I have a '93 4Runner with a 5-speed manual transmission. The past few years, I've noticed in cold weather (a very short season here in Southern California) that it's very hard to push the stick into first gear first thing in the morning. Almost feels like I'm going to break the stick off sometimes in my struggles. After driving a few miles, it shifts into gear with no problem. This year, the problem seems to be spreading to second gear as well. Do the symptoms sound familiar to anyone? I guess I should check the transmission fluid, but I've been putting it off 'cause I'd have to crawl underneath to check it.
Manual Trans. Hard To Shift into 1st.
- Thread starter RonGee
- Start date
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05sport4x4
New member
Does the shifter have a lot of side to side play? My 89 pick up was hard to get into 1st until I replaced the transmission shifter seat.
Marlin heavy duty shifter seat
I also had a lot of side play while the shifter was in gear and this corrected that also.
Marlin heavy duty shifter seat
I also had a lot of side play while the shifter was in gear and this corrected that also.
rugger bugger
New member
im in denver...and i have the same problem...when it is cold...any gear is hard...but as the truck warms up...it gets easier...i think it is just the nature of the beast...i do have a hard time shifting into first when i am moving...but maybe that is the case for all manual trannys...this is the first i have ever owned...
Fro-Runner
New member
It's the old stiff oil in the tranny being cold. I, like you have a high mileage vehicle (150,000+)and these trannies get sort of stiff in the winter time. I've had to replace two tranny cables after winter time driving because I've stretched the cable due to the cold oil in the tranny. My 5 spd car tranny calls for 5w30 but I switch to 0w30 from September thru April.
