Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) NV5600 Shifter Movement

[Fredro]

I've had my truck now for about a month, and I'm curious as to how "out of whack" my shifter really is.



The way you have to position the stick in this truck is unlike anything else I've ever seen. It's almost as if there's some internal plate in the trans thats shifted, and won't allow me to pull it into gears normally. In fact, most people that drive my truck, can't get it into any gear without me telling them the right movement.



For example, here's what you have to do to get it into gear(all movements from N):



1st: Straight left and up (no probs here)

2nd: Straight left, and down at a "4:00" angle.

3rd: Straight up at "11:00" position"

4th Straight down from 3rd

5th: Worst gear to grab from neutral, almost straight right , and then back to about 10:00.

6th: straight down from 5th at almost 4:00 position

R: Most messed up gear I think-have to go straight right then up at least 2 or 3 times for it even to engage. Once it engages, it usually grinds.



I am also getting a nasty 5th to 6th gear grind whenever I shift fairly quickly.



Hopefully someone has experienced this, and can lend a hand. I tried searching, but I don't even know what to search for at this point.



Thanks in advance, for all the help.

 

[elamb]

My shifting is the same, but I haven't ever had a grind from 5th to 6th. Although I believe there was a thread not long ago that talked about the grind from 5th to 6th. You might try searching for that. Good luck!



Eric

 

[Sticks]

If you are grinding, I'd say your clutch is on the way out. My reverse is the same as yours, I dont keep whacking at it, I just slowly come up on the clutch and it slides right in. Every NV transmission that I have had, always had a gear the would not drop into easy at a dead stop.



As for the funky pattern, I can't help ya. I get lost in mine on the downshifting occasionally, but the upshift pattern seems clean.

 

[slo-ryde]

The 6 speed isn't the easiest transmission to shift. One thing I've learned is to relax and not force the shifts. When the truck is new the shifting is pretty notchy. I've got 16,000 miles on the truck and in my opinion it's shifting real nice now. One thing I discovered with the help of the dealer is it shifts better if you mash the clutch down all the way. Are you depressing the clutch fully on shifts? That might explain some of the grinding you mentioned.



I still have trouble getting into second when pulling away from a dead stop. Reverse is still a tough gear to get into but will probably improve over time. My smoothest shifts are third to fourth, fifth to sixth. Give your truck a little more time to break in, most people with the 6 speed feel better after a few months of driving.

 

[Fredro]

I agree with letting it "break in" if you will, but the truck has 86k on it now. I'm just wondering if the previous owner was a big burly guy that just beat the **** out it at this point. I might try to disassemble the top part of the shifter myself when I get some free time, but we'll play that one by ear, I guess. I have no problem driving the truck, it's everybody else (only a few select people) that can't get it figured out.

Originally posted by slo-ryde

The 6 speed isn't the easiest transmission to shift. One thing I've learned is to relax and not force the shifts. When the truck is new the shifting is pretty notchy. I've got 16,000 miles on the truck and in my opinion it's shifting real nice now. One thing I discovered with the help of the dealer is it shifts better if you mash the clutch down all the way. Are you depressing the clutch fully on shifts? That might explain some of the grinding you mentioned.



I still have trouble getting into second when pulling away from a dead stop. Reverse is still a tough gear to get into but will probably improve over time. My smoothest shifts are third to fourth, fifth to sixth. Give your truck a little more time to break in, most people with the 6 speed feel better after a few months of driving.

 

[slo-ryde]

Originally posted by Fredro

I agree with letting it "break in" if you will, but the truck has 86k on it now. I'm just wondering if the previous owner was a big burly guy that just beat the **** out it at this point. I might try to disassemble the top part of the shifter myself when I get some free time, but we'll play that one by ear, I guess. I have no problem driving the truck, it's everybody else (only a few select people) that can't get it figured out.

You mentioned having the truck for a month, I just assumed it was new. I see from your signature that it's not. It sounds like you might have a problem. Let us know what you find...

 

[1tuffram]

I have 5500 miles on my NV5600 and if anything it is getting more notchy and harder to shift as it "breaks-in". Like mentioned this transmission dosn't like to be rushed when shifting. When shifting I usually press the clutch pedal to the floor, let the engine RPM come back to idle and the truck coast a little to let everything all get in harmony before attempting the shift. This helps but the shifts are still notchy and the person following me almost rear-ends me due to these slow shifts (but if I try and shift any faster she won't go in without using excessive force and then it is a really notchy engagment along with some gear mesh). The only gear that has gotten easier to go in is Reverse. When the truck was new I would spend a long time tring to find reverse. I'm not sure if I have a problem or if this is "The nature of the beast", but I can tell you for around town driving my 5 speed is a dream to drive compared to this 6 speed beast!!!



