# Transmission Gurus - Need to "Warm Up" gearbox?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 10, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506 "2008-12-10T04:05:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/1 "2008-12-10T04:05:56Z")

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Vehicle: 1997 Nissan Pickup (yeah, but it’s paid for)  
Drivetrain: 4 Cyl with 5 speed stick.  
175K miles

Lately, when starting, I can’t shift it into ANY forward gear, and trying reverse produces an unpleasant grinding noise. This goes away after running for 3-5 minutes, and once driven a block or so, everything works as it should.  
Transmission fluid level is fine, no gross contaminants (like brass) visible.  
Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/2 "2008-12-10T04:18:17Z")

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Hydraulic assist for the clutch, if so equipped, could be low or out of fluid. Would make cold shifts a real B|tch. But I think you are looking at a clutch issue.

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/3 "2008-12-10T04:20:30Z")

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My car is tough to shift in cold weather. Where are you?

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**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/4 "2008-12-10T05:12:17Z")

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Sounds more like a clutch problem.

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/5 "2008-12-10T05:27:35Z")

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I’m in Sacramento - we don’t do really cold - this is 60-something degree F.

Yeah, the clutch is a weak spot - will check the fluid tomorrow - until I checked the manual, I had no idea it was hydraulic.

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transmission-gurus-need-to-warm-up-gearbox/476506/6 "2008-12-10T06:02:05Z")

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Oh - I forgot:  
Thanks!