Hard getting into 1st gear

[jaffa_cree]

Let me try paint you guys a picture.
Gear is in neutral and car at a complete stop with the clutch pedal depressed.
Clutch pedal pressed down and attempt to shift into 1st.
It feels like something is blocking the path to the 1st gear, so i let the gear stick go back to neutral. With the clutch pedal still pressed (have not released it), i make a second attempt, and this time it will slide in smoothly.

I repeated this numerous times, and it seems like 1st try there is something holding onto or blocking the path, and subsequent shifts are silky smooth.
This usually happens on cold starts, but after the engine has warmed up and been driving around for awhile, the 1st try gets smoother and smoother.

Is this a problem?

[yourfather]

when you're in neutral press the clutch a couple of times up and down, then try.

[Menthu Rae]

Pretty normal I guess... just synchro wear and tear... my 1st gear can be a biatch sometimes, especially when the car isn't fully warmed up yet.

Keep in mind, you do have McChooks car... so... it's not like a lude that's had a 60yro grandma driving around in it it's whole life... despite servicing, things still go through wear and tear - and when driven hard, the situation obviously doesn't become any better.

[wynode]

Or could just bet the clutch not dissengaging properly. Try flushing your clutch fluid. Worst case its something wrong with the clutch itself!

[preludacris]

yeah i just let the clutch out and press back down again , or i blip the throttle a bit .


so u got mcchooks old car ? nice man . did it come stock ?

[jaffa_cree]

yeah i just let the clutch out and press back down again , or i blip the throttle a bit .


so u got mcchooks old car ? nice man . did it come stock ?

Stripped back to stock standard bar the exhaust.

[fusionprelude]

id say u got a stuffed clutch my friends car does it too.

[shallot]

i've got the same problem with my 2000 model prelude. Any suggestions? Just replace the clutch?

I've also had another problem, when in 1st gear, uphill, start moving forwards, there is sometimes a grunding noice. Anyone know what is going on?

Thanks.

[racinghonda]

Sounds like clutch to me too. McChook drove his car hard, but he has a great deal of mechanical sympathy, he doesn't thrash it. Its just the clutch wearing out. When it doesn't want to go in, try going into 2nd then 1st.

[BigWillieStyles]

Thats just normal mate, gearboxes feel different from car to car, i dont think its the clutch!

You can check your transmission fluid and get the slave master cyclinder changed, both which could fix the problem.

But i reckon thats just normal mate, same as mine, i just go back to second and back into 1st if its being a real bitch, or compress the clutch a few times!