Sticky 2nd gear in cold weather anyone?

IanCC · 01-14-2018, 03:37 PM

Cold as in below 0 Celsius (32 F) and my manual shift into second gear is really hard. As in two or three seconds before it finally slips in. I can feel it in warmer weather too, but it's much more pronounced lately with the cold. It's a 2017 V6 Manual with 13,000 km (8000 miles). Anyone else have this issue? I'm guessing its a transmission problem and not the shifter.

HyperspaceTurd · 01-14-2018, 03:46 PM

Manual transmissions are typically harder to shift when they are ice cold. It's the nature of the beast. The syncros don't work too great until the fluid is up to temp, right viscosity yadda yadda...

MSMYYC · 01-14-2018, 10:34 PM

Try changing the trans fluid. This helped my cold shifting. Royal Purple Syncromesh or Amsoil ATF.

At 0 degrees however, it is the nature of the beast, take it slow. But I do think an aftermarket fluid change would help this.

Lukemo · 01-14-2018, 11:27 PM

Mine is the same way. I'd say it's normal. Every manual I've ever had is harder to shift when very cold. Just be patient with it until it's warmed up.

Sleeks · 01-15-2018, 09:22 AM

Yup. My E46 M3 was way worse, but I generally just skip second gear for a while until the car is fully warm. Just go from 1 to 3.

Curr · 01-15-2018, 12:08 PM

Maybe I'm just used to it, been frigid here in NE (~0-10F) for the last couple weeks (minus a day or two in the 40's... it's New England) and mine's been a tad bit more on the notch-y side, but I wouldn't say "hard" to shift.

pjz1082 · 01-15-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeks

Yup. My E46 M3 was way worse, but I generally just skip second gear for a while until the car is fully warm. Just go from 1 to 3.

This! Seems to be the best option, IMO.

Dubchitts · 01-15-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukemo

Mine is the same way. I'd say it's normal. Every manual I've ever had is harder to shift when very cold. Just be patient with it until it's warmed up.

It doesn't warm up. We have tranny coolers in the (at least in the ss). At45° mine would not even register 100° in the trans after an hour of drivibg. I parked it early for winter. And am switching to redline D4. The factory fluid is garbage.

lt4camaro · 01-15-2018, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanCC

Cold as in below 0 Celsius (32 F) and my manual shift into second gear is really hard. As in two or three seconds before it finally slips in. I can feel it in warmer weather too, but it's much more pronounced lately with the cold. It's a 2017 V6 Manual with 13,000 km (8000 miles). Anyone else have this issue? I'm guessing its a transmission problem and not the shifter.

I also have a 1LT V6 (2016) manual and its my daily driver here in cold Connecticut. I replaced the trans fluid with a correct spec Dexron VI full synthetic and it makes a world of difference. The factory fill is not synthetic.

IanCC · 01-15-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSMYYC

Try changing the trans fluid. This helped my cold shifting. Royal Purple Syncromesh or Amsoil ATF.

At 0 degrees however, it is the nature of the beast, take it slow. But I do think an aftermarket fluid change would help this.

Thanks Maple. Love your build, bro.

IanCC · 01-15-2018, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lt4camaro

I also have a 1LT V6 (2016) manual and its my daily driver here in cold Connecticut. I replaced the trans fluid with a correct spec Dexron VI full synthetic and it makes a world of difference. The factory fill is not synthetic.

Good to know. Thanks for the tip. I do think it still might be something with the tranny as I feel it in warmer weather too and ONLY in second gear. Not first or third. And my old Toyota Celica manual never had an issue in the cold.

Lukemo · 01-16-2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubchitts

It doesn't warm up. We have tranny coolers in the (at least in the ss). At45° mine would not even register 100° in the trans after an hour of drivibg. I parked it early for winter. And am switching to redline D4. The factory fluid is garbage.

His transmission fluid does not stay at 32 degrees. Mine doesn't stay at 2 degrees (if it's been sitting all night in this temperature). Of course it warms up and thins out just like engine oil. I would think normal operating temp should be around 195.

