just wondering if anybody is having troubles with their stick shifts getting sticky when shifting. i'm really disappointed because the car has been like that ever since i bought it two years ago. it's hard getting it to go into reverse sometimes. also especially when it's cold it's nearly impossible to get it into first gear (i allow ample time for the engine to warm up, too) and the only way to get it in is to come to a COMPLETE stop (waiting about a second or so). sometimes, especially if there's another car behind me, i have to put it in second just get my a** going! it takes a couple of minutes of driving to loosen up and after that it's fine. i know someone with the same exact model, 2000 SE, and it shifts a lot smoother. i drove a POS '84 bimmer and even that shifted a lot smoother than mine.
is there a fix to this problem or did i just get the shorter end of the straw? or could it be the symptoms of living in WI?

 

Change your transmission fluid to Redline or other synthetic gear oil. I cannot guarantee this will fix everythinig, but it helped in my case. Its easy to put into first gear and after sitting outside all night in the cold its pretty easy to move the shifter even before the car warms up. You might also want to get the clutch adjusted and/or the linkage(s) checked out if your car shifts a lot differently than other Maximas you've driven.

 

thanks, i'll give it a shot. i was also thinking of getting a short throw shifter in the future and wondering if this would have any effect on the situation. what about a stage II clutch?

 

Mine also does this.

The short throw shifter makes it WORSE.

I'm going to put in the Redline I've had sitting around and I hope it helps.

 

Have the dealer check the play on the clutch and have them check that the clutch pedal is completely disengaging the clutch disc from the flywheel. Any short shifter will make the throws more notchy. Clutch should not affect shift feel in anyway(other than pedal pressure)

 

I saw A HUGE improvement when I switched to Red Line MT-90. You can also somewhat adjust the shift linkage (under the stick) to allow for better/cleaner engament into the gears. I finally got my STS to work very smoothly after playing around with slightly different positioning when installing it.

 

found a place where they sell redline oil online myoilshop.com and at $7/quart, I'm willing to give it a shot. from what i've read at the redlineoil.com website it seems to be a pretty good product. question: can i get this product at the local department store or any other shop or do i have to go to a dealer or order it online?

 

Check the "Parts List" sticky(no pun intended) for a dealer code for 10% off.

So, it's actually $6.30/qt.