# Sticky Manual 5-speed Transmission **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 16, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728 "2013-04-16T17:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ajflanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@ajflanz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ajflanz)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/1 "2013-04-16T17:27:26Z")
2006 mini cooper, 5 speed manual 113 thousand miles got it in 2010 2 previous owners never had any previous troubles learned how to drive stick with the car stiff shifting, takes a lot of effort to shift to second, 3rd, and fourth, and it’s very difficult to shift 5th and reverse. –most difficult to shift diagonally–2nd to 3rd, 4th to 5th, 1st to reverse. –whole neutral area very stiff then, once in gear, runs just as smooth as it’s always run. no noise when shifting has been going on for a couple of months, turning point around when I had an inexperienced manual driver drive the car–they shifted in a very jerky way. also, hard winter up in maine, but I was always quick to shovel out the car. Anyone have any suggestions? The manual couldn’t tell us how to check the transmission fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/2 "2013-04-16T17:31:33Z")
When is the last time the transmission oil was checked/changed? It’s not particularly likely to be the cause of your problem, but changing the transmission oil couldn’t hurt, and just might improve things. I suggest you take the car to a mechanic and ask him to change the transmission oil. The job usually costs about $40. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/3 "2013-04-16T20:57:17Z")
Maybe the clutch is dragging. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/4 "2013-04-16T21:34:34Z")
First thing I though was the transmission gear oil. Not that the stuff wears out, but many manual transmissions today take ATF instead of gear oil so check the owners manual to find out what oil is used in your MT and then have it checked to see if that is in fact what is in there. ok4450 also has a good suggestion and it is simple to check, how does it shift with the engine off. If it shifts smoothly with no drag with the engine off, the issue could be in the clutch. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/5 "2013-04-16T22:59:46Z")
“whole neutral area very stiff” I suspect a problem in the coupling from shift lever to the trans. A binding bushing, bent part or dry cable. Something like that. Find a good independent non-chain transmission shop. ---
**Author:** ![JayWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@JayWB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JayWB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/6 "2013-04-17T05:56:03Z")
If it’s easier to shift with the engine NOT running the clutch is not releasing. If it isn’t easier to shift with the engine not running: 1.) if it has an external shifter it needs lubricated. 2.) if it has an internal shifter the transmission is almost certainly low on lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-manual-5-speed-transmission/78728/7 "2013-04-17T18:15:13Z")
All responses above are excellent. Did you first notice this when cold weather set in, and does it seem to be temperature dependent? If so, I would suspect that previous owner had the transmission oil changed and the wrong fluid was put in it. I did that to my '81 Toyota once.