Anyone else having this shifting issue?

[Denio24]

I have a 6MT, code GVE for those who care. My transmission does not make any grinding noises, and is in generally good condition. All the gears shift perfectly. I am wondering whether this is stuck linkage issue, or a synchro issue.

I am having an issue putting the car in gear after sitting at a red light. When putting the car in first after sitting at a stoplight, the gearshift lever is able to move a little bit (the play in the linkage), but as far as popping the transmission in gear goes it's a no go. I try pushing harder on the gearshift lever but it feels like I am going to break something. So what I do i just move the lever back and forth a little bit and it eventually goes in. I have to wiggle it in place and it eventually goes in gear like butter.

What I'm wondering is if someone on these forums has experienced what happened to me, and if this is an issue caused by a linkage, shift fork, or shift collar / synchronizer.

[drewgold]

I have a similar issue, only seems to happen when the transmission is cold, once it's warmed up, it's fine. Mine does shift into gear with some force (No grinding) but it does take quite a bit of force sometimes.

What works for me is I try to shift into first, then let off and return the shifter to neutral then try again, usually it shifts no problem after that. I suspect its my 1st gear synchro is going bad but not 100% sure. Been meaning to get my mechanic to check it out but haven't had a chance.

Some others report similar problems and say that if they first shift into another gear, then into the trouble gear, that helps. I find just letting off the pressure then trying the shift again seems to work best for me.

[JMKAUDI]

I have noticed this issue with first gear in almost every european car I've ever owned. I've never ran into an issue with any of the trans failing over this, and it doesnt happen every time i stop at a red light; it seems to be an occasional issue that pops up out of the blue.

And as stated above, if it doesnt want to go into first i just put it back to neutral and then into first. Or i'll keep the clutch in and just move into 2nd and then back into 1st. Not sure if it would be a synchro or just a bind in the shifter lever/cables from movement during driving?

[Jake@JHM]

It almost sounds like the factory plastic shifter/linkage comments may be wearing out cause excess play and loosing the preciseness

[drewgold]

It almost sounds like the factory plastic shifter/linkage comments may be wearing out cause excess play and loosing the preciseness

I was hoping that my JHM shifter would address this issue but no luck. I rebuilt the linkage with a new ball seat as well but still didn't help the 1st gear issue despite significantly reducing slop. Maybe the solid linkage would help, tough to say.

The JHM shifter and new OE ball set does seem to have made 2nd and 3rd much less notchy though. Far fewer missed shifts.

I'm not totally familiar with the inner workings of our transmissions, but could it be a shift gate issue? Is there a fail-safe to prevent shifting into 1st gear at speed? I find that if I'm even rolling slowly, 1st gear can be near impossible to shift into.

[Jake@JHM]

I was hoping that my JHM shifter would address this issue but no luck. I rebuilt the linkage with a new ball seat as well but still didn't help the 1st gear issue despite significantly reducing slop. Maybe the solid linkage would help, tough to say.

The JHM shifter and new OE ball set does seem to have made 2nd and 3rd much less notchy though. Far fewer missed shifts.

I'm not totally familiar with the inner workings of our transmissions, but could it be a shift gate issue? Is there a fail-safe to prevent shifting into 1st gear at speed? I find that if I'm even rolling slowly, 1st gear can be near impossible to shift into.

There is a first gear lock out until low speeds so people don't accidentally shift into it.

How is your cross rod?

[drewgold]

There is a first gear lock out until low speeds so people don't accidentally shift into it.

How is your cross rod?

My cross rod actually seemed good, no real play when I grabbed it and gave it a push/pull during the install.

I wonder if the lockout can get in the way? No idea how it works.

In my case, shifting is fine once everything is warm with only the occasional hard shift. This is what makes me think it may be the synchro. Once things heat up, there's more friction and potentially different expansion of dissimilar metals so it grabs better. Just a theory based on my limited knowledge of the inner transmission workings.

