I just bought a 07 spec tc with a manual transmission.

Once in a while when I try to shift into 1st it doesn't feel smooth and I feel like I'm forcing it in there.
Sometimes the shifter gets stuck and will not engage into 1st gear.
Other times it shifts into 1st like butter.
Its happens randomly.
Sometimes I'll also hear a whirling noise when it won't engage into 1st.

Anyone else have this problem?
I tried searching and got nothing.

I'll be bringing the car in soon but just wanted to see if it's a common problem.
Thanks.

 

I have 23K miles on my 06 manual and have no problems. It might be the speed you are going while trying to go into first.

 

At what speed do you try to shift into first?

 

Speed doesn't matter.
I could be at a dead stop or trying to downshift.

Car being cold / warmed up or outside temps don't matter either.

It happens randomly.

 

I have the same problem but I drive an 05
it feels like something in the middle stops it right?

 

^^^YES!!!

It feels like it has to get over a bump to fully engage into first.

 

I have the exact same problem. No explanations from the dealer either supposibly this is "ok"

 

i got the same too with my 06. i thought it might just be me. but it still kinda does it with my short shifter too.....

 

Same thing going on with mine. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

 

Some where along the lines this got overlooked. Either it was looked into and not fixable or was completely overlooked.

 

I have got something to worry about when I have someone behind me honking at me because I can't get my car to move. I end up jamming into 2nd then to first. CRUNCH CRUNCH. This isn't going to last any longer than the warranty at this rate...

 

sychro's just a little off... let go of clutch, push back in... and shift into first..

same thing happens sometimes with Reverse..

 

um... first thing i recommend is not downshifting into first. There is no need... unless your trying to stop really, really, fast w/o the brake.

Second thing is, if your stuck and can't go in first gear, take off in second gear. I skip first gear all the time. And if you take off in second gear, DEFINATELY dont down shift back into first... that's pointless to go from 2 to 1 to 2 to 3...etc.

 

change the tranny fluid to redline? i never had this problem but the shifting was sure improved with the redline mt90.

 

I get the same problem in my camry I got no answers but it does happen at very random times but it usually happens to me when I'm in like 4th then stopping ahead and instead of nutraling it out I throw it into first and keep the clutch down.

 

first has a very different ratio than all your other gears, and as such, the 1st gear synchro has a LOT of work to do. Sometimes, even after you stop, the shaft might be spinning, which is why you feel the stop.

The stop is the synchro working. DO NOT force the shifter through the stop, you will wear your synchros much more than is normal. This is also why one shouldn't bang shifts, because you *will* eventually misshift this way...

Just hold it gently against the 1st gear gate until it goes in (or double clutch as Squall said). But really, you shouldn't need 1st unless you're below 5mph or stopped.

 

Happens to me to, I have an 07, i usually double clutch it or as the post above me says, hold it there till it goes in. not really a big deal, i only put it in first when im at a stop and it doesnt happen all the time so whatever. good to hear this is "normal" i guess

 

I just want to know why bother downshifting into first gear anyway... there is no, and absolutely no reason why you should need or want to down shift into first. If you try to shift into first and it doesn't want to go, it's for a reason...

It frustrates me to think of you forcing into first gear...

 

I know a reason - to start from a stop. This little transmission stumbling happens from a stop too. I just noticed it the other day when my passenger asked me what I was doing; I realize I just automatically double clutched.

Yea it's no big deal as far as anyone I've asked knows.

 

^Maybe i'm misunderstanding... when I think downshifting into 1st I think of a vehicle in motion and the driver going from whatever gear they are in to another gear or 1st while still in motion. There's a difference in doing that than shifting into first gear from a dead stop...

The thing the original poster mentioned that concerns me is the "whirling" noise... and that usually occurs when someone shifts into 1st gear while not at a stop.