11 replies to this topic

[850T5M]

Anyone have problems going into first gear during cold weather? If i'm not 100% stopped, basically doing like 2-3 km/h, I can't get it back into first gear. The gears will not grind, but it will be very difficult to put the shifter into first. I have to give gas, put it in second then put it back in first. This only occurs during cost weather. in the summer the car shifts perfectly. Transmission is running OEM Volvo oil.

Syncros going?

[DonutsDemise]

I am in Virginia, I see you are in Canada; when you say cold do you mean well below freezing temps? because when its well below freezing my shifter is very stiff. once the transmission is hot it shifts easier though. if something was really going bad it would probably be noticeable at most temps.

[_HighVoltage_]

I thought 1st and reverse didn't have syncros?

[(n)A-GAME]

Common issue based on my understanding. Be happy you don't have RedLine fluid that FCP sells - apparently with that in there you wouldn't be able to shift at all. From others I've spoken with who have this problem, I've been told to let the car warm up for a few minutes before driving it.

[tizio]

(n)A-GAME, on 22 November 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:

Common issue based on my understanding. Be happy you don't have RedLine fluid that FCP sells - apparently with that in there you wouldn't be able to shift at all. From others I've spoken with who have this problem, I've been told to let the car warm up for a few minutes before driving it.

This!! Good point Daniel.

[fischmama]

850T5M, on 14 November 2011 - 07:23 PM, said:

Anyone have problems going into first gear during cold weather? If i'm not 100% stopped, basically doing like 2-3 km/h, I can't get it back into first gear. The gears will not grind, but it will be very difficult to put the shifter into first. I have to give gas, put it in second then put it back in first. This only occurs during cost weather. in the summer the car shifts perfectly. Transmission is running OEM Volvo oil.

Syncros going?

Kinda normal for winter. Going into second and then first used to work for me when 1st wouldn't go in from neutral.

[krn]

_HighVoltage_, on 22 November 2011 - 10:53 PM, said:

I thought 1st and reverse didn't have syncros?

Both do. Rare to have reverse.

From: http://en.wikipedia....al_transmission

Reverse gear is usually not synchromesh, as there is only one reverse gear in the normal automotive transmission and changing gears into reverse while moving is not required. Among the cars that have synchromesh in reverse are the 1995-2000 Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, '00-'05 Chevrolet Cavalier, Mercedes 190 2.3-16, the V6 equipped Alfa Romeo GTV/Spider (916),^[1] certain Chrysler, Jeep, and GM products which use the New Venture NV3500 and NV3550 units, the European Ford Sierra and Granada/Scorpio equipped with the MT75 gearbox, the Volvo 850, and almost all Lamborghinis and BMWs.

[scumcity14]

I use Redline trans oil..and its no stiffer when cold than with Volvo oil. But yes, the trans is stiff when cold. If you lightly blip throttle in neutral and then put it in 1st it will go right in. This is common in a fair number of manual trans..

[Big Will]

(n)A-GAME, on 22 November 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:

Common issue based on my understanding. Be happy you don't have RedLine fluid that FCP sells - apparently with that in there you wouldn't be able to shift at all. From others I've spoken with who have this problem, I've been told to let the car warm up for a few minutes before driving it.

My M58 shifted great with the Redline Fluid in it...I don't think it's any worse than any other synthetic GL4 fluid. The M66 in my old S40 was a bit stiff in 1st and 2nd when it was below 0 out up in Maine on the factory fill.

Anyway, you can always change the fluid to see if that helps the cold-shift issue.

[850T5M]

Ok so I played around with my car and figured out exactly how to get it in gear...I find it really weird and annoying tho.
When I say cold temperatures, I mean anything below like 5-8 degrees celsius.
Basically, the shifter is very notchy, which is fine (cuz it still goes into gear)...Reverse, I dont really care much about it, I know its sometimes hard to get in it, but we dont use it at every stop sign.

My problem is basically only first gear. The only way it will go into gear is if I do a full complete 100% stop. It wont go in if im barely rolling, im talking like 1-2km/h...its really annoying cuz the car is moving too slow for 2nd gear (burn the clutch)...The only way to get it into first, would be either to do a full stop, or like put it in second, then rev the gas and put in first...it just gets all jammed.
Idk how else to explain it. This is my first manual car, I know theres a lock so you dont go into first while moving, but its rediculous that it wont go in even at such a slow speed. In the summer it works fine.

Any ideas?

Also, I always let the car warm up before driving off...but this continues to happen even when the car is hot (after a 45 minute drive).

[scumcity14]

Second, neutral, lightly blip throttle, first. will go in smooth as can be.

[850T5M]

scumcity14, on 24 November 2011 - 01:53 PM, said:

Second, neutral, lightly blip throttle, first. will go in smooth as can be.

This is what I've been doing, but its annoying...In the summer it just slips in 1st so easily.
And when ur in a rush to take off, you have to play with the shifter and gas, etc...
I figured theres something wrong with something lol :s