[drewgold]

I have a 6MT, code GVE for those who care. My transmission does not make any grinding noises, and is in generally good condition. All the gears shift perfectly. I am wondering whether this is stuck linkage issue, or a synchro issue.

I am having an issue putting the car in gear after sitting at a red light. When putting the car in first after sitting at a stoplight, the gearshift lever is able to move a little bit (the play in the linkage), but as far as popping the transmission in gear goes it's a no go. I try pushing harder on the gearshift lever but it feels like I am going to break something. So what I do i just move the lever back and forth a little bit and it eventually goes in. I have to wiggle it in place and it eventually goes in gear like butter.

What I'm wondering is if someone on these forums has experienced what happened to me, and if this is an issue caused by a linkage, shift fork, or shift collar / synchronizer.

Curious, is shifting into 1st hard only when your car is running?
ie. If you shut the car off and then shift into 1st does the gear engage easily?

[kTaLgsTo]

I have this same issue at stop lights, not sure if when car is off. I originally thought it was a leaky master cylinder, so I would double pump the clutch but that didnt make it any better.

[IKE20VA4]

I have this issue as well.

I either get around it by:
A) Pushing harder
B) Putting shifter back to neutral, then back to first
C) I find that letting the clutch out a few inches while pushing the shifter towards 1st allows it to slip back in

My 2nd gear is also kinda crappy until fully warm.

I also have a transmission oil leak that put me about 2 liters low for I don't know how long. Just thankful that it still works...motul gear 300 for last 20,000 miles.

Car is 2005.5 126,000 miles

[adam044]

It almost sounds like the factory plastic shifter/linkage comments may be wearing out cause excess play and loosing the preciseness

Which means you should get some JHM linkage. You're welcome.


You own me 20% now.

[Mister W]

Issue with the first here too. I have to release clutch or put it in second to be able to enter the first. it happen randomly at stop light

[DanKing]

I have a similar issue, but I get fully locked out of first and second. Seems to happen when the car is on an incline.

Is it possible that my leaking motor mounts are causing this?

Changed my tranny oil recently, still no difference

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[AudiKilla]

I think this is normal on our cars. It's cold hear most of the time, happens a lot when the car is not warm. I usually go to third gear and then first when it's not warm yet. Once warm, very rarely happens.

It also depends on the type of tranny oil you got in there. When I first got the car it had the OEM oil which isn't that thick, it would rarely do it but then in very cold weather it became really notchy until fully warmed up (a good 30 mins).

Changed to Motul Gear 300 last year, it's thicker oil so it's kinda harder to get into gears when cold and gets stuck more often on red lights. But once the oil is fully warmed up it's smooth like butter. No notchiness with Motul Gear 300 when cold or hot. That was my main problem, I hate notchiness.

Still a very good transmission, just gotta know how and when to shift. Doesn't like to be forced.

If you think audi's are hard to put into gear when cold, try a bmw.

[Rulty]

Same thing happens in my car. Actually in every manual car that I had. What I have noticed is that if I shift to neutral and right back into first it is fine but if I sit in neutral for a little, like at a red light, it's tough to get it into first. I usually just pop it in third and it will go right into first after that. I always attributed this to the transmission moving a little or something while sitting but doubt it's an issue

[papadelogan]

No one has mentioned the mileage they have on the vehicle/trans... that may be a factor, agreed?

Anyway, i seem to recall something similar with my 2005.5. Bought it with 105k on the car in summer and swapped over to Motul 300 about a year later @ 120k-ish. In cold weather, getting in to 1st with the Motul was not as easy, but after a few miles, it was fine. Makes sense with the thicker oil.

With my 2007, I'm currently @ ~94k miles and haven't noticed any issues, but I plan to swap over to the Motul300 this Spring. I expect the same behavior, but for me, I'm not worried about hard shifting out of my driveway. I believe that the Motul will give my trans better protection overall so it lasts longer, so if that means I sometimes need to go to 3rd, then 4th, then back to 1st when the trans is cold, I'm OK with that. Either way.. replacing your trans fluid is at a minimum a good maintenance task and may resolve your issues. If more work needs to be performed... at least you know you have good fluid inside that can possibly be reused.

