1st Gen Manual transmission - hard to shift when cold

[ayjay]

I've got a first gen manual, and this is the first winter I've had it through, and I've noticed lately two things as its been colder:

1. It can be a bear to get into second gear when it is cold. I have to pump the clutch and work it down into the gear.

2. It "clunks" when you shift into second gear. All the other gears are pretty quiet and smooth when I shift, but unless I carefully ease it into second, I hear and feel a sort of a metallic clunk as I pull the shifter back. It seems to have become more pronounced recently, and is more pronounced when cold.

Is this fairly normal? We're talking Houston, TX winter cold, so maybe 30-45F at night...

[ayjay]

Might have found causes:

1. This is somewhat normal.

2. Oil level might be too high or low

3. Wrong type of oil may cause problems.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t756...ion_fluid.html

[Itsme]

Here is the trick... Dump the old transmission fluid and replace it with synthetic. It should stop your cold weather hard shifting.

[xtacular]

Redline MT90. Buttery smooth cold shifts. Worst case it doesn't fix your problem and it will be a drop in the bucket compared to a shop dropping the tranny and fixing it.

[wordsinbetween]

I've actually been having this issue too, this Phoenix winter has been colder than normal but the shifting thing is more of an annoyance than hindering my getting home. If it keeps up I'll probably try to change the fluid, great thread!

[SamsXE]

I changed the fluid right before winter and even on cool fall mornings it would be rough to get it into first. After the fluid change it made it much easier. Not buttery like my old honda was after a fresh fluid but definitely noticeable. I bought 6qts MT-85 from redline. Bought it off amazon.