Hey I was driving around today and twice at a stop sign I had trouble getting the shifting to go into 1st. It kinda felt like trying to get into reverse without liftin the reverse lockout. I was not moving when this happened. I tried putting the gear into 2nd or 3rd and neutral and it worked, then I could put it back into first (after putting it to neutral for a sec). Is this normal? I got around 200kms on my car and I dont abuse it.

 

Nahh, nothing to worry about man.. mine has done it a couple times. It just happens when things dont line up right away. No need to fret

 

it happens, let in and out on the clutch a couple times and it should go in.

 

i too have had this problems and it worried me....glad to know i'm not alone

 

So clutch in while in neutral then let it out fully, then clutch in and try 1st gear again?

Thanks for the quick helpful replies- I was pretty surprised as I was the first one at the light and I was holding everyone up and I was just like "WTF IT WONT GO INTO FIRST". Is this part of the breakin or does it happen to u even at 5000miles.

edit: Ive read about some problem with the linkage pin in the shifter, is this similar?

 

Or just roll back/forward a tiny bit if you're on a hill. Then it will all mesh correctly.

 

or if it keeps happening alot you can adjust the linkage more to your liking. i had to do this when i put my short shift on. you can just pop up the cup holder and piece around it and adjust it a lil.

 

you know for what its worth, my dad used to drive chevy's (had a 69 z28) and when we first got the cobalt, he would do this whenever he came to a complete stop and i couldnt understand -

as he was coming to a stop he'd either go into second, or neutral and glide into the stop.
then before starting up again, he would (with the clutch in obviously) shift into second then into first
when i asked him why he just said something along the lines of "thats what he used to do"
after looking it up - it seems shifting like that helps line up the tranny - allowing a smooth transition back into first...

tried it out myself b/c the same problem happened for me, and i've been doing it ever since no problems...

 

I do this all the time when going into Reverse... Clutch, shift to 5th, pull up on the collar, and then R. I never do it for first unless I experience the lockout, which is completely normal BTW.

 

hes right....if you try to go into first (or any gear) and it give you trouble shift to neutral and try again....don't keep trying because youll grind it

 

its normal, i just put it in 4th then nuetral then second then first and goes right in. o well

 

1) Engage clutch in neutral
2) Blip throttle
3) Disengage clutch
4) Shift to first
5) Profit

 

Hmm interesting technique. Might have to give this a try my self.

 

wow worked for me