Well, I've had my car since it had 7 miles on it, and it's almost at 5,000. These transmission problems I'm having are minor, and have existed since it was new - and I'm trying to find the reason for it, so I know what to tell the dealership when I try to get them to look at it, under warranty.

Basic info - A 2002 Camaro SS, M6, with the Hurst Shifter.

Sometimes, the car will not slip into first gear. I can be sitting still, push the clutch in, and go to push it into first, and it wont go any further than if I didnt have the clutch in at all. Sometimes I can quickly move it down to second, it will slip in there, and then in first, and it will go in - but always when this happens, if I let go of the clutch, then mash it down a second time, it goes in. I dont have a floor mat that is stopping me from pushing the clutch in all the way, and I am SURE I'm pushing the clutch in all the way - what is the cause of this?

Next problem - when I'm say on an offramp, or any situation when I'm going from fourth gear+ and then slowing down, to a roll... and I try to put it in first gear, I push the clutch all the way in, and try to put it in first... and it goes in, but only after three or four clicking noises and a feeling in the shifter as if I wasnt all the way in gear - and yet I know it was all the way up in first. It doesnt slip out, like if you miss the gear - it does that same noise/pinging sensation, but mildly and only a few short times before going in. Could this be related to my first problem?

Also, it seems somewhat hard shifting between the gears, during normal driving. Almost as if there is something blocking the shifter from going in each gear, and I have to use an extra 'umf' of force to push it in. Nothing like the easy transmissions I've driven in the past, in Mustang GT's, Cobras, S-10's and such. Is this normal? Should it be this hard?


And today, for the first time, when I went to put it into reverse, it wouldnt go in, similar to my first gear situation. So I used more force, and it went in. I've heard of pushing it into reverse being a problem with some other cars, but what about ours? Yes, I was at a complete stop. (I was backing out of a parking spot after eating at a restaurant).

Ideas?

 

Mine doesn't have the same problems going into reverse or clicking into first. It does share the same resistance upshifting from 1st all the way through 6th. It's my thought that it is related to the Z06 clutch used in the last couple years. I've driven 99 and older cars that shift smooth as silk. But mine always hesitates going into gear. I try not to force any gear because I can't see this being good for longevity.

Someone also said that the slave cylinder of the clutch is inside the bell housing on newer models and was external on older models. He said that the added heat boils the fluid and causes less efficient pressure to be applied to the throw out bearing, making it harder for the synchros to line up during a shift. ... I don't think that is the case though because mine has been the same since it had 5 miles on it. I doubt the clutch fluid boild in the first 5 miles.

Instead I think that the throw out bearing is perhaps to blame. I don't know if it is the same part number as the older clutches (non Z06) but the Z06 has a lot stronger pressure plate than the older F-Body clutches did. Perhaps that added pressure on the throw out bearing is too much for it.

That's my thoughts on it. Take it for what it's worth. I wish GM could figure this one out and issue a TSB so it could be fixed.

****** Here's an idea ******
Does somebody have access to GM parts listings? If so can you look up the throw out bearing for a C5-Z06 part number and compare it to the '01-'02 FBody bearing? If it's not the same, then it's probably the older style and there is an incompatibility, perhaps. This would be very good info to be able to take to the service department next time I go complaining.

 

Flux .... sounds just like my car. I'm going to be interested in the replies to this thread.

FWIW ... I've gotten into the habit of knocking the shifter back and forth while in neutral before shifting into first. For whatever reason, it seems to help.

 

Well, glad to know I'm not alone. I hadnt worried about these things, because I figured people were right - it would get better, and normal, by 5k miles, when the car breaks in.

How many miles are on each of your cars?

 

our tranny's have more of a notchy feeling, which I think is a result of having a direct link from the shifter to the tranny.. The opposite is a late model VW Golf.. Their shifters feel like its sitting in a bucket of ice!


shifting from 4th down to 1 like that is going to make your syncro's work. Thats the resistance you feel.. If you double clutch, you'll notice it'll practically get sucked right into gear, because you've already done the work for the syncro's..


problems going into 1st? sounds either your syncro's are working extra hard for some reason.. dunno if its actually the syncros or something else thats making them work extra hard. try pumping the clutch pedal once or twice.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless it gets worse..

 

I just rolled 36,000 miles yesterday. (glad I've got a 100,000 mile warranty with zero deductable)

 

Borg and Wagner Trannys are notorious for there induvidual personallity. They all seem to at some point act strange and generally vary by day as to their quirks. The T-5 does the same exact things as the T-56. For some reason it seems when it is hard to shift into first you need to shift into secon and then first and it usually goes right in gear.

 

thats is true........ when you move your shifter back and fourth, it helps..... i think it kinda lines um up..... hell i dont know...... before i got mine rebuilt i would have the same problem....... but i would jiggle ( talk to it nicely)it and it would be fine...... i would hound the dealership about it though..... warranty means they need to work on it..... just a thought

 

Borg and Wagner use to have some sort of affiliation with ford. The GM dealers claim that it is an issue with the quality of the syncros. Not something to worry about really unless it gets real bad.

 

Glad I found this web site. I have a 2002 z28 4500 miles, 6 speed manual. I'm arguing with the dealer and regional people about the performance of the hurst shifter package. Shifting 1to 2nd often gets hung up in the neutral gate. 2 to 3 takes extreme effort. Every shift pattern seems like you have to push the shifter through a wall to get to the next gear. Read about the clunking noise between 1 and 2 when sitting at a light-mine does the same thing. Racing with this car is out of the question. Simply can not trust the transmission to properly shift.
The dealer mechanic told me GM knows they have a problem with the force fit of the Hurst product on the 6 speed tranny. Turns out he got fired shortly after he gave me that bit of news.
Any ideas or has anyone had any luck on get GM to address this issue. My second Camaro and I love the car but hate to drive it.

 

wiht 5k miles..unless you cant drive it, it shouldnt be that bad yet....do you beat on it alot

 

No its been this way since day one. I figured it was stiff, being a new car. But at 2,000 miles I went to the dealer and had it checked twice. They said "no problem".
I gave up racing with the car, can pull gears without red lining.
Seems to be getting worse. Gets caught in gate at least once a day when crossing intersections-not a great place to be with no power.

 

Don't expect it to get any better on it's own. Mine was stiff when new. It's about the same now with 17,000 miles on it. I've just got used to shifting it. It seems to be worse with the Hurst shifter but maybe that's just because so many people have the Hurst option. Maybe I'll try to locate a stock shifter and see if there is a difference.

 

ttt...i think there was somthing similar to this like a month ago..?

 

Seems to me like we have alot of M6 owners 'putting up' with the hardness of the shifting - I'm very glad to know it wasnt just me.

Is anyone mechanically familiar with the whole setup so maybe if the dealer wont help us out, we can find a solution to this?