# Trouble shifting into second gear **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** jetta, volkswagen\ **Created:** [February 6, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-shifting-into-second-gear/60966 "2011-02-06T15:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jetta01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@jetta01](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jetta01)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-shifting-into-second-gear/60966/1 "2011-02-06T15:07:21Z")
I have a 2001 jetta 5 speed. While driving yesterday, I had trouble shifting into second gear. When I took the car out of second, I would hear a slight popping sound. Shifting into the other gears was fine. ---
**Author:** ![giganticMechanic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/57b2e6/32.png) [@giganticMechanic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/giganticMechanic)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-shifting-into-second-gear/60966/2 "2011-02-06T16:15:14Z")
i think this jetta takes 80W-90 gear oil . this oil would be very thick in the winter time. add a few years of wear on the second gear syncronizer, then it would have a hard time shifting. do you notice the shifter takes more force to move it until the car warms up? i switched to Red Line manual transmission oil in a jetta with much improved shifting. this oil is a synthetic and much thinner. ---
**Author:** ![jetta01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@jetta01](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jetta01)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trouble-shifting-into-second-gear/60966/3 "2011-02-06T16:44:16Z")
Thank you for your response. The problem started after driving on a highway for 2 hours. There did not seem to be much difference in the problem when the car was warmed up or cool.