# Hard Shifting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747>\
**Category:** Auto Type/Class\
**Tags:** nissan, trucks\
**Created:** [January 11, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747 "2009-01-11T19:37:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![podbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@podbean](https://community.cartalk.com/u/podbean)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/1 "2009-01-11T19:37:29Z")

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I have a 1997 Nissan truck, with a 5-speed manual trans. It has 126K miles. Especially when it’s cold outside, I can’t shift from 1st to 2nd, or do so with difficulty. All other gears are OK. I have to shift from 1st to 3rd and then after the truck warms up I can shift to 2nd. I’ve already replaced the gear oil in the transmission and have checked the hydraulic clutch fluid. What’s the problem?

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/2 "2009-01-11T19:46:20Z")

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What weight gear oil did you use? A higher number would make for a stiffer shift when cold. I made this mistake once, and went back to factory-spec gear lube of 75w-90. That fixed it.

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**Author:** ![podbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@podbean](https://community.cartalk.com/u/podbean)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/3 "2009-01-11T19:51:22Z")

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I used 85W-140, GL-5. Too heavy??

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/4 "2009-01-11T19:54:26Z")

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The fact your concern is only with the 1st to 2nd shift leads me to believe your problem is internal transmission related as a lubrication mismatch would show a sympton in all gears.

Does your trans call for “gear oil” or is there a ATF or similar fluid requirement for your trans.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/5 "2009-01-11T19:59:53Z")

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That’s what I put in my '90 Toyota when that happened. Replace with 75W-90, and see if it clears up.

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**Author:** ![podbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@podbean](https://community.cartalk.com/u/podbean)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/6 "2009-01-11T20:06:02Z")

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The owner’s manual calls for API GL-4 gear oil in the manual transmission.

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**Author:** ![podbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@podbean](https://community.cartalk.com/u/podbean)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hard-shifting/24747/7 "2009-01-11T20:12:12Z")

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Thank you; I think this inexpensive solution is at least worth a shot.