Syncros?

Alright, first let me say I did search, and I found threads about bad syncros and such. So if this has been answered I apologize for asking again.

Anyway. Recently my car has been having trouble shifting. When I go to put it in 1st gear, it refuses to comply. I have to let off the clutch then push it back in and put it in gear, it usually works then. Same thing for going from 1st to 2nd gear sometimes. I thought maybe its bad syncros but, it's only been doing it since its been below 0 outside so I was just wondering if its normal when it gets this cold out? Or is it syncros no matter what? just curious, dont want to take it to a tranny shop if its just happening because its so cold out.

btw, if you need to know, i drive a 97 rs. stock.

EDIT: I forgot to mention taht after about 20 to 30 minutes of driving the problem goes away.

Plus if its the syncros, how much do you think it would cost to have a shop fix?

Like with any lubricant, when it is cold it becomes thick and not as lubricating as one may think. So the problem that you are having sounds like the gear lube that you have in your tranny is cold and thick, and until the tranny warms up you will continue to have problems. Use an engine for an example, when the motor oil is cold the engine starts harder, if you have a lifter tick then you hear it even more cause of the lack of lubrication.

Just for kicks why not check the tranny fluid level to see if maybe it needs to be changed or even topped off. I hope that I'm not just talking out my ass but it just sounds right.

Has the fluid ever been changed?

I agree, sounds like the car just needs to warm up a bit. Sometimes when it gets really fuckin cold (-20 and below) I have a hard time shifting the Cavy unless its been warmed up a while. Even today when it was like -5 it shifted kinda hard. I dont think its anything to worry about.

Alright, thanks guys. I'll check the fluid on my day off *suppose to be slightly warmer out*. As far as the fluid ever been changed, not sure, I've only had the car for about a month.

Again, thanks for the responses, I appreciate it very much.

If the fluid has been changed, whoever did it might have put the wrong fluid in it.

Well this really does suck bad. I went out and let my car warm up because I had to leave for work. Got ready to go, couldn't get it in gear. Any gear, not even reverse. I tried for a few mins, its like im not pushing the clutch in at all. The rpm's just drop if I try to force it.

If I shut the car off and try putting it in gear without the clutch bein depressed, it goes in every gear. It just wont move when it's running. So now I have to miss a night of work because of this, I really do hope its just cause its cold out because I cant really afford to have it fixed, especially with me missing work now >.<

Mine does the same thing sometimes and I have a new tranny and the fluid is fine and everything. I think it is partially a matter of it being cold out, but I think theres something else too. It almost seems like your trying to force it into a gear thats not even there. Other than the cold, I have no other ideas. I'll let ya know though if I find anything out though.

Put it in gear before you crank it up.

Put it in gear before you crank it up.

Only prob with that is when I would have to change gear, I wouldn't beable to. I would have to stay in first the whole time.

If its like you say and after it warms up it works fine, then just ride in first for a little while and it should warm up the fluid enough to change gears. Or, you could at least get to work, just put it in 2nd.

If its like you say and after it warms up it works fine, then just ride in first for a little while and it should warm up the fluid enough to change gears. Or, you could at least get to work, just put it in 2nd.

Thats true, I could get to work on 2nd gear. But theres also a problem with that. My car is in the garage, and to get it out the garage I have to use reverse. Cant get there with reverse, well I could, just not without attracting some police ;) ...

Thanks for the ideas though, I think i'll stick around these forums, everyone seems pretty nice.

Yea, the forum is very helpful sometimes. Let us know when you find out what the problem is.

Ok an update. I think I narrowed it down to the clutch. I may be wrong because I'm not that bright when it comes to cars.

What makes me think that it is the clutch is today, I went out and tried it all again, with the same problem. But this time I noticed that when I try to put it in gear, it creeps forward just a bit and the rpms drop, even with the clutch pedal pressed all the way down. Now it's my understanding that when the clutch is all the way down it shouldnt try to move whatsoever.

So would my guess be correct, that its my clutch that crapped out on me?

i think it is your clutch. becuz most of the time when a clutch goes bad 1st, 2nd and reverse are the first gears to go out. i had the same crap happen to my gs.

i think it is your clutch. becuz most of the time when a clutch goes bad 1st, 2nd and reverse are the first gears to go out. i had the same crap happen to my gs.

Yea, I'm lookin for someone that repairs transmissions near my area, not having any luck thus far. Closest I can find so far is a 40 minute drive >.<

EDIT: Ok found one thats 1.7 miles away, there snaggin me a quote now. I'm a tad more relieved now.

It sounds like your is not releasing. It could be your slave or master cylinder has gone bad.

I agree. Have you checked your clutch fluid level?

Yea I checked the clutch fluid, it's full. And a friend of mine said its more likely that its the slave or master cylinder too. He said if the clutch went bad, it would have started to slip before it went out. I've never had any trouble with it slipping before, just one day I went out there and it was hard to get into gear then the next it wouldnt go in at all.

I'm going to replace the cylinders in the next day or two, until then, its time to call and get insurance on my camaro I guess.

do you hear any noises from the tranny?

No, Don't hear any noises.

You might have some air in the system? I bet its one of the 2 cylinders also. Good Luck

Ok I know this post is kinda dead but today I worked a bit on it. *Just got the master cylinder in the mail* ... So I changed the master cylinder, just need someone to come home so they can help me bleed the thing. Anyway, I started to car and let it run since it hasnt ran for a few weeks.

I just stood around lookin thru the engine bay makin sure it didnt leak from the master cylinder *dont trust myself :P* ... I glanced down and noticed a rather large puddle on the ground, I shut the car off asap. Put it in neutral and pushed out the garage so I could inspect this mysterious puddle. It has a redish hue to it when on your finger. Doesnt really smell like anything. I have a hunch its transmission oil, not sure yet, gonnna check the level later today. Any ideas though while I warm up before I head out to investigate this new problem. I dont think it has anything to do with the work i did today with the master cylinder, but cant be for sure yet. Will find out later and I'll post here to let you know what I find out and to tell you if the MC fixed my not being able to shift problem.

If the car is standard then I don't think that the fluid in the tranny should be red, it should be like a brownish unless it's burned then it would have a blackish hue to it. Has anybody else been parked in that same spot that could have leaked the fluid? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Car is manual. And its motor oil. I just checked the dipstick, no oil whatsoever in the car o.O I dont know what the hell is wrong. any ideas would be appreciated.

its prabaly the oil pan gasket. since the car was sitting for a few weeks, it had alot of time for it loose oil...if u normaly used the car, sometimes u dont notice it has a oil leak until u park it for a few days.

Ok, I know this is thread is dead but thought I would update just incase someone else out there has the same problem later on. I fixed the shifting problem. I changed the master cylinder and bled the lines, it worked but was still rough so I changed the transaxle fluid too with syncroshift II ... It shifts better than the day I got it so I'm a very happy man now.

As for the oil leaking thing, I changed the oil and there is no leak what so ever. The oil filter was EXTREMELY hard to get off, im talkin it took me like 2 hours to get it off so I'm wonderin if something F'd up there. Either way, car is back to normal so I can drive it again ;) ... Have to watch oil level still, I think my car burns oil >.<

Thats very thought full.