QWKSILVERTL

I have a new 05 TL 6MT with 1300miles on it and I have trouble shifting into 2nd gear when the engine is cold---I know, its cold meaning its not warmed up and things are supposed to be sticky but.... Sometimes it lasts for quite awhile after the engine warms up.

Just wanted to see what you all had experienced with this if anything.

Thanks!!

Rob

wavshrdr

I haven't driven a MT car that isn't afflicted by this in cold weather. My Subie sometimes needs 20 minutes before it will shift reasonably well.

Keep in mind the factors that are at work here. Tranny is cold LONG after the engine is warmed up. Cold weather is tough on heavy lubricants as they are more like molasses than water when cold. The 1->2 gear shift requires the syncros to work the hardest because the speeds between the gearshafts have the greatest difference because the RPMs drop the most on that shift.

That is one of the reasons I bought a 5AT because we get REALLY cold weather here and sometimes I couldn't shift 1->2 for about 40 minutes. It was like trying to move the gearbox lever through sludge.

Just remember that the cooling system warms up first so even though you think the motor is warm its oil is not so don't rev the snot out of the motor as the oil won't be up to temp. Even after the cooling system and motor oil is up to temp the tranny will be lagging behind.

After break-in you can try different lubricants. That is what I finally did with my Subie and it helped but didn't eliminate the problem. My 5AT TL doesn't have it at all.

ONAGER

my contour had the exact same problem... when the car was cold it was super notchie, after it warmed up it was reasonably smooth. i changed the fluid to synthetic and added ford friction modifier to the mix (dont know what it is, or if it will work in our honda trannys) but after that cold was about as good as warm before and warm was like warm butter, super smooth

QWKSILVERTL

Thanks!! That's what I had hoped to hear I figured as much because the problem goes away when the car is totally warmed up.

I will look into the change of lubricants on the first oil change.

Thanks again!


More replies are definitely welcome!

6mtV6

Let the engine warm up first and shift to 2nd at 2500rpm and up and it should be smooth. At first it should be notchy but after 5min of driving it should shift smoothly.

QWKSILVERTL

I have noticed that it will shift more smoothly when its revved up a bit--up into the 2500rpm+ range. I guess I never paid so much attention to the rpms and to how warm the engine was on my last manual tranny car--a honda civic. 1985 IIRC.

I've read so many things on this forum that i think I tend to be a bit paranoid about my new TL...

Thanks for the help

zamo

That is pretty normal. If you search in the CL forum, many 6-speeders have the same issue. The interesting thing is that it will be not that noticeable over 5,000 miles or so.

My suggestion will be to warm up your car and driving it slowly if possible (like driving out from a community). Warming engine is not the same as warming the transmision, so both need to be warmed up.

ONAGER

thats probably because as the tolerance loosen up a bit it allows it all to mesh easier....

on a side note what type of fluid does the tl take in the gearbox?