problems with getting into first

[mathew82284]

For about a month now my car has been having problems with getting into first gear only. Its not all the time like maybe once in a whole week of driving this happends. The clutch is new not that old and its acting wierd on me. Basicly when im at a stop light and i try to put it into first gear wont go all the way in and if i try to push it in it grinds the gears. What i have learned to do was if it feel if it would go in and if not rev it up to about 1200 rpms then try again and its always gone in perfectly after the rev. This only happends maybe once a week.

 

[flyinghighlm]

could very easly be our 1st gear syncro, dsm's are known to have "knotchy" transmissions. Try changing your trans fluid to a full synthetic, I use mobil 1 and I know pennzoil syncro mesh is also real popular

 

[brute]

When it doesn't go in, try going back and forth from 2nd to 4th a couple times, then try going into 1st.

 

[NewTurboTuner]

Hmmmm So it only happens when you are at a dead stop?

1st off is it a stock set-up, or is it a aftermarket setup?

And are you sure it is ONLY 1st gear?
What happens when you are stopped, and you try to put it in 2nd gear?
Will it go into 2nd gear easy like it should? ...what about 3rd, 4th, and 5th? ....will it go into all of these gears easy from a stop. ((When you try this make sure the motor is running))

If you cannot get it into any gear smoothly from a stop then it sounds like your clutch disk will not fully 100% disengage. If that's the case you might be having hydraulic problems. At that point check all your hydraulic stuff like fluid, master cylinder and slave cylinder.
Also your have a friend push on the clutch pedal while you watching the Engine & Transmission.... I recently had the rear engine mount come unbolted ....this caused my engine/trans to move about 1/2 inch when I pressed the clutch. It was juuuuust enough that my clutch disk would not 100% disengage. After I popped it into 1st gear and got it rolling I didn't have any problem getting into other gears, but from a stop I had problems getting it into any gear. That was with a ACT 2600 with a harder pressure plate, so I needed all the throw I could get.... But still it was enough that when the engine/trans moved, it would not let me 100% disengage the clutch disk ....so that might be something to check too.

If it is for sure only the 1st gear.... then maybe its the 1st gear synchros or shift fork. In that case you just gotta take it to a mechanic.

But check to make sure the other gears don't grind from a stop... then let us know

 

[v8killar]

Could it be that your clutch isn't competely disengaging??

 

[mathew82284]

Hmmmm So it only happens when you are at a dead stop?

1st off is it a stock set-up, or is it a aftermarket setup?

And are you sure it is ONLY 1st gear?
What happens when you are stopped, and you try to put it in 2nd gear?
Will it go into 2nd gear easy like it should? ...what about 3rd, 4th, and 5th? ....will it go into all of these gears easy from a stop. ((When you try this make sure the motor is running))

If you cannot get it into any gear smoothly from a stop then it sounds like your clutch disk will not fully 100% disengage. If that's the case you might be having hydraulic problems. At that point check all your hydraulic stuff like fluid, master cylinder and slave cylinder.
Also your have a friend push on the clutch pedal while you watching the Engine & Transmission.... I recently had the rear engine mount come unbolted ....this caused my engine/trans to move about 1/2 inch when I pressed the clutch. It was juuuuust enough that my clutch disk would not 100% disengage. After I popped it into 1st gear and got it rolling I didn't have any problem getting into other gears, but from a stop I had problems getting it into any gear. That was with a ACT 2600 with a harder pressure plate, so I needed all the throw I could get.... But still it was enough that when the engine/trans moved, it would not let me 100% disengage the clutch disk ....so that might be something to check too.

If it is for sure only the 1st gear.... then maybe its the 1st gear synchros or shift fork. In that case you just gotta take it to a mechanic.

But check to make sure the other gears don't grind from a stop... then let us know

It does go into all other gears fine, Again this only happends about once a week so i guess i should try when it happends again. Its been replace with a stock clutch. I have never had any problems ever trying to get into 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th. It has only been first gear and only when im completly stoped. I havnt came accross it yet downshifting to first. I guess i should check my transmission fluid. Where is this located at? anyone have a picture of where the dipstick is to check it? Also what color should the fluid be?