I have an 'O6 S with a stick and shifting has gotten difficult recently. There is no grinding of gears, but getting into gear requires force on occasion and finding gears can sometimes be tough. First gear is particularly tough at times, yet at others unusually easy.

For instance, yesterday when driving around down every time I came to a dead stop and then needed to put it in first it was difficult. Later, when coming off an exit ramp, doing about 40 mph and wanting to downshift to third it went into first !! Thankfully I caught that before I let the clutch out !

Does this sound familiar to anyone? What am I in for when I bring it to my mechanic?

Thanks.

Dean.

 

I suggest you check out the cables, and the ends where they pop on....
They sometimes get a bit stretched, or the ends can bind a bit from corrosion, lack of lube. First step...clean and lube them...see if it help!!

 

Thanks.

I am fairly handy. How easy/difficult is this ?

 

Pretty easy....one end under the shifter..LOL
Other end is basically under the airbox area....can get lots of salt/assorted grime on them from winter use. I'd clean/lube the ends first..replacement is pretty easy from what I have read if needed.
Hopefully that makes it better without having an internal issue!!

 

I had this issue a while back...did a transmissions fluid change and shifting was smooth again

 

Then do it again!!
Often when folks complain about a stiff tranny/shifting it is on the first cold day AFTER the fluid change....with it warming up...thought it might be the cables. Check the fluid level? Leaks are uncommon in a stick...but possible. Heck, unless a person LOTS of grinding, a fuild change is almost overkill till 100,000 miles imo....a stick simply does not make much heat, the the oil tends to last a long time.

 

I just did a clutch change and with the tranny on the ground, noticed the ball end that the cables snap onto was very loose on the shifter arm. Turns out they are only swaged onto the arm and had wobbled loose. I brazed them onto the arm and now shift are crisp and much shorter. Caution, if you do this, remove the nylon bushing on the arm first.

 

When I first got my Mini (63k miles) the shift into 3rd would be difficult at least once every time I drove it. I changed tranny fluid and have not had a problem in 6 months...
Could be cables as others have said, could be fluid, could be both.

 

What do I use for lube ?

Thanks.

 

I had an issue with my shift linkage. It needed to be replaced. The car shifts like new now. I have put a link to my thread below, which includes some pics and a video. I didn't know what the hell I was doing or looking at when I made the video, but the issue can clearly be seen (now that I know what it was) near the end. In fact, I point to it too! All I had to do was remove the air box to take a look, which was a fairly easy thing to do. That was literally the first thing I ever did on a vehicle aside from headlamp replacement. I have never even changed a tire...

Please note, your car may be slightly different in that it is an 'S'. I am not sure. Anyway, hope this helps some!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...to-second.html

 

I'm having this exact problem. I am not to savvy with the car yet, can anyone tell me how to check the cables(where are the located)?

 

Take a look at my above post.

 

One end of the cables is right beneath the shifter. So you need to remove the exhaust and heat panels then remove the protective cover.

The other ends are right beneath the airbox, simply remove the WHOLE airbox and you will see them

 

So, once I get at the cables, what do I lube them with? Silicone ?

Thanks.

Dean.