M5 won't shift into any gear when stopped *FIXED*

[98Camaro3.8]

This problem seems to be getting worse and worse lately. While I'm moving, everything's fine. But when I stop, sometimes I have a really hard time getting it to go into gear. Sometimes it's really hard, other times it's not too bad, but it's always there. Once I force it into gear, it'll go smoothly into the others, but if I let off the clutch and try to get into gear again it's just as hard. When it won't go into gear, I can hold pressure on the shifter and let off the clutch completely, with no grinding.

I wouldn't think it's a syncro problem, since it won't go into [i]any[i] gear. Wouldn't think bad clutch because I can let off without grinding, so it must be something in the linkage. I thought maybe the shifter had come loose from the tranny, so I torqued all 4 bolts down with no result. Next I'll try swapping back to the stock shifter to see if that helps. Anyone have any other ideas?

[ October 30, 2003: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]</p>

[CamaroRob97]

Is your fluid level fine?

[98Camaro3.8]

Yup, changed it a couple weeks ago, still fine.

[OneQuickV6]

Mine did the same thing right before I lost 5th and reverse. See my thread a couple posts down. It wouldn't let me into ANY gear when the car was stopped, which is weird because that's when you should be able to go into any of them regardless. But, we're dropping my tranny tonight, and taking it to the shop tomorrow. I'll let ya know what happens.

[98Camaro3.8]

Well, I put the stock shifter back on. The Shift Shaft felt almost completely dry, so I put a bit of grease on it. Driving it around the next day, it seemed to be a little bit better...not fixed, but not anywhere near as bad. Now that it's been a week, it feels worse than it did before. Think I'm gonna take it to the shop this Friday and have them diagnose it.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe it is the clutch? Feels like it just won't grab like it used to. But it still holds under hard acceleration, and can still chirp second. Plus the problem is only when I'm stopped. While driving, everything feels fine. Any thoughts?

[ October 18, 2003: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]</p>

[98Camaro3.8]

Took it to the shop last week, and on the test drive the guy said it was just the clutch wearing out. It's got 66,000 miles, so I guess it was about time for a new clutch. Had him put a new one on and it's perfect. And after driving around for a week with the stock shifter, 5 minutes after I got home I put the Ripper back on. I had forgotten how great the Ripper was! Just glad everything's back to where it should be. :D

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
It's got 66,000 miles, so I guess it was about time for a new clutch. Had him put a new one on and it's perfect. I had forgotten how great the Ripper was! :D <hr></blockquote>

Congrats on getting everything worked out [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
I don't know if GM put on some spectacular clutch on my car when it was built, but I have plenty more miles on my stock clutch (well over 120k), and I can't seem to wear it down.
Oh, and the ripper rules!!! :D [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I have one, and love it!

-Marc