Going into 1st gear

[ZTSI]

Is it normal that my 1g will only shift into first when I am practically at a complete stop? When coming to a stop light or something I cannot put my car into 1st until its at about 5 mph or less. My car is pretty much stock except for a shot shifter and stiffer bushings. Is this normal or is clutch or tranny going bad?

 

[snake679]

That seems to be a common problem with the DSM's when the tranny starts to get worn out. Mine did the same thing. Just something that you will have to live with until you are ready to tear into it and replace some syncros.

 

[Blam]

whats the labour costs for replacing synchros? mine is like that as well...but not as bad. and only in the morning when my car is warming up

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by ZTSI
Is it normal that my 1g will only shift into first when I am practically at a complete stop?

Yup, as with practically any other car. Until you become adept at double-clutching to get the MUCH slower (and heavier) gear closer to the speed of the main cluster. Better tip: use second if you're moving at all.

 

[eric95]

i thought this is a safety feature so you don't mis shift into first.

on my friends beamer he can't shift from 5th to 2nd easily, cause it's common for retards going to downshift to 4th hitting 2nd by accident and blowing their tranny up.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by eric95
i thought this is a safety feature so you don't mis shift into first.

No. If you hit the 1st gate by mistake, someone should take away that hook you have for an arm. It's just a matter of mechanical force, the braking bands won't get the synchronizer ring up to a near-enough speed to eliminate grinding.
The safety feature is that your shifter fork will bend (or break), getting your car off the road and safe from further abuse from the mechanically dis-inclined and shiftually-inept.