My mom has mentioned to me that her '02 Camaro SS is having an issue with shifting into 1st gear from a stop.

Background: Car has just over 16,000 miles and is only driven once or twice a month. Fewer than 1,000 miles have been put on it this year. It's a 6-speed with SLP factory option Hurst shifter. The car is not raced nor beat on. It is driven primarily from stop sign to stop sign with very rare highway usage.

Problem: Her story was that she was driving, came to a stop sign, and when she downshifted out of second to go to first, she could not get the shifter into 1st gear muchless any of the other gears. It was stuck in neutral. She had the clutch to the floor and it would not go into gear. She put her foot on the brake, released the clutch, put the clutch down again, and it would not go into gear. She put her foot on the brake, released the clutch, turned the car off, put the clutch in, was able to put the car into first gear, started the car, and drove off.

She said this has happened twice and is now afraid to drive her car because she doesn't want her immaculate, perfect car to get rear ended or stuck somewhere.

What is wrong with it?

 

hydraulics, clutch spring, etc. there's lots of things that could cause it. Start narrowing it down.

 

Have you checked the fluid level in the clutch reservoir? Have you tried bleeding the system to insure there is no air in the line? Have you inspected the master cylinder and slave cylinder for leakage?

 

I checked the clutch fluid reservoir, the level is proper and the fluid looks fine. There are zero leaks.

 

that'd be my next step.

 

I just got over swine flu (I hope) so maybe I can check out this problem a little more thoroughly this weekend.

 

Worst thing for any vehicle is to not use it. Things tend to deteriorate or sieze up. Why have something you're not using? An 02 with only 16k on it? Sorry, I hate to be not helpful but that's one of those thing that bugs me. Why own it?