PS: forgot to mention on the 6 speed is it normal when you are at a stop light and put the transmission in neutral, then when going to put it into gear for it to feel like like something is "catching" to prevent it from going completely into gear?? I have no problem when I coast up to a stop light, push the clutch in, shift into neutral, then when the light turns green to shift into gear (keeping the clutch pedal mashed to the floor to whole time and not letting it out when in neutral waiting for the light). I'm wondering if the clutch hydraulics is out of adjustment a little, which could be causing the notchy shifts and this trannys reluctance to go back into gear after sitting at a light in neutral with the clutch pedal out. Does any of this make any sense????

 

[slo-ryde]

Originally posted by 1tuffram

I have 5500 miles on my NV5600 and if anything it is getting more notchy and harder to shift as it "breaks-in". Like mentioned this transmission dosn't like to be rushed when shifting. When shifting I usually press the clutch pedal to the floor, let the engine RPM come back to idle and the truck coast a little to let everything all get in harmony before attempting the shift. This helps but the shifts are still notchy and the person following me almost rear-ends me due to these slow shifts (but if I try and shift any faster she won't go in without using excessive force and then it is a really notchy engagment along with some gear mesh). The only gear that has gotten easier to go in is Reverse. When the truck was new I would spend a long time tring to find reverse. I'm not sure if I have a problem or if this is "The nature of the beast", but I can tell you for around town driving my 5 speed is a dream to drive compared to this 6 speed beast!!!



PS: forgot to mention on the 6 speed is it normal when you are at a stop light and put the transmission in neutral, then when going to put it into gear for it to feel like like something is "catching" to prevent it from going completely into gear?? I have no problem when I coast up to a stop light, push the clutch in, shift into neutral, then when the light turns green to shift into gear (keeping the clutch pedal mashed to the floor to whole time and not letting it out when in neutral waiting for the light). I'm wondering if the clutch hydraulics is out of adjustment a little, which could be causing the notchy shifts and this trannys reluctance to go back into gear after sitting at a light in neutral with the clutch pedal out. Does any of this make any sense????

There is a TSB on the clutch slave cylinder for poor clutch disengagement. Something breaks off and prevents full release of the clutch. Seems like it would be pretty easy to find out if anything is missing by unbolting the unit and taking a look at it.



I also have trouble getting the truck into second gear at a complete stop. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does I have to slip the clutch slightly to get the gears spinning then push the clutch back in. After 16,000 miles it still can be a pain to get the truck into gear but it does seem to be improving (or I'm just getting used to it).

 

[1tuffram]

Originally posted by slo-ryde

There is a TSB on the clutch slave cylinder for poor clutch disengagement. Something breaks off and prevents full release of the clutch. Seems like it would be pretty easy to find out if anything is missing by unbolting the unit and taking a look at it.



I also have trouble getting the truck into second gear at a complete stop. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does I have to slip the clutch slightly to get the gears spinning then push the clutch back in. After 16,000 miles it still can be a pain to get the truck into gear but it does seem to be improving (or I'm just getting used to it).

This sounds like a possibility. Lets say this is the problem and I go to the dealer and they fix or replace the slave cylinder and any other clutch hydraulic problems. My next question is what damage has this been doing to the transmission? Has it been causing premature wear on things in the transmission and now later down the road I'll start having problems due the forced and notchy shifting? We all know DC won't replace/repair the transmission until there is a catastrophic failure while it's UNDER WARRANTY. I'm worried about transmission problems this may cause that won't show up until after the warranty period.

 

[slo-ryde]

Originally posted by 1tuffram

This sounds like a possibility. Lets say this is the problem and I go to the dealer and they fix or replace the slave cylinder and any other clutch hydraulic problems. My next question is what damage has this been doing to the transmission? Has it been causing premature wear on things in the transmission and now later down the road I'll start having problems due the forced and notchy shifting? We all know DC won't replace/repair the transmission until there is a catastrophic failure while it's UNDER WARRANTY. I'm worried about transmission problems this may cause that won't show up until after the warranty period.

I don't know how the dealer will respond if the slave cylinder is indeed the problem. My best advice is to go in and have them check it out first. Personally, my experiences with the local dealership have been very positive. My last visit was for stiff steering that would not return to center after a turn. They kept the truck for almost a week (I have other cars to drive) and replaced the steering shaft, the steering gear box, the tie rod idler assembly, AND both upper/lower control arms. The problem turned out to be sticking ball joints. They did all this on their own and the truck handles like a dream now.



The drivetrain warranty is only good for 70,000 miles unless you have an extended warranty, are you outside the warranty period? I know the motor is covered up to 100,000 miles but I don't think the transmission is.