Lately, I've had to really push the gear knob into first gear when coming out of neutral. This is a repeatable thing -- all I need to do is put it in neutral, let out the clutch, push in the clutch and RRRGGGG! strongarm it into first.

Fortunately I'm a strong guy. :)

cdelena mentioned the benefits of changing out the tranny fluid. Does this seem like it might be the culprit at ~8100 miles?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sunchild:
[B]cdelena mentioned the benefits of changing out the tranny fluid.

I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I suspect you're right. I don't really understand gearboxes, so I'm dangerously close to turning this over to a professional (yikes!)

I've had the same problem in former cars, a Mustang - but that was just the crappy T5, and the Miata - just filled it up with fluid and works fine. Nothing on the s2k's tranny should lock you out where you would need to force it into first.

I just wrote about this exact problem on the current "ATTN: grind problem" post. I have it as well at 8,800 miles, vin #8834.

Rossi: mine doesn't grind. That "RRRRGGG" is meant to signify my grunting. Not sure if you thought it was a grind or not.

Oh....I just read your post over there. It looks like yours isn't grinding when you're going from neutral to first either. It's a strange sensation, like something is just slightly misaligned and needs extra oomph to push the lever through.

No, this is a totally separate problem from 'the grind'. My grind problem has disappeared with the cold weather, but the 1st gear 'lockout' problem has surfaced. What is your VIN? Maybe it's only on the later cars?
Mike

mine does it too.. especially when cold.

I go into 2nd first then into 1st.

i have the same issue sometimes when the car is cold. It feels like the synchro ring is off or non-existant on first, so I do like Krazik does and shift into 2nd then slide into 1st.