Alright guys,

I recently bought a used 2004 Crossfire, 30k miles and I am having some issues with the manual gearbox. Its not the easiest to get into reverse gear, and infact 1st and 2nd aren't very smooth either. I have read on the internet that it can be a bit notchy, but it is literally like I am trying to force it into reverse sometimes. Is this normal on this cars manual box? I have never owned a mercedes, but have had plenty of other cars from fiats to bmw's and have never experienced anything like this. It seems especially worse when starting from cold, and in order to get it into reverse I often have to put it ito 1st gear first.

Any help/advice/known issues much appreciated.

Cheers

 

Mine is an ‘06 and I do find the gear box a little stiff when starting from cold, but not that bad (my Skoda was a bit like that, so I know what you mean). It gets better when the car has warmed up. Maybe yours needs a bit of adjusting?

 

I have an '05 with 25k miles. There are rare occasions where it will not go into reverse - but if I put it in neutral, let out the clutch, and then push the clutch back in, it will go into reverse with no problem. I have seen similar operation on other sticks that I've driven. Oh, and 1st to 2nd is worse when it's cold, but still isn't the smoothest even when warm...

 

I believe there was a TSB for the 6 spds. that had a problem going into reverse.
But the notchy 1-2 shift is pretty much status quo for many 6 speeds. But it usually gets better as it warms up.

 

Thanks guys, looks like I will just need to get used to it. Other than that, loving the car, thank god for that traction control on the icy roads though!

 

In winter the oil is thicker and causes more drag on the components, thats why its better when warmed up. You can try engaging reverse before you start it up. Then start it with the clutch pedal down.

Or, let the hand brake off before putting it in gear can help.

 

Or sell it and buy an auto, I don't have any issues finding reverse!

Alan.

 

Does anyone know where I can find documentation of this? I brought my car to the dealer 4 times in the past 5 months and every time emphasize my problem with the reverse. Same as mentioned above. It feels locked in but than grinds, I put it in nuetral, cycle the clutch pedal and usually will get it the second time. They say they put it in reverse 20 times and couldn't get it to do it. Yet I cringe with anticipation every single time I have to put it in reverse. He said there's no TSB on my 6spd, only an older year auto.

 

Double-declutching. Wow! It’s not something I’ve had to do regularly since my Skoda Estelle days!

There is a general stiffness around the gear box when I start mine from cold, and over winter this has been pretty obvious. When the car warms up, the gear box gets smoother. I’ve not had a problem with the reverse. Have you actually shown the mechanics the problem? Letting them find it by themselves may be a highway to failure.

 

Nah, def NOT any double
Clutching here! Just was a shortened version of exactly how "OKC-XFR" did a series of steps and then could get it to go into reverse.

 

This is why I bought an auto even though I could have got a manual for around £6,000 cheaper.
I read so many horror stories on here about the manual jumping out of first gear and being diffuicult to get the gears in fact the one Jeremy Clarkson tested on Top Gear kept jumping out of first gear.


Norrie.

 

I park mine in gear and press the clutch down when starting, and I've found that takes care of any gear selection issues when starting from cold. The odd occassion when I've not done this, I've found selecting 2nd, then going into reverse solves the problem. Funny gearbox I've got to admit, but every manual gearbox I've used, many makes and models from Audi to VW and everything in between, has had it's niggles. I haven't found a car with a perfect 'box yet! I'm still not convinced by an automatic as a satisfactory alternative, which is why I stuck with my original choice of the manual. I just don't get on with auto 'boxes.

Incidentally I've not experienced any jumping out of 1st gear. And I hope I never do!

 

Hi All
I to leave the car in 2rd gear when parking up & always put clutch down when starting , Back in the day you had to put the chutch down so you only turn the engine over & not the gearbox (batteries have come along way) . Yes the gears are alittle notchy for a few miles but the whole car is still cold , But i have never had the gear jump out of first even if you red line it .


Cheers

Andy

 

I always assumed you had to press the clutch pedal to start all these car as a safety measure. Are the UK cars able to start without pressing the clutch down?

 

Yes you can start the car without having the clutch peddle down. Most of the cars I've had I've taken out of gear before starting as that is a little easier, but leaving the car in a gear, usually 1st or reverse, when starting with the clutch down makes selecting 1st or reverse a doddle compared to the occassions when the gearbox simply refuses! When I first test drove the car I thought "uh oh, clutch has gone, or gearbox is kaput". Then I read this forum and had the garage check everything and realised it was just the way of the Crossfire. A small price to pay for a stunning set of wheels

 

In addition to the above, I've seen on the forum people having a bit of difficulty with 1st to 2nd on occassion expecially when cold. I find that not being too eager to change gear early in the rev range helps. I'm not saying rev the nuts off the car when the engine is cold, I am suggesting that changing too early is not helping the gear shift so smoothly, possibly because the oil and syncro are not being allowed to do their job efficiently? I've had cars with gearboxes that are known to have a particularly notchy (or grumpy as I like to call it!) gear, and I've found that allowing the revs to flow more allows the gearbox to work more efficiently. Your natural reaction when the engine is cold is to change gear very early, but I find this is when the gearbox on most cars is at it's worst.

 

Hi All
If you have problems with first gear just do not use it , I always leave my Xfire in 2rd gear when parked up , If i am having problem getting 1st try put it into 2rd gear then back into 1st also the same with reverse . As i am always in 2rd when getting into the Xfire i think it helps .


Cheers

Andy