Wondering if anybody experiences this. Every so often, I find that when I fully depress the clutch pedal and try to shift into 1st (from a stop), it's a bit notchy. It's kind of hard to describe, but it requires a bit of force, not a lot, but a little more than normal. It feels like I'm trying to push it past some notch. Most of the time it's smooth. Anyone else experience this?

Just thought it was kind of weird. This is my first manual car, so I'm not sure whether or not this is normal.

 

Seems like a few people experience "notchiness". There was also mention of people getting their tranny's replaced because of this. Did this resolve the problem?

I also replaced my shift **** and I followed the instructions (use two wrenches, etc.) to try and make sure the shaft wouldn't rotate. But I'm worried that it still knocked something out of alignment. Would incorrectly removing my **** cause this type of behaviour? What does it feel like if the shaft was thrown out of alignment?

 

ye i have it its probably bedcause the rogue shifter doenst fit in the gate 100%

 

mine feels good going into first. I would say going from 1st to 2nd could be a bit notchy at times.

 

Anyone know how to tell if the linkage is screwed up somehow? A linkage problem wouldn't cause the notchiness, would it?

 

Apparently theres no synchro for 1st so that could be why.

 

most manual cars are like this.

 

If you had this problem all of the time I'd suspect the linkage, but since you say the difficult engagement only happens occasionally it's almost certainly something commonly referred to as shifter blocking. It happens from time to time to virtually all cars with manual transmissions. If you have trouble shifting into 1st from a stop, shift to neutral, let the clutch out, put the clutch back in, and try again. You should find that the transmission now goes into gear easily.

 

i have the same experience but only wen im downshifting into first its harder to put into 1st

 

Go test drive a WRX, then you'll feel much better about it... When I first got my G35, I remarked on how easy it was to out into first gear.

 

I've driven manual Prelude, manual WRX, Manual z3, 325ci and g35 coupe.

They're all notchy sometimes. You just have to come close to a stop to put it back to 1st.

Putting the gear into neutral before goin to 1st also helps

 

Speed up the input shaft a little and it will go right in. I.E., tap gas gently.

 

Thanks guys, that makes me feel a bit better. Anyone know what the theory is behind notchy gating?

 

yeah mine gives me trouble in 1st and 2nd from time to time. but then i get pissed and just SHOVE it in. solves the problem. if something breaks...ring ring to the dealer

 

There's what I do with my WRX:

When downshifting when the car is still moving (DONT do that on a stop), put on neutral, release clutch pedal, rev to approximately the rev you would be at if you were already in 1st gear considering the speed you're going at, push back on clutch pedal before stopping to rev and shift.

If it doesn't work, you didn't rev high enough. If it grinds when you try to put it on 1st gear, you reved too much. I'm not a mecanician but I strongly doubt that over reving is good for the transmission so be careful. But once you get used to it you can do it correctly all the time.

If you're at a full stop, just do the same thing WITHOUT reving the engine.