i was just wondering how each gear feels like when u engage it. Cause i never drove any other car besides mine with a stick. Thanks. I have a 97 max se, 5spd

 

I have a 99 SE-L, I think 1st is very hard to get into. I really have to push it pretty hard. I've never heard or felt any grinding or anything, it just takes alot more force. Second gear is about half that, and 3, 4, and 5 are super easy.
I've also had a '90 RX7 that was much harder to get into first than the rest of the gears, but every gear was twice as smooth as my Max.
Before that, I had an '87 Escort 4-speed, and all four gears were like butter... you didn't hardly have to push at all.

 

the max's gearbox is well... i guess a family cars gearbox... it doesnt take to well to hard shifting like a sports car usually does (from my experience) the 1st is hard to get in... more than a coupla times when i wasnt paying attention i've shifted into 3rd...
what do you wana know?
there are alot of sweeter gearboxes out there.. haha try beemers.. or even the new Cavaliers 5spd.. its a Getrag and it has some crisp action... the max... well its only so so

 

Get some Redline tranny fluid and it will solve 99% of that tough shifting...

 

It's very difficult to describe in words how a gear change feels. The best thing to do is find another 5-speed 4Gen Maxima and ask the owner to let you have a five-minute test drive. You will know right away if his car shifts better than yours, or just the same.

 

I got the same problem. The smoothness sometimes actually changes as well. Lately it's been really hard to get into 1st. I wish they made smooth short throw shifters for our cars.

 

i have to differ from most. i feel that the shifting on my maxima is extremely easy. they just fall into place. ive just recently started having problems with my shifting though, sometimes it gets really tough to throw the gears.

 

Things which can cause excessive effort to shift gears with a manual transmission ...
- worn synchronizers
- low lubricant level in transmission
- damaged pilot bearing
- dragging clutch
- bent or cracked clutch release lever
- defective clutch actuator
.. low fluid level
.. air in clutch hydraulic system
.. internal leak in clutch master cylinder

 

Almost any manual is hard to get into 1st gear. Many of them have lockouts to keep you from accidently shifting into 1st at too high a mph. My Max is better shifting than my old 90 CRX Si or 86 Accord LXi. If you want smoother engagement into 1st, try rev matching into 1st (ie bring the revs up as you shift into 1st).

Dave

 

The tranny in the Maxima is weird. It does not have a pilot bearing. Look at my input shaft from my 95 Maxima.

 

yup its true that some gears like reverse have the lockout... but what i noticed and justmax was that 1st just naturally takes more force to get into... well i know with older manuals you had to align the teeth of the gear when you stopped so you could easily get into 1st from nuetral... but the max's tranny should have beveled gears... but i duno why 1st is still such a tough gear to get into...
hmmm maybe it is the lock out... but its kinda weird... haha

 

I only find it hard to engage any gear when am in the wrong speed, wrong gear zone ie selecting second gear at a speed suitable for third.The gear will initially "refuse" to engage then when it does, prepare for a rodeo style bucking. By the way reverse require's me to engage and disengage the clutch twice.