Incredibly hard to get into 1st gear with engine on - V8V
Discussion
Hello! First post here after a long time lurking. I've had my gorgeous 07MY Vantage for almost three months now, and decided to go for a leisure drive around the Alps. Everything went fine throughout the week, until it was time to head back.
I was quite tired and decided to take the boring road back home from Chamonix to Calais, so I was doing 130km/h with Cruise, on 6th gear all the way - with almost no cars on the highways, it was uneventful.
Around Paris or so, after stopping to pay the toll, I found it extremely hard to get into 1st gear. I thought it was simply because the gear hadn't been used in the past 300 miles or so.
Stopping for fuel, same thing. It became like going through very dense putty whenever I wanted to put it into 1st or reverse, and then from 1st to 2nd. Every other gear was fine.
I stopped again, and with the engine off, I went through all 7 gears without any friction or difficulty. Even without using the clutch. However, as soon as I started the engine, the issue came back.
I barely did 3k miles on the car since I got it with 30k, and I have the RAC Gold warranty.
Any ideas on what the problem might be? Is the clutch simply gone? cylinder? transmission fluid? I've booked a garage in the upcoming week, but I'd like to hear if anyone has experienced this issue before.
Cheers!
Patrik
(edit)
Here are some photos of her:
I was quite tired and decided to take the boring road back home from Chamonix to Calais, so I was doing 130km/h with Cruise, on 6th gear all the way - with almost no cars on the highways, it was uneventful.
Around Paris or so, after stopping to pay the toll, I found it extremely hard to get into 1st gear. I thought it was simply because the gear hadn't been used in the past 300 miles or so.
Stopping for fuel, same thing. It became like going through very dense putty whenever I wanted to put it into 1st or reverse, and then from 1st to 2nd. Every other gear was fine.
I stopped again, and with the engine off, I went through all 7 gears without any friction or difficulty. Even without using the clutch. However, as soon as I started the engine, the issue came back.
I barely did 3k miles on the car since I got it with 30k, and I have the RAC Gold warranty.
Any ideas on what the problem might be? Is the clutch simply gone? cylinder? transmission fluid? I've booked a garage in the upcoming week, but I'd like to hear if anyone has experienced this issue before.
Cheers!
Patrik
(edit)
Here are some photos of her:
Edited by eolix on Wednesday 5th June 13:51
Thanks for the reply guys, I couldn't respond yesterday as there was some kind of forum-wide block for new users.
The issue indeed is very random. This morning, with a very cold car, I couldn't feel any problems at all. It is worrying that it can happen at any given time, however.
Thanks again!
Patrik
The issue indeed is very random. This morning, with a very cold car, I couldn't feel any problems at all. It is worrying that it can happen at any given time, however.
Graze01 said:
not sure of this will help but I would get the transaxle oil changed out as a first step to see if new fluid helps
I will book a transaxle fluid change ASAP as I don't think I'll be able to do it myself (after watching the redpants video).john ryan said:
This has happened without other changes, so I would suspect a dragging clutch. Is it the same if you try to select second with the engine running.
Yes, it happens with second gear too, albeit slightly easier than 1st. Gears 3-6 are fine. Is this something I can adjust myself? Hydraulic fluid change or purge?Thanks again!
Patrik
Edited by eolix on Wednesday 5th June 13:00
john ryan said:
This has happened without other changes, so I would suspect a dragging clutch. Is it the same if you try to select second with the engine running.
I would say the same. I had experience with other cars, where the problem got worse when evrything was heated up.
When the clutch not fully opens, engaging 1st becomes difficult.
Could be air inside the clutch circuit -->bleed.
TR-Spider said:
I would say the same.
I had experience with other cars, where the problem got worse when evrything was heated up.
When the clutch not fully opens, engaging 1st becomes difficult.
Could be air inside the clutch circuit -->bleed.
Thank you for the insight, hopefully it's a minor issue. I'll write an update when I get back from the garage.I had experience with other cars, where the problem got worse when evrything was heated up.
When the clutch not fully opens, engaging 1st becomes difficult.
Could be air inside the clutch circuit -->bleed.
I don't have an Aston but in other cars these symptoms, coupled with the fact that the gearbox selects without issue when the engine is off, have been caused by a failing slave cylinder. As above I don't think needing a fluid change would make such a rapid difference and I don't think the engine being off would affect that either.
Thank you all for the kind help and suggestions! A long overdue reply, only because I went through quite an odyssey...
Basically the dealership I bought the car from refused to even acknowledge the issue, so I was on my own (no monetary help, even partial). I got some quotes for clutch replacements from 3 different garages, and was very tempted by the V12 twin-plate swap (David Appleby)
However... you guys were right.
Since the car's yearly service was almost due (August), I took it to McGurk to get both the transaxle and clutch/brake fluids completely drained and checked for metal shavings (came clear - phew!), and replaced by the proper, quality liquids - on top of the regular yearly.
Car works great now - it really does. The clutch and gear changes are incredibly smooth, like never before.
I'm not sure which of the fluids did the trick, but I'm assuming having the correct ones replaced (especially after long trips), is well worth it.
So, again, thanks to this great community! Off to enjoy some b-roads!
Basically the dealership I bought the car from refused to even acknowledge the issue, so I was on my own (no monetary help, even partial). I got some quotes for clutch replacements from 3 different garages, and was very tempted by the V12 twin-plate swap (David Appleby)
However... you guys were right.
Since the car's yearly service was almost due (August), I took it to McGurk to get both the transaxle and clutch/brake fluids completely drained and checked for metal shavings (came clear - phew!), and replaced by the proper, quality liquids - on top of the regular yearly.
Car works great now - it really does. The clutch and gear changes are incredibly smooth, like never before.
I'm not sure which of the fluids did the trick, but I'm assuming having the correct ones replaced (especially after long trips), is well worth it.
So, again, thanks to this great community! Off to enjoy some b-roads!
I find it hard to get into 1st gear as well.
It's like the stick throws half of the way from neutral into 1st, and I can feel it thud into this midway position. Then most of the time it'll continue on and thud into 1st gear. But maybe 20% of the time it won't want to complete the second half of the throw, and I have to pull it back to neutral, release the clutch pedal, re-press the pedal, and shift into 1st.
With my limited knowledge I'm speculating that the gear selector collar is engaging the synchro (1st half of throw) but not the gear.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Can you feel two 'thuds' or steps to get into first gear?
It's like the stick throws half of the way from neutral into 1st, and I can feel it thud into this midway position. Then most of the time it'll continue on and thud into 1st gear. But maybe 20% of the time it won't want to complete the second half of the throw, and I have to pull it back to neutral, release the clutch pedal, re-press the pedal, and shift into 1st.
With my limited knowledge I'm speculating that the gear selector collar is engaging the synchro (1st half of throw) but not the gear.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Can you feel two 'thuds' or steps to get into first gear?
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff