6 Speed Manual Gearbox Difficult Shifting into 1st Gear?

[chrisedwa]

I have also experienced this problem. I can be stopped at a light for even up to 30 seconds with the car in neutral (not moving or rolling forward at all). Put the clutch in go for first and it doesn't let you in. Its mechanically locked out, or so it feels. It seems to happen more in the cold when the engine/trani is not warmed up.

I have found out through experimentation though that it seems to be something to do with the reverse lockout. Maybe others can try this theory and report back. Basically the easiest thing is just pull up the reverse lockout when you go for first and in my car anyway it NEVER has an issue going into first, it goes in smooth as butter.

Also another thing to clarify my theory. If you go into the first gear position, pull up the reverse lockout, move your shifter left and let go of the reverse lockout it stays up. When you move the stick back to the right it pops down. This to me would indicate that the reverse lockout is blocking part of the first gear slot. This also seems to explain why its worse when the trani is cold, you are limited to the tolerance you have to get into the first gear position and the trani is not as forgiving when cold.

Hopefully some other folks with this problem (or pretty much anyone with a manual trani) can see if they also have a limited first gear position.

Chris

[Bosy]

For me, I find it difficult to get the 3rd gear. It flu a bit during the transition from the second to the third.

Have you also noticed that?

[chrisedwa]

Never had any issues in any other gears, just first gear and second is sometimes crunchy because lockout also effects it.

[Noursy]

I did not have this problem to start with but I am now experiencing it, I have never owned an auto and have had several manual cars and I dont think its normal. My Pulsar GTI-R suffered from this same problem after a new clutch and had to put into 2nd if stopped and then could select 1st. This problem was solved by some clutch or linkage adjustment as posted by another member. I will be mentioning it on my next service as its starting to bug me.

[chrisedwa]

Noursy does it work fine if you pull up the reverse lockout when going into first?

[Noursy]

Noursy does it work fine if you pull up the reverse lockout when going into first?

Well it goes into reverse fine yes. I never had the issue to start with its something which started happening after about 1200kms. I am fairly sure something needs adjusting.

[Darren]

I Found an article, link provided: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Review - Coupe/Hatchback - CNET Reviews

It says:
The Veloster's manual shifter is equipped with what's called a first-gear lockout mechanism, the purpose of which is to prevent careless drivers from shifting into first gear when they mean to go to third and potentially damaging the transmission. In theory, this is a good thing. In practice, the Veloster's first-gear lockout is a nightmare in itself, occasionally getting stuck shut or half shut and preventing me when it was time to get moving again from shifting into first gear without much jiggling and mangling of the shift lever -- that's if you haven't stalled because you've ended up in third gear. This made our Veloster Turbo tester almost maddeningly difficult to enjoy on the streets of San Francisco, where stops are frequent and often on an incline.
A quick dive into a few Veloster enthusiast forums revealed that, while this is a known issue, not every Veloster Turbo driver has experienced it. However, I feel this issue is something that potential owners should be aware of and beware of.

That explains it.

[surfmenace]

^^^^What he said.

[Boots Ylectric]

I noticed it a lot more when I first got the car. I'm at almost 6000 miles now and I can't remember the last time it happened. It shifts fantastic now.

[Darren]

I noticed it a lot more when I first got the car. I'm at almost 6000 miles now and I can't remember the last time it happened. It shifts fantastic now.

Me too. Guess we got used to it.

[cignaxi]

I noticed the samething a few times and was wondering why. I didn't pay too much attention to it since I usually down shift to 2nd before a complete stop for safety reasons and wasn't noticing it. Now that I think of it when it happened I was downshifting from 4th too.

I am posting this in the VT session because I searched the engine/transmission forum and found no mentioning of this. Thought that it might be more VT related.

Basically I noticed that sometimes it is hard to shift the car into first gear when the car is completely stopped at the light. Especially when you were in 4th gear coasting to a completely stop, put the car in N at the light, and then shifting into 1st to get going. That is, going from 4->N->1st.

A simple solution is to shift into 2nd gear while completely clutched in and then shift into 1st and let the clutch out. So, basically go 4->N->2nd->1st.

The manual actually said never to downshift more than 2 gears at once. So, I think this is normal behavior of the gearbox. Just want to make sure that other people are also experiencing this and I am not having some isolated issue.

[captainofiron]

when its really cold mine doesnt like to go into 1st, but its not impossible

[MTD]

Hyundai uses a pretty thick/heavy MTF so its basically like molasses at low temps. One of the first things I did to my Genesis was swap out the factory MTF to a Hyundai recommended syth MTF. Shifts much better in the winter.

[captainofiron]

Hyundai uses a pretty thick/heavy MTF so its basically like molasses at low temps. One of the first things I did to my Genesis was swap out the factory MTF to a Hyundai recommended syth MTF. Shifts much better in the winter.

Im surprised they dont use ATF like almost all of the other modern manual transmissions

[LGP_VT]

I now have about 6000 miles on my car. A little update on the gear box situation.

1. So far, I have no problems with the gearbox even in very cold climates in Ontario, Canada. Sometimes I see -11 C/ 12 F on the temperature readout.

Even when the car is cold, I never really noticed the gearbox being notchy. Maybe it slides into gear smoother once warmed up but I don't have a problem in cold climate.

2. Once broken in, the gear shift does become smoother/easier.

3. I am so used to putting the gear into 2nd before 1st when I am at a stop, that I don't have problem shifting into first at a stop any more. Doesn't meant that the problem is not there, but I have gotten used to work around that problem now.

4. Sometimes I have problem getting into reverse, this probably has something to do with the reverse lock out. But usually put the gear in neutral and clutch out, or putting into 1st then back to reverse solves the problem.

5. I mentioned in another thread that the car has brake throttle override and might have problem with heel and toe. I think there is a delay with the engagement of the BTO, so in practice, heel and toe downshift is not a problem.

Overall a very enjoyable car to drive. Super comfortable seats.

[BossMann]

Just a question.. everyone here said they coast in neutral to a stop from 4+ gear. Has anyone experienced this when coming to a full stop while still in 4 or 3 gear, and then when fully stopped putting it into neutral. Does it still lock you out when putting it in first from neutral ?

[MTD]

I typically downshift right down into 2nd and dont even bother with 1st until Im ready to drive away again. It seems like it wont let you into 1st until you are under 10km/h.

[LGP_VT]

I have now experienced the issue with first gear when cold. First of all, it does not happened all the time and seemed to have gone away once the car is warmed up. It also occurred both times when it was below -15C, which is pretty extreme. Then there are days when its -17C and no problem at all with the the gearbox.

Certainly not a problem that I would worry about. If anything I occasionally feel a little grinding going from 2nd to 3rd, that bothers me a lot more. This can happen during the summer and yes, I pressed the clutch pedal all the way in.