Trouble downshifting to 1st
 

I changed out my gear oil with redline and also did the diff. while i was at it. but recently im having troble shifting into 1st. i hear the winding noise and have a little resistance when going into first (which is normal) but some times it WILL NOT go into first unless i hold in the clutch and put it in second and then back to first it will go into gear. this mostly happens at a complete stop or when downshifting. not really annoying me or anything , as ive had this same problem with other cars ive had, but i was just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar. this problem didnt start until about 60k miles.

The same thing happened to me. I had to go back to regular Nissan fluid for it to resolve. The problem was worse when cold. One it warmed up, it got better.

I am assuming you don't have a racing transmission. Probably not a great idea to downshift into first that often. I never downshift to first unless I'm moving <5mph... Anything faster than that and you're likely to encounter difficultly getting the shift knob in gear, and doing it a lot could potentially damage something :ugh2:

Difficulty when completely stopped is different. Might want to have it looked at...

im not one to "have it looked at" i fix my own **** so dont get ripped off lol but no my tranny is stock. next time i change the gear oil ill go back to oem and see if that helps. i dont downshift to first often but when barely moving ill try to shift into first and its having some troble. havent tried to FORCE it to go, becuase ill prolly jack something up haha

I like the way you think :tup: I'm certainly no expert, but I'll clarify my thoughts a bit:

If you're having the problem trying to shift into first while moving, then that's probably something you can avoid altogether by just not doing it. Second gear should be sufficient unless maybe going uphill very slow. If you're sitting at a stoplight and you can't put it in first gear, that sounds like your synchros, which is something I would address sooner rather than later. How many miles are on the car?

sounds like OP isnt moving when he does this.... if you arnt then yea the gear oil "might" be the culprit. i used the factory tranny fluid when i did mine with no issues.

The issue is that there wasn't a problem before the fluid change- now there is.

Nothing to do with your gear oil for the symptom you are describing. Have you checked your linkage for wear?

Thank you :tiphat: I couldn't possibly understand how the gear oil could be the cause of these symptoms...

I had the same problem with royal purple. Went back to factory gear oil in the tranny and diff and also ester in the motor and the grinding went away.

Man, I never shift into first ever if I'm moving

I just don't like forcing it when there is that feeling of resistance

There is a big difference between resistance to get into gear like when the oil is cold and not going into gear such as having to put it into second in order to get it into first. The latter is not an oil issue.

Guys.... It's called first gear lockout. Many cars, ecoboxes included, that don't let u downshift to first until a certain (and very low) mph. And u should never be shifting into first while rolling anyways :facepalm:. After 10mph, 2nd gear has all the power u would ever need. Only shift into first at a complete stop.

I'm guessing what's happening, is you're trying to get ahead of yourself and throw it into first before fully stopped. Which combined with a car with a super finicky mt (i.e. 370z) then u will have problems. As stated a bunch of times before in this forum, u cannot rush or "force" this trans to do anything.

#sluggish_synchro_problems

There is nothing wrong with the mt in a 370Z for those that know how to use it. I'm in that category with many others in here. I agree with you that you will have a problem trying to down shift into first above a certain speed. I like to do this though in my vette and Z to lock up the rear wheels momentarily. But that's me and it's no worse than doing a burnout when it comes to wear and tear on the drivetrain.

:icon14:

Dude why are u doing that?? Why do u think car manufacturers make transmissions that don't allow that? just cuz its fun to do? If u shift into first at anything other than stop, u are driving a manual wrong.

Listen, i love the 370. Clearly, i bought one. but I'm also not delusional. If u think this MT couldn't use a little work (a corvette isn't exactly the industry standard in tranismissions either) then u are drinking the kool-aid a little too much. go drive ANY manual... try sticking it in first at 15mph then report back,


And burnouts don't kill synchros. jamming into first at speed does.

OP,
1. Switch back to OEM fluid
2. Stop downshifting into 1st while moving.

Has anyone given Redline any feedback on their fluid's effects on the Z tranny?

I shift down to first at around 20mph. But I dont use SRM but heel toe and it shifts smooth as butter. But when everything was royal purple I was getting the 5th gear grind. Everything fluid wise went back to OEM and no grinding in 5th anyomore.

20 mph?!? :shakes head: And if you're having troubles getting the shift knob in gear at that speed, that's the car telling you you're doing it wrong...

