Question All gears work but I cannot manually put shifter in first.

[YeaIDriveAWagon]

This has been something that has been like this since I bought the vehicle but I never really thought too much about it because it wasn't causing any problems like some other repairs that needed more immediate attention. I cannot, for some reason, get the shifter in first. First gear is there and working properly. No slipping. I just can't pull the shifter lever down to 1. It stops at 2 and pulling on it any further it just wont go down into first. It's a pain in the ass when I am trying to slow down quickly and save my brakes some. Any reason why it would be doing this? About a month before I bought the car, the previous owner said the original tranny went on him but he had one from another caprice lying around and he just threw it in. Could this be an installation error? I also have a slow tranny fluid leak but I always keep up with it and never let it get too low. Any thoughts?

[YeaIDriveAWagon]

34 views and no one has a single idea?

[chrys95]

i dont know if your car would have something similar, but here's my idea. on my camaro, you could only go down to second manually. there is a block of plastic that was blocking the shifter from getting first. I think it had something to do with EPA regulations or something. anyway, i just pulled my shifter cover off and cut off that little piece of plastic, and viola, i had first. like i said, i dont know if your car has something similar, but its something to look into!

[Vince @ FLT]

Originally Posted by YeaIDriveAWagon

This has been something that has been like this since I bought the vehicle but I never really thought too much about it because it wasn't causing any problems like some other repairs that needed more immediate attention. I cannot, for some reason, get the shifter in first. First gear is there and working properly. No slipping. I just can't pull the shifter lever down to 1. It stops at 2 and pulling on it any further it just wont go down into first. It's a pain in the ass when I am trying to slow down quickly and save my brakes some. Any reason why it would be doing this? About a month before I bought the car, the previous owner said the original tranny went on him but he had one from another caprice lying around and he just threw it in. Could this be an installation error? I also have a slow tranny fluid leak but I always keep up with it and never let it get too low. Any thoughts?

The issue might actually be a safety that was used years ago. On the pan rail in some caprice units for squad cars, there is a small bracket that actually acts as a stop. The shifter linkage arm will hit this piece when trying to go to manual low. In squads this was used to keep officers from blowing up transmissions. Just a though and this might be the issue that you have. Vince

[sweetbmxrider]

like it was said, not every car can drop down into first. depends on the rear gear choice.

you shouldn't manually shift a 4l60e unless it was built for it.

[95Z]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

like it was said, not every car can drop down into first. depends on the rear gear choice.

you shouldn't manually shift a 4l60e unless it was built for it.

Agreed 100%

Brakes are cheap, transmissions are not.

[mrbadlt1]

^^^ x2, it will run you like 1k or more for a nice rebuild

[YeaIDriveAWagon]

Thanks for all the advice guys! Well if it's not broken and not meant to be put in first then I suppose there is no reason to alter it haha. The tranny came out of a caprice sedan. It was very possibly a 9c1. Thanks everyone

[Vince @ FLT]

Just so you know, the bracket I spoke about in my first post can simply just be removed. It's two bolts to be removed and then just install the two bolts back in. Next time you are under your car take a look. I hope this helps you. Vince

[YeaIDriveAWagon]

I'll take a look to see if that is what I have next time I'm working on it. Just to make sure that there isn't actually anything at all wrong with it haha.