1st gear hard to engage when moving? Four ways to deal with a stiff first gear

It’s called a safety feature!

Hi, when I learnt most cars did not have synchromesh on 1st gear, so I never changed down into 1st, except when stopped.
More recently most of my cars have enough power to pull away in second, on moderate hills.
I've had a diesel for last 20 years so pull away in 2nd is not a problem.
Double declutch is fine if you have a rev counter, are they standard these days?
Instructive video, thanks.

Recently bought an '09 suzuki swift with 68k miles on it. Reverse gear has been a nightmare to get into, it partially engages but everything about the gearstick and the outside noises say it's engaged, and when I let the clutch come up it makes a grinding noise. Every second attempt always works. Today I found the issues with first gear that you mentioned. I thank you for your advice and will try it tomorrow, but I should probably take it to the garage to get the gearbox oil looked at.

Push the clutch all the way in ,check for interference (floor mats)

Ive recently got a 2002 peugeot 206, and i love the car, but the only issue I have with it is that it sometimes wont shift into first gear. This is especially an issue when im downshifting on a steep hill. Once, I even had to stop mid hill, and lemme tell ya, as a learner driver, it is quite scary. Ill take it to a mechanic soon, hopefully he has some ideas on how we can fix it.

I’ve recently purchased a seat Leon with 57 thousand miles on it and the gear stick is quite stiff, I’m glad I’ve come across this video as I might look into changing the gear oil, Thankyou

you made my day mate
i was struggling with this problem for a very long time and now i know how to react
thanksss

Richard, where are you upto with the Leon gearbox, still on original with many oil changes??? I've clutch drag, thinking warped pressure plate or Master Cylinder or Slave Cylinder. Tricky few miles in warm select 1st or reverse, or release. Engine off, lovely gears

Thank you. I just got a 5 speed mirage and find it hard to get into 1st sometimes. I didn't even think about it only happening while moving and in my case you're right, my car shifts into 1st easily while stopped or off.

My 07 Impala is only going forward in manual 1 and 2 and it also moves in reverse, just not drive. I took a long drive low on trans fluid, could my forward drive band be broken?

Thought it was a problem cos I’ve just got a new car and it’s a bit stiff to get into 1st when going more than roughly 8mph, thanks for ensuring that there’s no problem with it 😂

Imagine if you tube was around before M/T had synchros....... try driving that

Great video, thank you.

Stop makes it worse.....need to just move forward 1 mph....then easy

modern bmw's have a clutch delay valve, so it's not unreasonable to give gas and even though you are pressing the clutch, due to the valve it takes a tad longer for it to actually disconnect thus giving some gas does increase gearbox input shaft speed

Tq so much! This help me so much 😭😭

Had the exact same issue on my ND Miata, I thought it was some major gearbox issue. Glad to know it isn't.

Failed my driving test today because of my first gear failing to engage at the junction. So this video will be beneficial to watch and see what I did wrong.

Hi I'm having and issue on my lessons where I'm having a near perfect drive but occasionally the gears won't go in or they pop out and solutions? I'm suspecting I'm trying to change to quickly but I'm not sure .

Your socks got my attention

Great video. But surely just get a car that goes into first gear? Like they're supposed to?

I was going about 8mph today and forced it a little to get out of traffic. What damage could I have done?

Mine likes to go in first between 10-0mph…. Doesnt wanna do it while stopped or while at a high speed

My first car has this intermittently and 80k miles, so I'm gonna try changing the oil/getting it changed, thanks!

Hey richard hope you well I wanted to ask that in my car selecting first gear has been a problem as it’s refusing to go in sometimes at a standstill I mean I manage to get in but they usually effort needed and while moving i need to get in to like 2-3 mph to get in first with struggle so I wonder should I change the oil as it has 79000 miles on clock and it’s seat Ibiza thanyou

Never ever go into 1ST gear when you're moving ..that's Fucking DUMB 😄😄

So I have a question. I was spirited driving tonight in the S2000. Noticed that as I am slowing down to a stop sign with brakes while in a higher gear, and then as I'm slowing down to the stop sign I push the clutch in and row the gear lever to 1st....I feel the shift lever is hitting marbles. I did naturally use the gradual pressure technique as I never force anything. I can feel through the shift level like the lever was hitting marbles , and there was no grinding sound. What was this? I was just preparing to come to a stop and to take off quickly in 1st gear.

Have this with my diesel kia, first is very difficult to get into on the move and second is quite tricky to get into aswell.

Surely its a design feature to prevent brutal changes from second to first? Have you contacted SEAT?

Passed last week with 4 minors with your help, my new car is having this problem so I’m gonna try these methods

Great videos. Informative but straightforward. Funny but not smarmy. And just a little bit adorable as well. I genuinely wish attaining a license were as challenging in the US as in other countries. I think I was eating a banh mi and updating my Myspace page while I took my exam and still passed.

grind it till u find it

I wonder if this is a Mazda thing. My miata and my rx8 would both never want to go into first if I reversed into a downward slope. I would have to pop it in second to get it out of that

your videos are awesome! i have been driving for almost a year and am still learning new things every time i watch one of your videos. cheers from the united states of america

I drive a classic mini with worn synchros. 1st gear will go in when you're at a standstill or if you rev match and double clutch. 2nd gear will 'crunch' if it's cold and you're changing up from 1st, or down from 3rd to 2nd, but if you double clutch and rev match it will go in nicely. 3rd gear you have to gently put in, but for me it adds to the character of the car. And when it does break I have a spare in my shed :D
My brother has a morris minor with no synchro on 1st at all. imagine putting that in first while on the move. :D

Dude, I was always taught 1st gear is pulling off gear. Meaning from a stand still. Not while you're on the move.

I have the same issue with my Mazda. Possibly an issue with Mazda manuals?

Started following you about 2 years ago when i was starting to learn driving. Got my license a few month back. Still learning the tricks to drive and come back to your videos time and again. Keep the good work. Love from Nepal

thank you I thought my engine would bog in 2nd gear under 10mph without downshifting i will try and use 2nd more at slower speeds

Is this not very similar to downshift rev matching? Except you're revving over a bit more?

prety much good!

Big thanks to you m8 your videos helped me pass my test first time.. your videos are very knowledgeable!!! I would recommend anyone starting driving to watch your videos.. its a great help.. thanks again

Thank you so much. I’ve been wondering about this for over ten years!

Great video mate . The only thing is pulling off in 2nd gear like that DOES wear the clutch far quicker

them shoes tho xD