I will agree that SRM is pretty bad at downshifting to 1st. I can rev match myself better. But downshifting into first at 20 mph is pointless and almost guaranteed to cause you problems down the road. The only reason I ever downshift to 1st is when I'm slowly approaching a red light that turns green before stopping and when I'm approaching my driveway to avoid scraping.

Dude, driving it 'wrong' huh? Didn't know you were an automotive authority on how to drive a manual. But I'll drive my manuals the way I want. Been doin' it for 40 years. Funny, never had a manual fail yet. Back on topic. Gear oil doesn't jam gears as the op is describing and the mt is pretty stout for the Z and shifts good if your an 'authority', lol, like me. Oh, ten easy steps. That's for girls, dude. Can't you tell the difference? Report back when you do.

I have to ask too...why do you want to shift into 1st at anything above walking pace? Makes no sense. Maybe on the race track, but with the right gearing not even necessary there.

Idk what u want me to say? Ok so u have been driving a manual wrong got 40 years? Funny that u say that article is "for girls". I asked my girlfriend just now, "babe, when do u downshift into first?" She responded, "only at a stop light. Is this a trick question?" Funny that even my girlfriend knows better. And secondly i find it odd that u think girls can't drive manuals. Save that sexist crap for another forum.

I want u to tell me what logical reason u have for shifting into first at speed. Cuz I'm pretty sure chirping your tires on a downshift isn't one

Theoretically, if your car is moving and changing gears based on speed, the driver is operating it correctly, maybe not smoothly, but it is working. Just like anything, you can always take it a step further... Double clutching, rev matching, heel toeing, etc. I wouldn't call it incorrect to shift to first if not at a complete stop, just out of the norm. I'm definitely no qualified expert, but I'm not going to tell my Wife she doesn't know how to drive stick because her habits differ from mine. Synchros and clutches wear out over time, some driving habits preserve them much better than others.

:iagree:

:iagree:

Yes, it is not the norm. I didn't say I do it all the time, everytime, I drive a manual. I just get a kick out of locking up the rears momentarily coming to a stop. Some people are just too wrapped up in themselves to read what others are saying. Hey, I do it downshifting into second sometimes too. Big f'n deal. But for others to come in and say if you do that you don't know how to drive a manual is just being ignorant. Also, I doubt there is any more or any less wear and tear on the drivetrain compared to a burnout, speed shifting, etc. Done. :driving:

PS - My mt works just fine and speed shifts without issue. Anyone care to speculate on why my mt works good and doesn't for others? Now might be the time to talk about not knowing how to shift a manual.

Ugh i got way too worked up on this thread earlier. Just one of those days i guess. To each their own

Edub, I like your rims, haha. And your car is facing the wrong direction, turn it around like mine :P

Thanks SS. And i need to throw my pic in my avatar... Or u put yours in your sig. One of the 2 lol

I stated I have no problems dropping into first at 20, it is only like 3.5k rpm. Simple heel toe blip and slides right in with no issues at all. No jerking or nothing. Then just gently hit the brakes to stop at the white line. Pretty simple. I will note the SRM on this car suxs IMO. Dont like the down shift from it, the motor feels like it is bein held at the lower gear RPM for a split second before the SRM lets go and lets the tranny brake the motor, and dont like how it hangs the upshift. Just not my cup of tea.

You know, it's only until very recently that other cars have their own version of SRM. BMW M5-M6, Porsche 911, Cayman, and the new Corvette, all considerably more expensive than the 370Z

It is so people that cant heel toe now can look like someone that learned how to drive a manual the right way. Some 45 year old women is going to be pulling into neiman marcus and sound like a circuit driver in the parking garage.... No different than the cars that have speakers that pump faux exhaust noise in the car and under the hood.... It is to help people drive, sort of like crutches for someone with a broke leg, helps them walk. It is never going to be as good a manual imput. Same reason why GTR engines are assembled by human hands and not robots.

But that is my .02

technology isn't a crutch. its an advancement. helping people to drive smoother and not have to heel toe on the street is nothing to look down upon. hell, one of the purest auto companies in the world (porsche) is switching over to SRM and pdk systems on most of their cars. times are changing man

I still stand behind the fact a machine will never be able to replicate a human response perfectly. Hence why exotic cars and even our own nissan skyline, the most important parts are all assembled by hand.

