shifter stiff in 1st and 2nd...(long)

[A5295]

I am a new guy here, so bear with me. I was on my way back to work, and came to like the last intersection, and was heel-toe downshifting, geting ready to make the turn, and had some trouble getting into second. it was like it was hitting the synchro, grinding like a missed gear. I pulled it back out of gear and put it back in again, but had to stop hard because the light changed. when i got stopped, i could smell clutch burning, which is normal now that it has begun to slip a little, but when the light changed, it was stiff going back into first. i thought i wasn't gonna be able to get it back in gear. well, i got it in gear, but when i went to second, it was just as stiff, like something was binding the shifter. Third and 4th are fine, but that 1st and 2nd are just really stiff. What would cause this?

Thanks

:help

I checked it again an hour later and everything seemed ok. it was a little stiff, but still great in the rest of the gears, including reverse

I went back out a couple more after that and everything felt almost perfect. I moved it around the pattern a few times, and it then no longer would allow me to get into 1st or 2nd, whether it is running or not. will still go into 3-4-5-R. Any thoughts?

[theTony]

I'm going to copy this to the Nissan on line mechanic since it has been a few days...

[A5295]

thanks so much

Mike

[drjohn]

It is possible that you may have damaged a syncronizer or shift fork. There are detent balls that lock or hold the shifter in gear put I have rarely seen this type of failure.

[A5295]

I have talked to several mechanics, and have been told everything from my clutch to my master and slave cyl. I have also been told that i may have been blessed with the maxima curse-bearing failure. This would explain some of my issues, but i am just hoping not. How would i know the difference between bearing failure and synchronizer death? I originally thought it was a shift fork myself. with part of these conclusions, it seems as though a transmission rebuild/replacement is in order. Is there anything i could do to try to find out what it is, besides removing the transmission?

Thanks

Mike

[A5295]

Update...

It goes into gear and drives now, just that the clutch is so far gone that it barely moves. shifter feels like it is moved over slightly, but still shifts positively. no grinding or horrible binding that i can tell

Just gotta creep around everywhere.

What do you guys think?

[NISTECH]

get the clutch replaced. while the trans is out check all your linkage bushings, go through the shift pattern with the trans on the bench see if it goes into all the gears on the bench(you may need to rotate the input shaft when doing this. but if you can get it into all the gears with the little nub of a shift lever I would say all your internals are ok. replace the fluid in the trans (with synthetic if you drive it hard) then slam her back together and enjoy the ride!