Hey Guys,

Just another question :D lately i've noticed that i find it hard to shift into first 2nd when the gearbox is a bit colder, but also somewhat noticeable when its been running for a while...is there a reason for this? Gearbox fluild is at a normal level as i checked that earlier this morning..

Cheers,

Miles

Apparently using better fluid can help this. I use Nulon Smooth shift GL4 with a G70 additive and I have no problems with getting into any forward gears. Cold mornings it can be difficult to get into reverse but that's because there's no syncro's for reverse.

Otherwise most recommend is Castrol SynTrax 75w-85 ($90 for 3L) or Castrol VMX80 ($50 for 5L) or if you're very keen then Redline MT90 ($140 a 3L bottle!)

could be shifter cables or the clutch slave cylinder

"Cold mornings it can be difficult to get into reverse but that's because there's no syncro's for reverse."
Wrong! Series 3 does have synchro on reverse. Why? I don't know, but my wife's does for sure. It makes you lazy and when I drive another nopn-synchro (reverse) car, i forget and crunch because I am still rolling forward when I select reverse.

Expanding theoriginal thread, my wife's TF (manual) can be a mongerl to change from 1st to 2nd - mainly when cold, but often when it is hot as well. Sometines it baulks, other times, it beats the synchro cones and snicks a bit. And no, I am not shoving the lever through the gate - it is fairly slow. Changing from 3rd back to 2nd is normally fine - it is only going up through the gears. Changing G'box oil doesn't seem to help. Anyone got any ideas - cable adjustment, anything else?

Clutch getting old?

My old TE v6 manual was bad on the 1st to 2nd gear change. Especially when cold. Bought it in 1999 with 23,xxx on the clock, ex government car, looked and drove like like new, except for the bloody 1st to 2nd gear change. Took it back to the used car mob I bought it from and complained, they reckon they changed the MTF, but it made no difference. Took it back again two weeks later, told them I reckoned the 1st to 2nd synchro was stuffed, but they said it wasn't and they (supposedly) changed the MTF again. Still no bloody difference, the 1st to 2nd change was still a bitch to get smooth, double declutching or wind it out in 1st gear and slam it through to 2nd gear was the only way to get it smooth. Gave up and lived with it for the next few years. My theory is that it was previously driven as a government fleet car by a bunch of wallies who had NFI how to drive a manual, and they managed to scew up the the 1st to 2nd synchro. Either that or there is a basic manufacturing problem with the early 3rd gen manual trans and the 1st to 2nd synchro.

i have an issue with first and second in cold also

My old TE v6 manual was bad on the 1st to 2nd gear change. Especially when cold.

My TE 3.0 Manual was the same. Don't seem to have the same issue in the '02 TJ VR-X.