Hey guys, hope you can help me with my problem.

The car is having trouble getting into first gear when the car is moving even at slow speeds like 5mph and below. It shifts fine when I'm at a stop though. If I force it into first gear it sounds like I'm grinding the gear. all other gears are fine at all speeds, just 1st gear that is having the problem. This problem started immediately after i changed the trans fluid (75w90 full synthetic). I put 3 liters which I think should be enough.

I'm wondering if its the clutch not disengaging fully, the gear is worn out or the shifter cable is somehow loose or something. anyone have experience with something like this that can enlighten me? help is appreciated.

Help is appreciated.

My car has always been hard to get into first while moving at all really. I just deal with it or change to second instead

Same with mine, always been that way.

Can't get it into 1st going over anything more than 15. Always just seems like the clutch just isn't all the way down. New clutch, still does it. Previous cars I've had, you can put in first going whatever, aslong as clutch down...not this car. Why...hell if i know.

I thought that's just natural. Most of the cars I've driven allows shifting to 1st gear at full stop or almost full stop.

interesting. do either of you use synthetic trans fluid. wondering if thats the culprit?

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i guess its not a huge deal. but usually when i come to a stop thats about ready to turn green i put it in first gear in preparation, now i have to come to a complete stop regardless whether its red or not.

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I use syncromesh.

Maybe not a full stop, I can get in 1st below 15, anything more really makes the car buck like crazy unless your are super slow with the clutch...I usally just opt for second..

a sign of a cable going bad is a mushy feeling like its not entering the shift gate

This post has been edited by 808celica: Sep 11, 2011 - 12:29 AM

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i use Motul synthetic gear oil. But the other cars are just natural oil.

Mine has always been that way too. I've changed gear oil and it still does it. I assume it's a trait of the S54, not something negative.

I read it's actually a gear guard so that you don't accidentally shift into first at a higher speed (since it's such a short gear). You will actually grind it if you are going anything faster than about 5mph. I did it before. I've heard you're not suppose to downshift to first unless you're at a stop or are barely rolling.

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+1

i guess its just something i got to readjust too. i just dont like going into 2nd when im such a slow speed, rpm drops to maybe 1500. kinda feels like it bogs down and any performance it may have is out the window. i guess you just cant help it.

try shifting to 1st from 2nd, instead of from any other gear/middle neutral.

I believe it is a characteristic of the s54. Try rev matching the engine to transmission speed and you shud be able to downshift into 1st gear while going 25mph. With the C52 transmission from 7afe engine, downshifting into first gear was easier.

Perhaps I drive too much like a grandpa, but I've never cared to downshift to first at 15 mph. The 5S has enough low end power for me to be comfortable in second at 15 mph. And as long as I wasn't trying to accelerate, I was fine with cruising at 25-30 in 5th gear. I can see where not being able to downshift to first at 15 mph would be a problem on a track or some other sort of race, but I've never found it to be a problem in real-world driving.

Remember Joel, its easier to replace brakes than a clutch

actually, I just got it into 1st gear rev matching at 30 mph. I was downshifting from 3rd all the way to 1st. My 1st gear hits 33mph at 7k.

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Mine has been pretty(<5) good about it lately but I recently had a new clutch installed they put in 80-90(Toyota recommends)