6 Speed owners, I really need your help !

[smr826]

I'm having a major issue with my shifter.

My first few thousand miles, I would go into reverse, back up, stop the car fully, and put the shifter from reverse to first DIRECTLY with no issues.

After repairs were made, and the transmission was replaced, the shifting got worse and was never normal again.

Now I can NOT go into first without the shifter locking up. I am forced to put it in neutral, move the shifter around, then put it into first. If you have to back up and shift several times to get out of a parking space, you can imagine the frustration.

I am being told this is suddenly a normal thing, and the shifter is now "FIXED" to not engage into reverse.

Every person I know with a manual trans, every R8 owner I know with a manual trans, says this is NOT normal.

Please help. If you can make a quick short video of your shifter working normally as it's supposed to, it would be appreciated. Showing that most R8 manual's can go from Reverse to First gear without going into neutral.

[MotherTucker]

I'm not in a position right now to record and post a video, but I own a 6-speed manual and can tell you for sure mine doesn't do that. Yours shouldn't either. Is that the dealer telling you that?

I suggest you call the special toll-free number to talk to the special R8 support team at Audi. You should have been given that number when you purchased the car.

mt

[dvmmike]

Mine doesn't do that either. Nice smooth transition from R to 1st gear...no problems. Sorry can't video it at the moment either but can second the fact that that does not sound right .

[r1lee]

i own a 6MT and no problems here. I can go from R to 1st without any issues and vice versa.

[FiftyPence]

If the transmission has cable ends and the screw-type plastic pieces like an R32 then I suspect the side to side or front to back cable and plastic adjuster was not adjusted properly by the technician and has worked loose since it was done.

Of course in the R32 it was easy to see if this is the case but I imagine it to be a hell of a job on the R8. At least it gives you an idea of what the issue might be.

[Monkey boy UK]

If the transmission has cable ends and the screw-type plastic pieces like an R32 then I suspect the side to side or front to back cable and plastic adjuster was not adjusted properly by the technician and has worked loose since it was done.

Of course in the R32 it was easy to see if this is the case but I imagine it to be a hell of a job on the R8. At least it gives you an idea of what the issue might be.

Andy, i presume you have owned a R32? if so, how did you rate it? i had a dual with one on a certain track & just won, but boy either that guy could drive or my R8 & I was not up to the job as it was cat & mouse!

[FiftyPence]

I had a manual transmission 2003 R32 between 2003 and 2007 (incidentally carrying out a similar vacuum pipe disconnect before purchasing a Milltek exhaust). I was about to fit an HPA Motorsports turbo kit before deciding an upgrade in vehicle was a better option.

A friend of mine has the newer model R32 with DSG gearbox and I toyed with the idea of puchasng one in candy white as they are so rare.

I wonder if the R32 you encountered had a VF Engineering supercharger or EIP/HPA/JBS turbo conversion which evened things out a little more.

[R84ME]

The problem you describe is just that. A problem. No such heroics are needed to select 1st from reverse for a normally functioning MT6. Back to the dealer!

[SteveR]

I'm not sure this is related, but my S4 has sometimes blocked the direct shift from reverse to first. It has been that way for 6 years now and I was told years ago that it was normal in some transmissions. I thought it had something to do with the syncros.

I hardly notice it anymore. It happens mostly when it is cold, but is quite frequent. Perhaps 1/3 of the time I need to move the lever into 2nd or even 3rd before I can engage first. It's like something has to be lined up right in the trans before it will engage first. I like to think it is just beefy racing cogs, but if it is a problem I would like to know too.

[smr826]

Thanks for everyone's input. This problem is 100% of the time, not once in a while. And it never locked from reverse to first the first few thousand miles, until it was taken in and adjusted for other problems, which caused this problem as well.

So far I've not seen anyone mention that the reverse-to-first shifting is DESIGNED to lock. I've had dozens of manual trans cars, and have NEVER seen this on any cars, ever. With the car completely stopped, reverse to first should be smooth.

Why should anyone have to fidget with the stick to get it to go into gear? Unheard of.

I'll post a video in a day or so.