Gears wont engage

[brokedownboys]

I am having some trouble with my 5-speed. It wont go into gear.

The van starts up fine. I depress the clutch and push the gear selector forward, but it wont click into 1st. I rock the lever back and forth but it still wont engage.

Sometimes if I push REALLY HARD it engages. but I have to use so much force it feels like I am going to break it. Eventually my transmission 'warms up' and the rest of the gears seem to work fine...

Any ideas? To give some context, it just started to freeze overnight where I live. Is the transmission fluid too cold? Too low? Should I change it? Also I recently removed the passenger side engine access panel for the first time. Can the transmission cables get jammed in there?

[Gareth]

If you've never changed the clutch fluid, that would be a good first step. If there's air or water in the line (it's brake fluid so it'll absorb water over time), then the clutch may not be able to fully disengage. It certainly helped with my shifting (I also did the transmission fluid at the same time, but I think it's the clutch fluid that helped the most).

[brokedownboys]

Hmm that actually makes a lot of sense. Now that you mention it my clutch pedal is extremely soft

[originalkwyjibo]

It's a hydraulic system just like the brakes and actually uses the same fluid and reservoir as the brakes. Make sure your brake fluid level isn't low then, try pumping the clutch pedal a few times to see if the pedal firms up and then try putting it in gear. If it goes in then you have air in the system.

[brokedownboys]

You guys were right. I pumped the clutch pedal a few times and was able to run my errands successfully.

OK so where is the bleeder valve for the clutch?

[Gareth]

It's on the transmission, front right side (look under the van from behind the passenger tire area and you should see it). If you're ok lying on the ground and crawling under the van, no need to jack it up (I did it that way - I used a reverse bleeder).

[originalkwyjibo]

You'll need to figure out how air got in the system and repair it or it will happen again.

[brokedownboys]

OK found it.

Just bleed it like brakes? Any tips because I REALLY struggled when I tried to bleed my rear drums.

[Gareth]

That's why I got a "reverse bleeder". Then you're pushing the fluid up from the slave cylinder into the reservoir. No pedal pushing required and it can be done by yourself. Just have to make sure you pull excess fluid out of the reservoir first and don't overflow it.