Hey guys,

Ever since I bought my 2000 2.0L 5spd Vitara about a year ago it's had a weird transmission problem.

Shifting into 1st gear at a stand still is very difficult. If I shift into 1st when I'm approaching a stop, no problems at all, it just slides right in. But once I've come to a stop, shifting from neutral to 1st requires an excessive amount of force. So much force that I'm very concerned for the well being of my shifter linkages.  

I can get around this problem by revving my motor to around 1000-1500 rpm before attempting to shift into 1st. This somehow seems to help.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar problem or if anyone can suggest what might be causing this issue?  

Thanks!

When at a stop... try shifting into reverse gear then back into first gear.  Don't try to "force" the shifter into gear.  If you try shifting into reverse gear I think you will find it shifts much smoother into first gear.  It isn't difficult to shift into first gear when stopped all the time is it?  How many miles are currently on your truck (and clutch)?

Have you changed the tranny fluid in your truck?  Do you know the last time it was changed?  There are several (recent) discussion posts on here about members favorite lube, but read your operator manual and have at it.  A lot of people drive their trucks forever without changing or even checking their tranny fluid levels.  Trannys need love and maintenance to keep functioning properly.

I've had mine for 7 years and it's been that way since I bought it.  I guess I don't think about it anymore, I just made a mental habit of slipping it into first before I roll to a stop

No - it's not a common problem - or at least not one that I'm aware of.

First question - will it shift into first easily if the vehicle is stationary and the engine off?
Second question - will it shift easily into reverse with then egine running and the vehicle stationary?

I'm thinking you have a clutch drag problem.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I just tried experimenting with shifting into reverse and then into 1st and while doing so I noticed something very peculiar.

Fordem, i think you may be onto something when you suggested the problem might be the clutch dragging.

With the car running and my foot on the brake, i noticed an unusual amount of gear grinding when trying to shift into reverse. Car still running and my foot off the brake i was able to find the reverse gear easier and as soon as it clunked into gear the car started to roll backwards ever so slightly.

Could it be that my clutch is not fully disengaging, and therefore the syncros on 1st are not allowing me to shift into gear??  How would could i go about confirming that that is indeed the problem?

Had the same exact problem.  Turned out my clutch release bearing was no sliding on the shaft and was worn and so was the clutch pressure plate.  The release bearing no longer slid freely on the shaft which caused it to eat into the pressure plate.  I have the old parts still so I could take pictures if there is interest.

Boy after reading this it's making me worry.  I've put about 60000 trouble free miles, it shifts like a hot knife through butter with  the exception of 5th to 4th, you have to double clutch, there were syncro issues when they were new, I just decided not to do anything about it.  It doesn't really bother me. Before you shift into reverse shift into 4th first, then it slips right into reverse without grinding.

With the car running and my foot on the brake, i noticed an unusual amount of gear grinding when trying to shift into reverse. Car still running and my foot off the brake i was able to find the reverse gear easier and as soon as it clunked into gear the car started to roll backwards ever so slightly.

There's your confirmation right there.

Start by making sure that clutch hydraulics are intact - no leaks, fluid to the high mark, maybe bleed it just to be sure - if the problem persists, it's time to drop the tranny and investigate.

Possible causes range from - as Frank mentioned - worn/binding release bearing, worn pressure plate fingers, oil on the clutch (you would think that that would make it slip, but apparently it burns and becomes sticky) and a bent or worn relase lever.

Perhaps the slave cylinder?

Perhaps the slave cylinder?

Yup - a bad slave cylinder is a possibility - but I covered that (along with the master) when I suggested he check the "hydraulics".

Oh man, I feel like a dummy, sorry about that......

Don't sweat it mate - I've found that sometimes terminology gets in the way - on your side of the atlantic you might call a part by a different name to the one I use, and asking question clarifies things for all concerned.

Yeah, I guess you're right, for some reason when I see hydraulics I always think of lines, never the parts, I guess I just had a senior moment.

Start by making sure that clutch hydraulics are intact - no leaks, fluid to the high mark, maybe bleed it just to be sure - if the problem persists, it's time to drop the tranny and investigate.

Possible causes range from - as Frank mentioned - worn/binding release bearing, worn pressure plate fingers, oil on the clutch (you would think that that would make it slip, but apparently it burns and becomes sticky) and a bent or worn relase lever.

I'll definitely have a good hard look at my clutch master and slave cylinder, but other then leaks and possibly air bubbles i wouldn't know what else to look for.

Another odd thing i've noticed a few times is what sounds like release bearing noise. Let's say i'm sitting in the drive through with my window down, foot off the clutch i can sometimes hear a slight rattle coming from the trans. I put my foot on the clutch and the noise goes away.

Could that be yet another indication that there is definitely something not right with my release bearing?

This is a little tricky for some people to follow - the clutch is engaged when it is transmitting drive, and disengaged when it's not - you depress the pedal to disengage the clutch, and release the pedal to engage it.  The clutch release bearing is actually used to disengage the clutch, and not used when the clutch is released.

Under normal circumstances, the clutch release bearing is not spinning when the clutch pedal is released, so if you get a noise with your foot off the clutch, it's not usually the release bearing, but more likely to be one in the transmission, usually the input shaft bearing.