It is a option that one brand started, majority of the community liked it because heel toe was something that they didnt want to spend years perfecting and practicing. Now other makers are following suit. And this is only my .02 on the SRM on the 6spd. No comment on the 7spd. It is an option to help you, but doesnt mean it is better than doing it yourself. I am not bashing the people that use it be any means nor looking down upon them, just stating my dislike for the way the systems operates in my car. I have turned it on maybe a total of 3 times in the 20k miles I have driven. Each time was to give it another shot, and each time I turned it back off due to the feeling I got from it when driving it. Some might not notice it, but I do.

I am a manual transmission purist. Been solely driving a manual for going on 16 yrs. I heel toe in any car I get in, just second nature now. Just the way my feet move, I dont even notice it. I have friends ride with me and as we are coming to a stop I am downshifting and after a few mintues they always ask what I am doing with the car to make it downshift like that. Even friends that have modified cars comment about how I am doing that. It is something that is kinda hard to get the grasp of, but once you do it becomes second nature. I will state that when someone is trying it out or practicing it, it can be entertaining to watch.

I'll respectfully disagree with the latter statement about SRM. It's not because no one wanted so spend the time to learn it. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Smoother engagements on up and down shifts mean longer life on drivetrain parts. Money back in the manufacturer's pocket. Not only that, it's a definite safety feature on a missed shift, the car won't rapidly change wheel speed when it's engaged. And most importantly for us who have it, it's one less thing to think about it when playing track warrior on the weekends. More time focused on brake points, hitting the apex and your immediate surroundings. For gentlemen such as yourself, turn it off. I'm pretty sure most women who happen to somehow find themselves in a SP Z or Nismo won't be downshifting when coming to a stop, they will most likely just press the clutch in and either put it in 1st or neutral when at a stop.

IMO, the 370z transmission does not like being thrown into 1st at anything higher than 10 miles an hour.

I personally won't shift into first at anything faster than 5 or so- I treat it just as a very short gear to get the car moving and keep clutch wear down as opposed to starting in 2nd and possibly overfeathering the clutch.

Tracking you car means any damage done shouldnt be covered under warranty. But none of us will openly admit we are doing that.

SRM is just a feature. If it was meant to prevent damage and what not and if that was its sole purpose then why have the option to turn off or on. The 7at downshifts no different when referencing the rpms at which you drop down into. And they have no option on that, all computer controled. When you get good at it, it is just second nature, you dont even think, just react. I am still trying to get the left foot braking down, that is not something I try on the streets. Been known to jab and not press.

When you get good at doing it yourself, you will find the flaws. Even humans mess up sometimes though.

I was only referring to on road performance except my last comment regarding warranties. I definitely understand where you are getting at. Being Military, we train until it's muscle memory. SRM doesn't always like to engage 1st, but in every other gear, even a race car driver will fail more times than SRM. Every notable magazine has said this. When watching video's, almost every one I've seen has the driver using SRM. Yes it's still considered a novelty, but I see it as being the standard every manufacturer moves to now that it's been proven to enhance the experience for most. Be happy ours is defeatable :) The Cayman M6 is always on.

I wouldnt buy a car that controls everything, if it is going to be my "fun" car. That is one thing I like about ours. I can almost turn everything off. Hence why I would love to get a viper. And cars that are truely oriented and marketed at being a track car are using dual clutch set-ups now. I want a three pedal config with nothing else. I am not looking to make a lively hood of racing nor even get some trophy. I just plain ole enjoy driving a manual. Wont have it any other way. In heavy stop and go traffic or cruising down the hwy. I had my friend drive my other car home the other day, it has a 6 puck unsprung CC clutch with a 7.5lb fidanza flywheel. I shed like almost 35lbs just at the transmission housing. That thing is narly to drive, but once you get use to it, smooth as butter. He was like HOW THE **** DO YOU DRIVE THIS AROUND TOWN?

IMO the 2 statements above contradict each other. u can't say u want the ultimate man/machine interaction, then use the GTR as an example.

i kinda feel like your argument went full circle in those 2 statements


I believe a machine can do a simple task, such as torquing a bolt to a certain spec, as precisely (if not more) than a man.sucks to say, but its true. and when an engine builder assembles something, does he not count on electronics (such as digital torque wrenches) to complete his task?

ive just rolled over 60k

dont know if thats exactly the issue or not, but either way ive had this problem in the past every so often even before i switched to redline. like i said its not something that is bothering me too much or going to ruin the tranny or anything i was just curious about this since its been more common lately. i was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem with higher milage, but some people want to pretty much say i dont know how to drive so whatever. im stationed in ms right now so it doesnt get too cold maybe like 35 at the lowest. so im not sure :icon14: