help with mtx not shifting

Adrien · Post by **Adrien** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:53 pm

just bought a 01 mtx haveing trouble getting it to go in frist gear when it is cold after you drive it for ten min it gos in fine does anyone know what it could be

Post by **jonnymopar** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:33 pm

Almost sounds like it might have the wrong type of lubricant in it. Someone please confirm that for me. My 03 shifts fine even through New England winters.

CA180 · Post by **CA180** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:56 pm

Have you ever changed the fluid in the trans?

If not, I dont see how it could be the wrong fluid

Neonix · Post by **Neonix** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:46 am

Mine does this occasionally, but not enough for me to ask/worry about it. I usually just disengage the clutch, and try again. It usually goes right into first.

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:31 pm

^^ same thing....mine does it usually when i'm engine braking to a stop...i try to go in first and sometimes it's hard...dunno i have had other cars that did that also

04NeonsX · Post by **04NeonsX** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:12 pm

mine does it on every cold start so the easiest thing i do is when you come up to a stop just or if you are stopped i just dont push the clutch all the way to the floor like you would normally do. I dont know though thats always worked for me until the water temp needle starts climbin then it stops.

OB · Post by OB » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:49 am

first gear doesnt have a synchro when downshifting, so that explains hard shifting when slowing down. Double clutching can usually remedy this, but its easier just to keep the clucth disengaged and coast to a stop in neutral IMO.

as far as the original post, id look into the clutch as being the possible problem. incorrect fluid is possible, but it would likely affect all gears. then again, so would a damaged clutch. any more details?

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:14 am

orangeblastsxt wrote:first gear doesnt have a synchro when downshifting, so that explains hard shifting when slowing down. Double clutching can usually remedy this, but its easier just to keep the clucth disengaged and coast to a stop in neutral IMO.

First gear is definitely synchro'd. Older cars, alot of them, there were no first gear synchros, but there are definitely in our cars. Proof is when you're stopped with the engine running... if you can push against first without the clutch in and the trans doesn't grind, there are synchros.

I've still been thining about this first gear issue and I still can't think of anything other than wrong fluid. A clutch problem or an internal trans problem would happen all the time, not just cold. Plus, it was mentioned that the car was just purchased. The car is 5 years old. Previous owners could have done anything to it.

Adrien · Post by **Adrien** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:52 pm

That was my Question too about the fluid. We checked the fluid it don't really look that dirty, smells like what it should. not sure when it was changed, or if it was changed. mabey its normal...?? its not that bad and if you do what Neonix said and just push the clutch in again its fine.....the car was beat by the previous owner. he deffinatly was a young kid. it had an air intake, clear headlights, and the loudest most annoying fart cannon of a muffler on it.

79cutlas · Post by **79cutlas** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:23 pm

I'd check the shifter bushings, when I swapped my MTX in I didnt pay attention to the one on the transmission and it was shot, I had a hard time getting into 1st for awhile,then it was ALL gears...I ordered some boogers and it went away