For all you V6 manual guys or people who know about them.

[Solorange]

I was just wondering if your cars do this. When I downshift into first gear in my car sometimes its really tough to put it in gear. The gears dont grind or anything so the syncros arent bad in that respect. But is it something that just happends with age or do you think the syncro is wearing out. Or is there some sort of way the tranny doesnt let you go into 1st gear until the car is going slow enough? Thanks in advance!

['00vegas-solara]

I've got 55,000 miles on my '00 and I have the same problem. I usually shift
to 2nd then 1st. It helps somewhat.

[DatSRBoi]

I think no one can do it. Just a safety standard to advoid accidental clutch dropping and cauing the car to over rev and blow when your driving down to a stop.

[CASTRO]

^ it is correct what Dats said, but if you really wanted to get it in gear, rev-match by blipping the throttle and te synchros should let you pop it in gear. Its harder to do and more sensitive on fwd cars, but in rwd cars, its a common practice for slowing down/breaking the rear end loose in drifting.

[Solorange]

I figured as much. I just had problems getting into gear with my camaro cause the syncros were going bad. So I just wanted to make sure. I normally only need to get into first when Im slowing down for a light that turns green and Im going slow enough that I need first gear. Or when Im driving it hard and Im about to enter one of those "suggested" 10mph turns at like 25mph. I just like coming out of the turn in 1st cause I can get more acceration out of the turn. What do you mean by blipping the throttle?

[that1mexguy]

Yeah i've noticed the same on my ride and like the others, I do believe it's some sort of safety feature.

[Turbosolara]

it is normal for most of manual transmission. you can put in reverse first and then put in the 1st. always works

[Ian]

I don't see the reason why anyone would want to do it. I was always told that first gear is there to get your car moving.

In any event, every manual I have ever driven, from Toyota, to Porsche, to VW, etc., are all difficult to put into first gear if your rpms are up.

[Solorange]

Come to think of it my old camaro did it too. But I just want to be in first when im going like 15mph or slower.

[camryman]

Why dont yall just shift into neutral when slowing down. It is alot easier. Then shift into proper gear.

[Aaron]

Mine does the same thing, but also when im at a stop (sometimes) it is hard to go in first.

[Mandarinsolara]

you should always match rpms (or at least somewhat) going into any gear, even upshifting (but upshifting pretty much gives you an automatic rpm match, or close to it with good smooth shift timing)

otherwise, you are eating up synchro

think about it, the bigger the rpm gap the synchro has to adjust for, the more its going to wear

really fast shifting, and half clutching doesnt help either

[SC V6]

your technically not supposed to drop it into first when your moving... at least that is what I noticed.. its weird

[Solorange]

Why dont yall just shift into neutral when slowing down. It is alot easier. Then shift into proper gear.

I do slow down and stop being in neutral. Sometimes I downshift if I know im not goint to come to a complete stop. But im just saying when the light turns green before I come to a complete stop and Im rolling around 5mph to 10mph I would like it to go into first.

[TRD_solaRa]

you should always match rpms (or at least somewhat) going into any gear, even upshifting (but upshifting pretty much gives you an automatic rpm match, or close to it with good smooth shift timing)

otherwise, you are eating up synchro

think about it, the bigger the rpm gap the synchro has to adjust for, the more its going to wear

really fast shifting, and half clutching doesnt help either

yea i agree . . . but you should try NOT to downshift into 1st as much as possible . . . that definitely will eat up your transmission a lot quicker. I have a 1999 w/ 46,000 and I haven't ever had this problem you guys are talking about. I have only shifted into 1st gear when my car is traveling less than 15 mph or so . . . I really hope I don't run into this problem later tho . . . (crossing fingers)