I recently got back to the states, after almost a year of studying abroad, and went and picked up the car from storage. Before I left I changed all of the fluids and got the car ready to store and when I pulled it out it was really, really, hard to get into gear. It is like that with the car running and not running. Almost like something is binding in the housing, but nothing has been changed. I even verified the mileage to make sure no one has driven it.

Is this a common issue? Anyone have any thoughts?

2002 Berlina 43k on the clock.

 

Clutch fluid reservoir level?

 

+1

 

Fluid level is full. But, I wouldnt think that the fluid level would make it hard to shift with the car not running.

 

oh, maybe a bunch of deposits on the gears...maybe try putting some seafoam transmission formula in tehre and letting it soak, but youd have to drive it a bit to get the oil circulating.

 

you could have a bubble in your clucth line - i bled mine after a simlar problem earlier this week and it seemed to fix it.

 

The bubble in your clutch line caused it to be hard to shift even when the car was not running?

 

bEr2k Posted on Dec 19 2008, 11:12 PM
Was it also changed before storing the car?

When the car is hard to shift when the engine is not running it could be:
#1 Clutch is not disengaging fully (air is slave, bad fluid, ect)
#2 Clutch disk is sticking to the input shaft and the disk can't break free from the flywheel, IOW the inputshaft is not free to turn.
(is not easy to fix )

Does it get any better driving the car longer, getting some heat into all parts again?

 

even if the fluid was low once you throw through the gears it would align all the gears up so it wouldnt be an issue.

 

change out the tranny fluid, possibly could help