 1 above are:
- - Input shaft taper splines not lubricated properly/grease dried out.
- - Clutch disc difficult to move on transmission input shaft.
- - Clutch disc wobble.
- - Air in the hydraulic system of clutch mechanism.
- - Release bearing defective or difficult to move on the guide sleeve.
- - Clutch disc or pressure plate broken/worn out.

DIAGNOSIS 2:
Possible causes for gear shift linkage binding and/or internal transmission
problems as per Diagnosis 2 above:
- - External gearshift linkage binding (shift rod joints stiff).
- - Stick shift bellows boot incorrectly installed (positioned too high or
too low on the stick shift lever).
- - Sound deadening between the outer gear shift linkage and the body
incorrectly installed and/or distorted.

Possible causes inside of the transmission:
- - Faulty synchronization.
- - Internal gear shift linkage binding.
- - Water in the transmission fluid. (rare)

[CirrusSR22]

The best case scenario is that your clutch needs to be bled.

[aznlonewolf135]

It's diagnosis 1 hopefully i didn't mess up putting the clutch in...

[M3_KILL3R]

i have the same problem but mine was spurratic this problem came all of a sudden and it has difficulty goin in 1st and a little bit in 2nd my clutch still feels like it has life when it goes into gear but does chatter a little....also is it bad when the shifter doesnt want to go in you force it in? does that do any damage??

[cooljess76]

I could be wrong, but didn't all of this start after you replaced the clutch and had left over parts and installed the shifter backwards? I would take everything back apart and start from square one with the bently manual and follow each step by step instruction to the letter! Driving your car in it's current condition is only going to make matters worse. That's just my opinion.

[M3_KILL3R]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

I could be wrong, but didn't all of this start after you replaced the clutch and had left over parts and installed the shifter backwards? I would take everything back apart and start from square one with the bently manual and follow each step by step instruction to the letter! Driving your car in it's current condition is only going to make matters worse. That's just my opinion.

never changed the clutch tho.......same stock OEM clutch and i hadnt driven the car for about 2 weeks and the just started so my guess is that maybe some oil drained out some how or maybe the clutch needs alignment

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by M3_KILL3R

never changed the clutch tho.......same stock OEM clutch and i hadnt driven the car for about 2 weeks and the just started so my guess is that maybe some oil drained out some how or maybe the clutch needs alignment

I was directing my reply to "aznlonewolf135." I'm certain that you guys have different problems with your transmissions. His issues came about after his month long clutch replacement evolution. Your issues well, who knows. The post just before when you chimed into this thread explains things.

[M3_KILL3R]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

I was directing my reply to "aznlonewolf135." I'm certain that you guys have different problems with your transmissions. His issues came about after his month long clutch replacement evolution. Your issues well, who knows. The post just before when you chimed into this thread explains things.

loll oh sry bout that i thought you were talkin about my problem ....ya im guessing its my clutch thanks tho sry for the throwing of myself into the post

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by M3_KILL3R

loll oh sry bout that i thought you were talkin about my problem ....ya im guessing its my clutch thanks tho sry for the throwing of myself into the post

No worries M3_KILL3R, check the fluid level. If your clutch still has a lot of resistance and not too much play, then it's more than likely something else. BTW, when the car is cold and if it hasn't been driven for a while, it's normal for the shifter to feel a little stiffer than usual. As long as you're not grinding it into gear, you're okay. I'd try to drive it around for a few minutes and see if it loosens up a little.

[M3_KILL3R]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

No worries M3_KILL3R, check the fluid level. If your clutch still has a lot of resistance and not too much play, then it's more than likely something else. BTW, when the car is cold and if it hasn't been driven for a while, it's normal for the shifter to feel a little stiffer than usual. As long as you're not grinding it into gear, you're okay. I'd try to drive it around for a few minutes and see if it loosens up a little.

ya my dad said the same thing but it wasnt like that RIGHT when i turned it on. i took it for a drive it was fine i came home and about a half hour later i went to the store and it was still fine the way back from the store at a stop light i couldnt get it into gear without double clutching or forcing it in.

[aznlonewolf135]

Ya i'm going ot take your advise jess. I'm going to get some garage time and try and get it done in one sitting.

[aznlonewolf135]

I know it's been two years but just wanted to tell people that I installed my shifter on backwards

[J!m]

Most likely, the problem is the plastic shifter ball bearing and the plastic shifter linkage washers.


if it shows) # 9 & 10 in the above photo...

Edit: didn't show, and I don't want to host it right now...

CHEAP poarts at the dealer, and it will shift 100 times better afterward. replace every 50-60K miles or so.

Or, just 'dip' second gear before going into first to stop the shaft spinning. Works on all transmissions...