I have a new '06 Coupe (1400 miles) The throw from 1st to 2nd is sometimes difficult to make. Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd is also sometimes difficult. Its as if something is binding. The throws to all other gears are smooth. Has anyone else had this problem? Will it loosen up over time by itself or is adjustment/repair needed?

I've heard so many horror stories about Chrysler dealers inability to work on Crossfires that I'm really scared to take it in to the local dealer if I don't have to. (I didn't buy it there and they have sold very few Crossfires so I doubt they have any mechanics with significant Crossfire experience.

 

Some think it gets better with age, others feel no change as the miles pile up. Mine seemed to get better, and by the time I rolled over 30k it seemed to be shifting smoother. But I chose to have the transmission fluid flushed, and with the new fluid installed, it seemed to shift harder.
I found out it comes from the factory filled with ATF 4, but they refill it with synthetic motor oil. (Per factory recommendations)
Usually after it warms up it shifts a little better. As long as it's not popping out of gear, and/or not hard to get into reverse, there really isn't much they can do to make it better.
I think the more you drive your car, the more you'll "learn" the "quirks" of your tranny. Either that, or you just simply get use to it.

 

I agree with AMX...mine was a tiny bit "difficult" with the 1-2 shift when new, but with 4,000 miles on it, I'm either used to it or it has gone away because it is fine now...

 

Mine was hard to shift when I got it (22000), and its still hard to shift after 32000.

 

My 6 speed BEGS to be REVed. To avoid a clunk.....rev match....i.e., if you're downshifting from 3rd to 2nd....UP the RPMs before you drop it into 2nd........this is especially important if you're dropping it down a gear with the intention of maintaining or even increasing your speed. Done properly, this is one sweet transmission. Starting out in 1st to 2nd & on to 3rd, etc....don't let off the gas as you shift ( I've driven sticks almost all my life & somehow not letting off the gas still goes against my natural tendencies, but when I force myself to NOT let off the gas...I've never had a bad shift???)....

As a matter of fact, I've even started slightly upping the revs & have been shifting at higher speeds from 2nd to 1st.....takes a little guts ..

 

Thanks for the info. At least I'm relieved about not needing to take it to the dealership!

 

I agree with most of the above - the Crossfire has been reviewed as having a "notchy" shift from 1st to 2nd. This was a small concern me till I read about others experiences. It has also gotten better (12K) or I have gotten use to it. Shifting at higher revs seems to significantly improve the shift or conversely shifting at very low revs like when you want to crawl at 20 mph. Also noted a been more in cold temperatures but that is to be expected.

Chris L. Interesting comment on not letting off the gas to shift - I will have to try that

 

I got mine at 24K and it has the "popping out" issue and I am very afraid to bring it in...(has happend about 3-4 times in 3k) But I have to say the 1-2 shift has gotten better from when I first drove it. I have a feeling it is a little bit of getting used to it and a little bit of it working better. I know a lot of people totally ignore downshifts when stopping especially the 2-1 and I think rowing the gears up and down is what has helped mine. Even if your not letting the clutch out in first I think performing that 2-1 shift helps notch it out. If anything it helps put the motion into muscle memory which probably makes the biggest difference. (also I think the way the center console gets used as an armrest while shifting lends to a pull that is less straight back and more towards the right)

 

Airscape, I believe there is a TSB on the trannys that are popping out of gear. If you don't trust your dealer to fix it properly, then ask around and see if there isn't another dealer near you that's more trustworthy.
You may wind up with a whole new transmission.

 

It is def a problem with the first batch, I just hate to leave it anywhere with random people. I bought at Carmax so I really don't want them messing around with it, also haven't heard anything good about a dealer in about a 60+ mile radius. I got a giant nail/metal chunk in the tire on Saturday, and cant get the PS2s in until Thursday, I am sweating bullets thinking about it parked over behind the shop limping. (had to have it towed) I will give in eventually but it's still to much of a baby to me lol. On my warranty to do list (headlight fog, loud noise when closing door with window down, trunk rattle, 1st gear pop out/scare the **** out of you, paint flaking on front left rim) I will drive myself insane thinking about the mess ups that can occur getting these fixed. I almost want to bring it in and get one done at a time. Anyway sorry for hijacking! and thanks for the info fire.

 

I have about 14k on my 04 and I really don't feel a problem. I very seldom use first gear under normal conditions, but I don't think it is any stiffer than most other euro transmission.

 

Took mine in today for the same issue. Something is wrong with the "Transmission Linkage" according to the dealer. They had to order a special tool to work on the transmission, so I am not sure if the fix will work yet.

 

Both my 05 and 07 are notchy going from 1st to 2nd, at least compared to the two Audis I own. The 05 seems to have loosened up a little now that it passed 32k, but you've got to find the right groove coming back to second and then it snicks right in. I find that groove when coming back a little towards my leg rather than what feels like straight back in a "normal H".

 

It's normal. I have a "07 with 16,000 now. It's gotten better but still gotta use some muscle sometimes.

 

I've spent 5 months driving, and putting 10k miles on my car since I had the trans fluid changed at 30k (just before the 1st. Fall Dragon run last year). And I think I'd recommend NOT changing the the original ATF4 that comes from the factory, to Synthetic motor oil.
Even though the EXCELLENT technician that worked on my car (during the mouse that roared debacle) said that the synthentic motor oil Chrysler says to change it to is more "slippery" than the ATF, I still think it shifted better with the ATF.

 

Got my car at 20,000 kms and the shifting was disgusting when cold.

The car now has 70,000 kms on it and it shifts great!

Strang but true.

Synthetic oil doesn't help shifting because the syncros need a bit of friction to align, no doubt synthetic helps with gear wear and bearing life but hurts in ease of shifting. Using a thinner oil will help with cold weather shifting,(I'm not recomending this, just stating)

 

Just wanted to share something I have been trying... these past few days have been pretty chilly. But as I warmed my car up, I held the clutch in and went through the gears a few times. The shifting was a lot easier for second gear and realized I did not notice the "notchiness" enough to think about it... so it must of helped.

 

No problems here, but when I had the Sprint Booster installed, I had to relearn how to drive the car to keep from lurching into things.

 

This is why buying early Crossfires with low mileage is risky. In some cases, you're getting a bargain, but some early cars have what are essentially "unfixable" problems from the perspective of cost and time.

The 6MT transmission was known to have hard shifting issues in 1st and/or 2nd gear. To my mind there's nobody who has "solved" this issue short of using the "shift harder" method. There is a TSB out on lubrication of the input shaft and splines, but to me the issue sounds to me like the synchronizers themselves are either faulty or out-of-spec. So, who're you gonna call? I have no idea. Someone would have to open up the transmission and examine the 1-2 synchro assembly. My guess is that this is neither cheap nor easy.

That's why before anyone attempts to purchase a used Crossfire with a manual transmission, they should always drive the car first and check the transmission.