This problem has plagued me in one form or another for a while. Recently I replaced the transmission in my '89 GXL with one from an S4. The reason I had to replace it was because the previous one got progressively harder to shift into 2nd gear.

Eventually, something popped and I was unable to shift it into 1st or 2nd. Imagine how difficult trying to get back home in a city with only 3rd+ was. Anyways, when I first got the car it had a similar problem where the transmission was stuck in two gears at once.

Currently I am starting to have difficulty shifting it into 2nd when it first starts up. I thought it might be a combination of cold weather and just old parts, but I am beginning to wonder. Is there anything that could cause two transmissions (possibly this third one) to have almost the same problem and go out? Or is it just bad luck?

 

Hey i have almost this exact problem. Now my tranny has 154,000 miles on it and i thought it was still going strong but recently i have been having trouble shifting into first and second when the car is still cold. When it is cold i can only shift into those gears when the car is stopped. But after the engine is warm and i have been driving for about 5-10 minutes i can shift fine. Sometimes when it is cold second gear feels like it grinds a just a little bit. I wonder if these problems are from the same cause. Hey if you find out what it is just post it because i just put a rebuilt engine in 500 miles ago and i plan on selling it soon but i wouldnt sell it if i knew that something was wrong with the tranny. Thanx a lot and if i find nething out i will post it

 

Any other suggestions or comments?

 

Its old tranny syndrome.... the downshift from third to second is the most common downshift... Its also the hardest... (your usually going much slower and/or stopped if you shift into first) Therefore, the syncros wear on 2nd gear the most... I put some red-line oil in the tranny and they helped a bit.. But I think its time for a rebuild.....

 

I have the same problem, i have to either double clutch or pause before shifting into 2nd. Im hoping a fluid change will fix it