NUCAR · 01-16-2018, 10:54 AM

Changed to Redline D4. It helped. Before you move shift through all the gears while sitting. You may have to start in the 3-4 gate. It helps.

fahimghaffar · 10-29-2019, 12:24 PM

I am having same 2nd gear issue. One the customer got it fixed and found out that is a defective transmission housing. Here is the link to the video. https://youtu.be/FxngwiF7_Wg

GM knows about it but they are telling their dealer to tell customers that it is normal. Everybody, we need to report this issue to NHTSA.gov. Here is the link for that https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

All these camaoros have defected transmision housing which is causing multiple symtoms. For example, hard to shift to 2nd when upshift or downsift, 2nd gear popping out and shift into neutral, missing 2nd gear and sometime grinding.
I spoke to 2 dealers and they both have different openion. One says that i need skip shift eliminater and the other one says that it is normal to have symtoms like that also Advised me not to use the 2nd gear. Which is bad beacuse we spent a fortune buying this car and then we are unable the use 2nd gear.

Please everybody, go NHTSA website and file a complain because they are not going to fix it until government institution files a lawsuit against GM

01-14-2018, 03:37 PM	#1
IanCC Drives: Summit White V6 M6 NPP Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Toronto Posts: 52	Sticky 2nd gear in cold weather anyone? Cold as in below 0 Celsius (32 F) and my manual shift into second gear is really hard. As in two or three seconds before it finally slips in. I can feel it in warmer weather too, but it's much more pronounced lately with the cold. It's a 2017 V6 Manual with 13,000 km (8000 miles). Anyone else have this issue? I'm guessing its a transmission problem and not the shifter.

01-14-2018, 10:34 PM	#3
MSMYYC @maplefed Drives: 16' MBM 2SS, Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: So-Cal Posts: 116	Try changing the trans fluid. This helped my cold shifting. Royal Purple Syncromesh or Amsoil ATF. At 0 degrees however, it is the nature of the beast, take it slow. But I do think an aftermarket fluid change would help this. __________________ @maplefed

01-15-2018, 09:22 AM	#5
Sleeks Drives: None Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 191	Yup. My E46 M3 was way worse, but I generally just skip second gear for a while until the car is fully warm. Just go from 1 to 3. __________________ -Brian Hyper Blue 1SS / 1LE

01-15-2018, 12:08 PM	#6
Curr Probably doesn't like you Drives: 2022 WCT ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Boston-ish Posts: 1,252	Maybe I'm just used to it, been frigid here in NE (~0-10F) for the last couple weeks (minus a day or two in the 40's... it's New England) and mine's been a tad bit more on the notch-y side, but I wouldn't say "hard" to shift. __________________ I hope the 6th gen Camaro has a melodious horn trumpet. I'll tootel it at the ladies, yelling out "Hi hi." - RenegadeXR كافر ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ железобетонное очко Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur. There is an unequal amount of good and bad in most things, the trick is to work out the ratio and act accordingly.

10-29-2019, 12:24 PM	#14
fahimghaffar Drives: 2018 Camaro ss Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 28 View My Garage	I have a camaro ss 2018 I am having same 2nd gear issue. One the customer got it fixed and found out that is a defective transmission housing. Here is the link to the video. https://youtu.be/FxngwiF7_Wg GM knows about it but they are telling their dealer to tell customers that it is normal. Everybody, we need to report this issue to NHTSA.gov. Here is the link for that https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ All these camaoros have defected transmision housing which is causing multiple symtoms. For example, hard to shift to 2nd when upshift or downsift, 2nd gear popping out and shift into neutral, missing 2nd gear and sometime grinding. I spoke to 2 dealers and they both have different openion. One says that i need skip shift eliminater and the other one says that it is normal to have symtoms like that also Advised me not to use the 2nd gear. Which is bad beacuse we spent a fortune buying this car and then we are unable the use 2nd gear. Please everybody, go NHTSA website and file a complain because they are not going to fix it until government institution files a lawsuit against GM

01-14-2018, 03:46 PM	#2
HyperspaceTurd Drives: 17 1SS 6MT, 09 Tacoma TRD Sport Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 149	Manual transmissions are typically harder to shift when they are ice cold. It's the nature of the beast. The syncros don't work too great until the fluid is up to temp, right viscosity yadda yadda...

01-14-2018, 11:27 PM	#4
Lukemo Drives: '17 1LT RS V6 6M NPP Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 449	Mine is the same way. I'd say it's normal. Every manual I've ever had is harder to shift when very cold. Just be patient with it until it's warmed up.

01-16-2018, 10:54 AM	#13
NUCAR Drives: 68 big block Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: tossed off see ya Posts: 400	Changed to Redline D4. It helped. Before you move shift through all the gears while sitting. You may have to start in the 3-4 gate. It helps.

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