Stiff shifting when cold. Does the trany have a dipstick...

[EfiniX]

...or does it have a bolt above the drain bolt to check the level/condition?

Shifts fine and dandy when warmed up. New clutch and MC around 20,000 miles ago. I'm guessing the pedal assembly is original (and perhaps could be worn out), but I adjusted it and it seemed just fine (followed the tutorial, ensuring I didn't block the SC valve). This could be a few things, but checking the gear oil is the first natural step in my mind.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[turbowop]

Shift it like a grandma for the first few miles until the fluid warms up. It's just the way it is. I've got Neo RHD in the trans in 503 and I have to shift pretty slow for the first little bit in the cold weather.

I've got Neo RHD in the trans in 1051 as well, but I don't really drive it when it's this cold out.

 

[EMX5636]

Quoting EfiniX:
...or does it have a bolt above the drain bolt to check the level/condition?



Mark is right about the cold fluid, but to answer your other question, yes. There is a 17mm head bolt about halfway up on the front of the trans to check fluid level. Should be even with the bottom of the hole.

 

[JCorbo25]

Typical Mitsubishi transmissions shift a bit stiff when cold. My old DSMs, Evo 8, and GVR4 all need time to warm up.

You may want to change your fluid and see if that makes a difference. My GVR4 was very grumpy in the morning, the fluid was pretty dark. After a fluid change, it's manageable in the morning.

 

[5OF2k]

Thats common on most manual trans cars, really. When the fluid is cold it's going to thicken which will definitely affect the shifters feel. Thus, the importance of letting the car run/warm up a bit before you drive it. ALL of the cars fluids are going to be like that, which means everything is going to be working harder to get the fluids moving, all of your pumps/etc.

While changing the fluid may help IF it's already in need of being changed, you're still going to feel it shift a bit stiffer than you would in the summer/warmer weather. That's just how the cookie crumbles!

-Jake

 

[EfiniX]

Thanks guys!

 

[toybreaker]

Jake pretty much nailed it.

It's also important to realise that when the trans is cold, all the preloads are tighter. This means that changing the fluid will only help so much if the gearbox has been rebuilt to the tighter side of the specification range.

Make sure your clutch disengages fully/drive it gently/rev match your downshifts untill it's warm.

 

[EfiniX]

Thanks again