[drewgold]

Interesting to hear how many others experience the same sort of thing.

I'm at 170,000kms (105,000mi) and this issue seems to have gotten worse in the last 20,000kms. I also switched to Motul Gear 300 in the fall, didn't seem to make a significant difference but maybe slightly harder going into 1st gear. I may be mistaken but isn't Gear 300 slightly less viscous than OEM?

When I changed my fluid in the fall, I had left the catch can outside overnight with the old OEM fluid in it and it got cold, maybe -10 C, I was shocked to see how thick the gear oil is when cold. Pretty much like molasses. No wonder the shifting is sluggish when cold!

I also put in a 034 street density trans mount which didn't make any difference. I have new motor mounts to go in this spring, will see if that changes anything but I suspect not. May just be the nature of the beast, or sensitive synchros that get mashed up over the years.

[kTaLgsTo]

2007 2.0t noticed at 90,000 miles. Now at 100,000 still happening, stock oil.

[907DAVE]

Same as everyone else. Became an issue around 70k, later switched to Mobile synthetic trans lube with no change. Would love to find the solution.

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[Mister W]

for info purpose, i have 200 000km but having this issue since i have the car at 95000 km. I changed for Motul gear 300 around 150 000km. worst mistake in cold temp. I should have put audi OEM. and still have the same problem stated above when engine is in temp.

[dg2b]

Sorry for reviving an old thread.

I have a 2006 B7 with 175K. Been having this hard to shift issue since maybe 120K. I am about to do a timing change and thinking to change clutch/pressure plate. But wanted to hear how others resolved it.

[pezgoon]

Sorry for reviving an old thread.

I have a 2006 B7 with 175K. Been having this hard to shift issue since maybe 120K. I am about to do a timing change and thinking to change clutch/pressure plate. But wanted to hear how others resolved it.

When's the last time you've changed the gear oil?


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[Brillo]

I don't think toying with the clutch plate will make any difference. I occasionally have this problem (95,000miles). I use the Pentosin MT fluid which I'm told is the factory fill. My solution is to shift into second then first. This works 95% of the time. If it doesn't I just depress the clutch again and second then first - that never fails.

[dg2b]

When's the last time you've changed the gear oil?


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Still the original oil. But I will change the oil in the next two weeks. Hopefully this makes a difference.

[dg2b]

I don't think toying with the clutch plate will make any difference. I occasionally have this problem (95,000miles). I use the Pentosin MT fluid which I'm told is the factory fill. My solution is to shift into second then first. This works 95% of the time. If it doesn't I just depress the clutch again and second then first - that never fails.

Thanks. That is what I do when it is hard to go into gear (second gear and back to first).

[b7_Andy]

This is a problem that almost every single B7 A4 owner has encountered. The 02X is notorious for not shifting clean into 1st. At 66,000 miles my car froze me out of 1st entirely. I took it out one night, by the time I was almost home I noticed that it wouldn't go into first at all. No matter what I tried and no matter how much force I used, it wouldn't go into gear at all. Even with the engine turned off, 1st gear won't engage at all. It's definitely a shift collar issue or the gear itself. At 55,000 miles my 02X also lost the 3rd gear synchro. I heel-toe rev-match double-clutch 99% of my downshifts and I've been through 4 transmission fluid changes in 66,000 miles. So I'm not sure why these transmission have so many problems. Hopefully my 0A3 swap will not have any of these issues.


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[aluthman]

I can't say I've ever experienced this issue in either of the manual B7 A4s I've owned.

[pezgoon]

I don't think toying with the clutch plate will make any difference. I occasionally have this problem (95,000miles). I use the Pentosin MT fluid which I'm told is the factory fill. My solution is to shift into second then first. This works 95% of the time. If it doesn't I just depress the clutch again and second then first - that never fails.

