Difficulty Shifting (1st and 2nd) - New Issue?

[SwingLo]

I've had my car for almost 3 years and have put 30K miles on it (around 47K total).

Just had it at FVMC and TJ put a new radiator in.

Anyway, was driving the other day and it's random, but it's now difficult to shift into 1st and 2nd. Usually have to double clutch it. It's intermittent - doesn't do it every time, but it's never done it before in 30K miles of driving. Granted, it's been cold out (say 35 degrees). Supposed to be 53 tomorrow so I'll definitely get it out driving to recreate the issue.

I've searched and seen a few threads about it being an adjustment needed to the shift linkage.

Anyone else experience this? Fix?

And it's not a 'they all do that'. As noted, in 30K miles of driving, I've never had an issue and now the shifting is wonky.

[Elige]

Upshift or downshift, or both?

[SwingLo]

Originally Posted by Elige

Upshift or downshift, or both?

Hmm - good question. I think both. I know for sure that 1st up into 2nd was a challenge.

[Formula313]

check your heater hoses. on could have got snagged in your trans shifter
i couldn't get into first for like a month and finally i noticed i had a huge coolant leak only to find that putting it in first was slowly tearing the hose that was caught in the way.

[glb]

When was brake fluid last changed?

What lubrication is in trans? I use Redline MT-90, much better. Cold temps will affect the lube.

[yellow99s]

Check at the shift lever where the the ball joint snaps into the cable. Mine had A LOT of play at that point (riveted together). I welded it.

[SwingLo]

Ok - just drove it again and it was next to impossible to get into 1st or second.

Add to that - when I go into reverse (lift up collar) it actually goes forward (first I believe).

Sounds to me like shifter cable needs adjustment.

Here's a dumb question. There are two cables - the shifter cable and crossgate cable. Do each control shifting into different gears?

The issues are only with reverse, first and second.

[t955152]

i think you need to get it checked soon just for your safety. this happened to me last year. I had a hard time shifting between 1st and 2nd at first. A month later, i couldn't get into reverse gear when I wanted to. 2 months later the entire thing broke while I was driving on highway. I could not shift gear AT ALL and I drove to Dietsch Werks all the way in 3rd gear without stopping (luckily there was no red light or stop sign) for 4 miles. Super scary experience.

this is what we found out later

[sturgeongeneral]

Have you checked your tranny fluid by chance? My buddy had a hard time shifting and his tranny was very low on fluid. Just a thought.

[Senna's Dad]

Sounds like you may need a new clutch.

[Sanj]

Jeff, realistically speaking, it should never need adjustment, something is either worn or broken. Does the problem change if the car is not running?

To answer your other question, the crossgate cable moves between 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, or R. The other cable is for the fore and aft selections, i.e. 1 to 2, 3 to 4 etc.

[SwingLo]

Ok - so just played around a bit - removed center console/etc.

Problem persists. I can't get the car into 1st or 2nd.

Now here's the funny thing - if I pull up on the reverse lockout collar I CAN get the car into first and second (and R (up and left) appears to put it into first).

I'm so confused. Going to try to get it to TJ this week before bad weather hits.

Anyone?

[Wmangm]

Sounds like your cross gate cable is somehow out of adjustment. The reverse lockout is at the shifter and only prevents you from moving the shift lever over into the reverse gate. The cross gate cable is being pushed to get to low gears and reverse if that is any help. You could have some wear at the cable ends or possibly something is bent. I have a shifter assembly sitting on my kitchen counter if there are any pics that would be useful to you.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AutoGuide.Com Free App

[SwingLo]

Yeah - as I look at the diagram, I'm thinking it's the cross gate cable as the reverse selector cable/stop arm connect to the cross gate cable arm/ball.

[komiko]

good time for the ssc cables....?

[SwingLo]

I'm thinking it might be cables, but can't be sure.

I removed the console and if I engage the reverse lift up collar, I can get it into first and second (basically it lowers the reverse gate stop arm). If I DONT live the reverse collar, the little stop tab (right below the ball that accepts the crossgate cable end) hits the stop arm and no first/no second.

Not sure why that is, but I'm assuming that reverse gate arm should be lowering to allow it into first and second? Damn, I wish I had an engineer's brain. I'm thinking it's probably the crossgate cable that went. Perhaps at the tranny end?

[Sanj]

The reverse gate arm is only lowered when you pull up the collar to shift into reverse. Something has caused the crossgate cable mechanism to go out of whack (that's a technical term, BTW), making it necessary for you to move the arm over further than normal. If everything seems unbroken at the shifter end, I would look at the eye at the end of the crossgate cable, and the little pivoting arm.

[SwingLo]

Played around a bit more and took pics.

The issue is the crossgate (moves left/right).

If you see the second pic below, that's 'standard'. The bar on the right is the reverse lockout stop bar. If you try to put it in reverse, it hits that little tab, preventing you. Straightforward.

When you engaged the lift up collar, it lowers that bar allowing it to the clear the tab (from below) to get the car in reverse.

Also, the clearance from the stop bar to the tab is about 1/2" standard. So far so good. As you can see it now, I can freely shift into 3/4/5/6 but NOT into 1st and second.

Why? Because when the shifter is slid to the left (in neutral) to engage first and second, the stop arm hits the tab (as if if it was preventing reverse). See the first pic.

From what I can see, the when you go to shift into 1/2, the crossgate cable moves BACK so that the 1/2" space between the bar and the tab is gone and they are touching. For 3/4/5/6, it moves FORWARD preserving that 1/2" space.

Is that normal?

Net net is that I simply can't get the car into first and second gear without engaging the reverse collar lift. Also, I can't get the car into reverse AT ALL. When I lift the reverse collar and shift to the far left/up 'R' position, it simply puts the car in first.

Thoughts?

[lyd]

Take a look at the coolant hoses above the gearbox. It is very possible they are obstructing the movement of the levers.

Originally Posted by SwingLo

Played around a bit more and took pics.

The issue is the crossgate (moves left/right).

If you see the second pic below, that's 'standard'. The bar on the right is the reverse lockout stop bar. If you try to put it in reverse, it hits that little tab, preventing you. Straightforward.

When you engaged the lift up collar, it lowers that bar allowing it to the clear the tab (from below) to get the car in reverse.

Also, the clearance from the stop bar to the tab is about 1/2" standard. So far so good. As you can see it now, I can freely shift into 3/4/5/6 but NOT into 1st and second.

Why? Because when the shifter is slid to the left (in neutral) to engage first and second, the stop arm hits the tab (as if if it was preventing reverse). See the first pic.

From what I can see, the when you go to shift into 1/2, the crossgate cable moves BACK so that the 1/2" space between the bar and the tab is gone and they are touching. For 3/4/5/6, it moves FORWARD preserving that 1/2" space.

Is that normal?

Net net is that I simply can't get the car into first and second gear without engaging the reverse collar lift. Also, I can't get the car into reverse AT ALL. When I lift the reverse collar and shift to the far left/up 'R' position, it simply puts the car in first.

Thoughts?

[Pooter]

Jeff, I think the cure for your shifting problem is to sell me your wheels. I'm 99% sure that will solve all your problems.