- I find it very difficult to get my 5-speed back into 1st gear at speeds above 5mph - even with matching the revs. Is this normal? Is there any way to fix this, like new tranny bushings?

 

Idea #1) The clutch is dragging. (A "dragging" clutch is one which does not disengage completely.) However, this problem would affect all shifts, not just into first. With the car at rest, can you shift into Reverse without grinding sounds? If so, your clutch is probably not dragging.

Idea #2) The first gear synchronizer mechanism is worn. This is a replaceable part, but the labor bill is big. If this were my car I would just "live with it".

Some Nissan owners report improved shifting after changing to a synthetic gear lube such as RedLine. Others report axle seal leaks which began immediately after installing the synthetic. My own Maxima is still running on the factory fill.

 

That's normal.

 

Don't sweat it. Just jiggle the shift left to right while on neutral then attempt first - or slightly push down to second without actually going into the gear and then push up for first.
Either one of these techniques typically cures the shift problem.
What I have heard is that this is a mechanism to prevent an unwanted downshift which may hurt the engine.
Not really a mechanism but rather something many car companies leave unfixed so you can't overrev the engine.

 

- Thank you all for your help and advice.
- Mr. Martin, fortunately the clutch isn't dragging (the reverse shift doesn't grind), and the shifter feels crisp below 5mph - so I don't think that the synchro is worn. I guess that's just how it is; safety mechanism or not. Thanks again, guys! ;-)

 

nothing to worry about. Heck, when it's really cold outside the the engine/tranny hasn't warmed up, I notice that it's notchy getting into 1st gear from a stop in my GS-R.

Nothing at all to worry about.

 

Some forum contributors said this characteristic is normal. Maybe on their cars, but not on my '99 5-speed GXE. I tested it this evening. I shifted from second to first at 20 mph without a bit of trouble.

There is a safety mechanism built into the tranny, but it has nothing to do with first gear. It prevents shifting directly from fifth into reverse. You can try this on your own car. Makes no difference if the engine is running or not. Shift into fifth, and then try to go into reverse. The tranny will slide right into fourth, just as if that is what you intended.

 

- Okay, now I'm starting to get worried. Should I be on the lookout for any symptoms that would indicate a failing part?
- Also, I'm curious... Do you have any modifications to your car, Mr. Martin?

 

Sleeper -

Where do you live? I have noticed this a little, but I think it weather related.

On my '97 and my old '91 Stanza I noticed this problem, but it was really only when it was cold outside.

On a side note, I put Redline MTF in this summer, and getting into first gear is much easier when moving.

 

I talked to a Nissan Mechanic and he said that it is a safety feature that is built into it where it does not go into first until you go below a certain speed. It is to protect the engine from blowing up. If you are going to fast and put it into first by an accident and dump the clutch.....whoops there goes your engine.

 

Signs of trouble include
- difficult shifts into all gears.
- grinding sound when shifting into any forward gear.
- humming or droning sound while driving in any forward gear.

My Maxima is a '99 GXE 5-speed "Plain Jane" model. No modifications at all. It's just an ordinary daily driver.

 

How old is your car and how many miles on it? I didn't read the part about you trying to match revs at first. If you do that, and it's still difficult, then your syncros are not the problem. You have checked the tranny fluid, right? you never know... That's pretty wierd, you're sure it just does it in 1st, not at high rpms in other gears? Any rattling or whine when you try to downshift? It's normal for it to be difficult to downshift to first at higher rpms because the syncros have problems matching up, but when you match the revs, this shouldn't be a problem. I dunno, but if you have no funny noises or other wierd shifting problems, I probably wouldn't worry about it. But if it's under warranty you could take it in for fun, though they'll probably blow you off...

[Edited by deathwish on 12-02-2000 at 10:29 PM]

 

- Sorry, but I don't think it's the weather. I live in sunny Orlando, Florida. Plus, I only drive my car after it's at least a third into the temp gauge (I call it the 3 minute rule, when speaking of a cold engine). The problem seems to be during any driving, even when the engine's been run for over 15 minutes and is completely warmed up.
- The safety feature mentioned in Drummer's reply was also discussed by Mr. Martin. The feature is only for road speeds that apply to revs above the intended gear's redline. I think that it's on all manuals in all cars. Just try shifting from 60mph into first gear - you would practically have to break the shifter to do it.
- For now, I will just hope that this is normal procedure on some Maxima's and I will look out for the symptoms that Mr. Martin kindly supplied. Thanks again, everybody.

 

I am skeptical of this "safety feature" explanation. My Owner's Manual has a table of suggested maximum speeds in each gear. Nissan says first gear is good up to 30 mph. If that's the case, why would they try to prevent a smooth shift into first at 10 mph, as reported by SleeperSE? Why does my Maxima shift smoothly from second to first at 20 mph?

 

I know when it is cold outside, like below 40, in the morning, it is difficult to get my car into first gear. .. I don't like to force it so I have to pretty much stop before being able to get into 1st, If you are wondering why I wouldn't need to stop and have to shift into first it is for going over speed bumps in my apt. complex. When they car warms up it is fine, but for like the first 5 minutes it is a pain.

No problems in the 2nd to 1st shift above 5 mph though.

 

If you double clutch it (pump the clutch in and out twice), it'll let you shift into first a lot easier.

 

I am skeptical of this "safety feature" explanation. My Owner's Manual has a table of suggested maximum speeds in each gear. Nissan says first gear is good up to 30 mph. If that's the case, why would they try to prevent a smooth shift into first at 10 mph, as reported by SleeperSE? Why does my Maxima shift smoothly from second to first at 20 mph? [/I][/QUOTE]

whoa I have driven about 6 different maximas and I never have been able to get it into first gear above 10 mph.

 

- Deathwish, the car only has 36,000 miles on it as of two days ago. We bought the car in April when it had 29,500 miles, so I have not checked the Tranny fluid - the dealer SHOULD have done that (I will leave two black rubber marks in their parking lot if they did not ;-). I will check the level as soon as I can. Although, if it was a leak, then it should get worse, right? So far, it's the same as when we bought it.
- I'll also try the double clutch idea or half-slotting it into 2nd the next time I drive it. Unfortunately, I don't have my baby up here at school with me, so that won't be for a week and a half when I get off for Winter Break. No, my little brother, who is driving it now, won't understand these things enough to try it for me. At least he drives like a grandma and hasn't wrecked it yet. Think happy thoughts for the rest of the spring semester - it's mine next year. ;-)