230GE cold start gear selection issue
Hi - 5 speed manual W460 230GE. Noticed a recent issue when starting cold in the morning that it is almost impossible to get into 1st gear until the engine warms up. All other gears stiff but easier as you go up 2-3-4-5. Once it’s warm it’s fine, either through driving or even if it’s been sitting in the sun until the afternoon. This is a new development - any thoughts on what might be causing it?
Hi
When did the gearbox have its last oil change? If not recently no harm changing it and probably a lot of good.
Try lifting the gearstick gator and squirting some white gease onto the mechanism below it will improve the gearchange. Does not sound like the rods between the gear lever and gearbox but you never know.
Good luck
Sounds like wrong oil grade (too thick for cold use) in gear box or exhausted oil having lost its lubrication qualities. Should be ATF or 70W/80 or so ; do double check on this I don't trust my memory here. Secondly, as has been mention in the thread above it could be a selector bush issue but with that I would ecpect two gears to highlite an issue not just one gear. Worth checking any way.
Thanks very much for the advice gents, I'll investigate...