Manual Transmission shift issues? READ THIS!

[redmed]

Have you bleed the clutch yet? Curious if it helps the reverse issue. My fall, oil change/tire rotation/trans oil replacement/rear shock bumper upgrade, day is near. I want to change to Redline MTL to see what the change to different oil does, alone. I will have to wait awhile to bleed the clutch, but I'm curious if it improves your shifts.

Nope, have not got around to it yet. I'll do this at the next oil change in about 1500 miles. If you are going to be replacing the MT fluid, you might as well do this bleed. Not sure if you are going to use a pump or a tube for the MT fluid replacement, but if you use a tube like I did in my MT fluid change write-up, you'll see the clutch bleeder nipple after removing the air filter box.
I also have a bleeder extractor/pump so I'll try using that. If it does not work too great, I'll get someone to pump the clutch pedal for the bleed.

Keep us posted on your switch to MTL.

Switching to MTL has not made much of a change. I do feel the shift gates slightly better. I definitely notice the gate into third better. MTL has not cured the reverse problem but I may have come up with a shift procedure solution. Since first and reverse share the same gear I tried shifting into first before reverse and have not ground any gears when doing this. Habits are hard to break and a few of the times I forgot to pre shift into first before engaging reverse have resulted in gear grinding. I'm starting to do this quite often when driving the Kizzy, almost enough to call it a learned habit but after driving my other car I have unlearned it. I am going to try doing it while driving both cars to make it a solid habit.

[redmed]

Seemed to have found a solution for the intermittent gear grind in reverse. I move the shifter into first before moving the shifter into reverse then letting up on the clutch. Doing this I have not had one time where reverse was partially engaged. I have been doing this for a month now and a solid quiet reverse every time.

[bootymac]

I do the same on my GTI. Shifting into first lines everything up for a smoother engagement

[Kate_09]

Hey murcod! I think you are using wrong transmission fluid that’s why all this is happening. Why don’t you use castrol transmission fluid? This transmission fluid is very popular and helps in giving best mileage. I think you should try this.

[jj351]

Thank you for posting re bleeding the clutch . I have bought the car brand new and first to second gear when in a hurry has always been hit or miss ,very embarrassing. So I will bleed the clutch . Love the car though..bought in 2011 .

[TheHolyGhost]

I think that the reverse issue is related to the fact that reverse is unsynchronized. First is synchronized so it should be smoother and may help "line everything up" as bootymac says. I find that just double clutching can solve this issue for me.

[Speed_Racer]

The Kizashi is my fourth manual car I've owned, and all four have needed a shift to 1st before reverse for smooth engagement.

[redmed]

I have found that if I shift into first gear then shift into reverse it engages every time. It is now a habit and have not had any reverse grinding for months.

[redmed]

The Kizashi is my fourth manual car I've owned, and all four have needed a shift to 1st before reverse for smooth engagement.

Not necessary with my Toyota.

[TheHolyGhost]

My Audi didn't require that, but it had a synchronized reverse gear.