OK this may very well be a stupid question. I just got my t5 installed and at times it wont shift into gear; its not all the time and it's no specific gear. it is kinda spuratic. This is just with the carOFF mind you, I havnt driven it yetor even turned it on because this kinda worries me... Any ideas, I am clueless with manuals

 

The clutch is the only thing that comes to mind.
My old toploader would shift into 3rd engine off but I had to push the clutch in to get it out.

 

If the car is not running, this is totally and completely normal!!

The gears kind of need to be in motion for the tranny to change effectivly...

The reason being is that when the tranny is not moving, some of the "gears" will be in a position where they will not slide together... in other words some of the "gears" are aligned "high spot to high spot" when they need to be "high spot to low spot" to properly engage.

"Gears" can also "lock" in the same fashion when the car is running but not moving and the clutch is pressed in. Often the clutch will have to be let up just a little to get things moving alittle before the tranny will go into gear.

This effect is more pronounced on a new tranny,than one withwear. Once they wear in a little this effect becomes less and less pronounced.

 

Incidentally, the reason this issue moves from gear to gear is because as the tranny is put into one gear, the shafts move just a little bit... this movement aligns one "gear" and un-aligns another..... and so on, and so on....

 

+ 1 on ^
and, if its a new or rebuilt trans, it might need a little breaking period of a couple days of driving.

 

Thanks alot guys, I was sweatin bullits there for a minute because like I said this is my first manual and I dont know Sh*$ about them

 

Yea,,, don't sweat it.... and also....

Damn nice looking car! Catches my eye everytime..

 

lol at you: sitting around granny shifting not double clutching like you should[8D]

 

LOL ROFLMAO!
I live my life 10 seconds @ a time.(In a 14 second mazda with 500lbs of stereo equipment in it.)

 

thanks alot JMD... Now with this swap complete I can check the last thing off of my to do list