Tough Shifting

[livelyjay]

Now that the temperature is dropping, I have been having a tough time shifting from 1st to 2nd. I changed the tranny fluid to Redline about 30000 miles ago. Is it time for a change of fluid? Should I run GM Synchromesh instead? Could this be the shifter bushings going bad?

 

[BOOSTR]

I wouldn't change it if the condition goes away once the oil comes up in temp and the shifting gets smoother. Does the shifter feel sloppy when you move it side to side? There are some small rubber bushings on the shift rod that can deteriorate over time; you might want to check those if its sloppy.

 

[theEZV]

I've had a tough time shifting from first to second ever since i got the car, feels like there is a like a bump or something.....

How often are we supposed to change the tranny oil? I bought the car at 36k, now its at 46k

 

[livelyjay]

I wouldn't change it if the condition goes away once the oil comes up in temp and the shifting gets smoother. Does the shifter feel sloppy when you move it side to side? There are some small rubber bushings on the shift rod that can deteriorate over time; you might want to check those if its sloppy.

I wouldn't know because my commute into work is only 17 minutes each way. I don't think the tranny gets time to warm up completely. The shifter does not feel sloppy, it's just difficult to get into second gear. I'll check the bushings any ways if I get the time to do the oil filter relocation this weekend. FMI though, how many miles between tranny fluid changes? It might be due for a change any ways.

 

[BOOSTR]

I couldn't find anything in either owners manual pertaining to manual gear oil change interval. I would think that synthetic oil's would have no problem going more than 30K. I'm thinking about switching to this from Amsoil when I change mine https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx

Sounds like you definitely need to get under there and check a few things.

 

[fr0st]

for cold weather GM syncro is nice..

 

[ChopstickHero]

I had Redline MT90 in my transmission for about almost a 1.5 years and I always had problems shifting from first to second. it would never feel smooth at all when it was cold. I later upgraded all of my shifter bushings and that helped a lot in general (all weather hot or cold). It removed a lot of play from the shifter linkages. I have the Kartboy bushings and Corksport bronzeoil shifter bushings. I switched to Royal Purple tranny fluid and it is just a tad smoother.