This, instead of clutching again I just go into third then first

If your on super flat ground and you do it you'll notice the car moves a tiny bit

Although others may have destroyed their transmissions by always forcing it into first this is not a design flaw

This is a flaw of having awd, the transmission has to move all four wheels when it's slightly out of alignment, every manual I have owned has moved the car when shifting into a gear but because they were always two wheel drive it could move them, now that it's four wheels I gotta just go into another gear first which my fiesta I had to do with as well

The difference is that each higher gear has to move the wheels less thus making it easier thus aligning the transmission for you to then go into first

If I'm on a slight incline I'll roll the car a tiny bit and it always goes into first

Use the methods as stated here and you won't damage it as long as you regularly change the fluid and don't drive like

Still the original oil. But I will change the oil in the next two weeks. Hopefully this makes a difference.

Which you haven't, do it now!

Maybe you can save he tranny in time but just keep in mind that since this is the first change at such a high mileage that damage may already be caused to other things like the shift collars forks and synchros

I used the VW oil because it's the only one that everyone says they have either no or minimal shifting issues when cold, being able to shift every winter was higher than the price on my priority list so I went with VW

You need 3 liters and it'll be 90$ if you go that route (I have no sales tax so more for you suckers )

Change fluid and report back

Edit: disclaimer just in case I came off a little harsh

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one, and I've sure as hell got one

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[yxri]

Every time I start my car I shift through all the gears before I actually engage into first gear or reverse. mine would usually grind 2nd gear in the cold

[pezgoon]

Every time I start my car I shift through all the gears before I actually engage into first gear or reverse. mine would usually grind 2nd gear in the cold

Have you changed fluid?

Did it help?

I was having slight grinding into 3rd and sometimes 2nd, changed the gear oil, haven't had any issues since


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[oVeRdOsE]

Pretty sure this is normal from factory.
I tried few audis, 3x a4 and 1x a5, and all of them did this, for the first gear, depend how you synchronize your movement.
Even my nissan maxima has this.

I dont know from other car maker, those are the only one that I drove daily.

Bought my b7 at 85 000km, changed the oil around 90k km (liqui moly gl4), and the transmission behave the same.
It's more frequent when it's cold outside. minus something °C .

It's not a huge issue right now for me.

[yxri]

Have you changed fluid?

Did it help?

I was having slight grinding into 3rd and sometimes 2nd, changed the gear oil, haven't had any issues since


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Never changed but in also at 51k miles

[pezgoon]

Never changed but in also at 51k miles

Change that shit! I changed mine at 41 ish and it made a huge difference! The fact it's 10+ years old matters more than the mileage


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[yxri]

Change that shit! I changed mine at 41 ish and it made a huge difference! The fact it's 10+ years old matters more than the mileage


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Ok will do!

[Chris@EPL]

Just went out tested my car cold on and off and shifts perfectly into 1st every time and it has 269k miles and still on the stock Clutch and PP.

[pezgoon]

Just went out tested my car cold on and off and shifts perfectly into 1st every time and it has 269k miles and still on the stock Clutch and PP.

Do you downshift into first?

I feel like downshifting into first can be a big cause of the issue


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[Chris@EPL]

I only downshift unto 1st when I am stopped.

[pezgoon]

I only downshift unto 1st when I am stopped.

Bingo, me too

I wonder how many people do it while moving especially trying to engine brake and if it's related. I feel like if you were to force it into first all the time it would do it

I literally never go into first if I'm moving at all, I'll bog it in second if I need to start moving like in traffic


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[AudiKilla]

Had two A4s and both did the same thing, I just learned to live with it.

Put thicker oil and it'll me more noticeable, had Motul Gear 300 in my old A4. Second A4 I think is stock fluid, didn't get a chance to change it yet but I like how it shifts especially with the neuspeed snub mount.

[Okedokey]

I think a flush and a friction modifyer would be useful here.