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1G Occasionally wont go into first gear

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Smilinjay

Proven Member
290
97
Jul 9, 2013
Anchorage, Alaska
So I was at a stop light earlier today, and when the light turned green my car would not go into first. It would go about halfway in then put up lots of resistance. After fumbling around for a few seconds, I put it in reverse, slightly let the clutch out, and it popped right back into first. My trans has never given me an issue like this. I did the syncro test (try putting the car in gear without the clutch and see if it gives resistance and bogs, or just grinds) and all gears did fine. It seems like this problem only occurs if I take it in and out of first 2-3 times without moving. If I put it in a different gear and slightly let the clutch out, it will go into first again no problem. Is this a syncro issue? Perhaps to much slack in the shift cables? Would it be worth the effort to flush the trans and replace fluid with redline? Car is a 1990 tsi awd with about 100,000 miles, and it was stock for the first 99k.
 
When is the last time the car had maintenance done on any of the clutch components?
Act 2100 was installed about 3k miles ago. Also the flywheel was resurfaced and clutch pedal was adjusted.
 
nothing with the master or slave cylinder? To me it sounds like it could be your master cylinder
 
nothing with the master or slave cylinder? To me it sounds like it could be your master cylinder
Yea those are still original. Thanks, ill look into that as a potential solution.
 
Had a similar issue like above.

replaced both slave and master clutch cylinders and no more issues.

Both were leaking past the pistons and filling up the boot with fluid.

Took me about an hour to do replace both, fill, bleed and adjust pedal linkage.
 
I always had a habit of putting the car in 2nd and then 1st after a complete stop at the lights before I take off

Sounds like the shafts are still spinning and blocking the engagement. If the gear oil has never been changed, start there. Go with the mt90. It's a proven performer.
 
Had a similar issue like above.

replaced both slave and master clutch cylinders and no more issues.

Both were leaking past the pistons and filling up the boot with fluid.

Took me about an hour to do replace both, fill, bleed and adjust pedal linkage.
Thanks, well i hope thats the issue. It makes sense except why would the tranny go into reverse with no issue. Wouldnt it lock me out of all gears.
I always had a habit of putting the car in 2nd and then 1st after a complete stop at the lights before I take off

Sounds like the shafts are still spinning and blocking the engagement. If the gear oil has never been changed, start there. Go with the mt90. It's a proven performer.
Thanks for the comment. Actually it goes into gear fine the first try (without going into second), but if i pop it back out of gear thats when it doesnt want to go back in. Having said that, i really want to try redline mt90
how many miles on transmission.
Its the stock transmission so 100,000 miles
 
So I checked the clutch fluid and it was brown and murky. From what I hear this is a good indication of a bad slave cylinder.
 
Pull the rubber boot back on the inside of the car on the clutch rod. If you have fluid there, need to replace the master cylinder. The seals wear out and it is a service item. Do the slave as well since you're going to be replacing the fluid. While you're doing the slave, nows a good time to put a stainless steel line to replace the rubber one that's going to pop with all that new pressure.
 
Pull the rubber boot back on the inside of the car on the clutch rod. If you have fluid there, need to replace the master cylinder. The seals wear out and it is a service item. Do the slave as well since you're going to be replacing the fluid. While you're doing the slave, nows a good time to put a stainless steel line to replace the rubber one that's going to pop with all that new pressure.
I didn't even need to pull the boot back... The entire front of the boot was wet with fluid :hmm:. Thanks for the suggestion. Im hoping this is the cause of the issue.
 
If it's wet, the seals are failing. You lose pressure at that point. Honest, replace the rubber line and the slave. They have just as much exposure to the brake fluid as the master cylinder. The braided stainless line is cheap, and it will improve the pedal feel. Standard upgrade when replacing this stuff.
 
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