I have a new OEM clutch with only 12K miles on it. The original lasted around 182K miles. I have difficulty sometimes getting into rev or 1st, right after I start the car. I also sometimes have difficulty finding 3rd when I want to downshift on the highway, if I am in 5th and want to skip down to 3rd, to pass someone quickly.

Any thoughts on what is causing these problems?

Thanks!

 

What kind of lube are you using in your transmission?

When I bought my 1st SE 5MT the previous owner must have let Pep Boys put anything in the transmission. Needless to say it shifted crazy.. Yep I had the 3rd gear problem too..

Once I got the correct lube in it, the crazy shifting cleared up.

Talkinghorse in the classified section sells some great GL4 syn lube for our transmissions.

Here's a link.

https://maxima.org/forums/group-deal...ailable-2.html

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I've never had a tranny before, but I suppose KY or Astroglide?

 

 

I see what you did there.

 

Good catch.. Must have scared off the OP..

 

On a more serious note, could be GL-5 or worn syncros. Many transmissions I've driven were difficult in first and reverse. I just shifted into another gear first to stop the input shaft spinning.

The 5th to 3rd downshift may be a worn bushing. Don't recal the name of it, but it's mounted to the body just behind and the shifter.

Now it's time for bed, yay for graveyard.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I've been paying closer attention and the shifting isn't as bad as I thought. I may just roll with it and see how things go. Years ago, I had the slave cylinder replaced because it would not go into 1st or Rev at all, and my current situation is nowhere near as bad as that was.