6-speed manual pops out of 1st

[Autoxdriver]

I'm about to purchase an 05 with the 6 speed manual, and it occasionally pops out of 1st gear unless you hold it in. Can be dangerous pulling out into traffic. I had an 05 Liberty with the same trans that did the same thing. I spoke with a Jeep dealer and the service manager said their Jeep trans man who wasn't there that day knew how to fix the issue, it sounds like it is a fitment issue that is not allowing it to go into 1st fully.

Has anyone here had experience with this? If so, what was the exact issue and how much did it cost to correct?

Thanks!

 

[TurboTJ]

This is common with the NSG370 transmission. You’ve got a couple of options. 1) overhaul the transmission, or 2) install a B&M shifter.

 

[Autoxdriver]

This is common with the NSG370 transmission. You’ve got a couple of options. 1) overhaul the transmission, or 2) install a B&M shifter.

Thanks for the reply. This 05 TJ has only 70K miles on it, so I doubt it is a wear issue therefore I'm not sure an overhaul would help. Can you please provide a little more info on the B&M shifter solution?

 

[JustDandee]

I'm about to purchase an 05 with the 6 speed manual, and it occasionally pops out of 1st gear unless you hold it in. Can be dangerous pulling out into traffic. I had an 05 Liberty with the same trans that did the same thing. I spoke with a Jeep dealer and the service manager said their Jeep trans man who wasn't there that day knew how to fix the issue, it sounds like it is a fitment issue that is not allowing it to go into 1st fully.

Has anyone here had experience with this? If so, what was the exact issue and how much did it cost to correct?

Thanks!

Yep, normal. I keep a light hand on the stick at all times when in 1st or reverse. No problem when you do that. I don’t recall it ever popping out once under way its usually something that happens when you first start off or you let off and jump back on the gas.

 

[sab]

Thanks for the reply. This 05 TJ has only 70K miles on it, so I doubt it is a wear issue therefore I'm not sure an overhaul would help. Can you please provide a little more info on the B&M shifter solution?

Miles have little to do with it. The NSG370 is a fragile transmission (I have one in my 05 LJ). The B&M shifter is expensive, and may or may not fix your issue:

https://www.holley.com/products/dri.../45195?utm_term=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&gad_source=1

You can find all kinds of threads about the NSG370 on this site:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sit...E3NzQ4ajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[06TJ35's]

I have a 6 speed to. I’m at 155k miles. No issues with first popping out. Reverse pops out on occasion.
Change the transfluid.

 

[Clam]

I had an 06 Rubicon that I purchased with 8k miles back in 07 and I had the same issue. Dealer had to overhaul.

 

[macleanflood]

I believe another nuclear option is a AX-15 5 speed swap.

-Mac

 

[TurboTJ]

Thanks for the reply. This 05 TJ has only 70K miles on it, so I doubt it is a wear issue therefore I'm not sure an overhaul would help. Can you please provide a little more info on the B&

As I understand it, changes were made to the later NSG370 in the JKs that eliminated this problem. There is a youtube video somewhere that details what the changes were. If you get your transmission rebuilt these changes would be included. As for the transmission being fragile, I am not sure that is true. There are known problems, yours being one and also the difficulty getting into or staying in reverse, but I haven't heard too much about them failing. I have a Banks Turbo that produces more torque than the NSG370 is rated for and it hasn't failed yet.

I believe the B&M shifter would solve your problem. I did not have your problem but I put one in anyways to get shorter throws and it works well for that. The shift detents are very stiff and hold the gears in place. As for difficulty getting into reverse, the shifter does not help with that, although once in it will prevent it from popping out.

 

[JHD1827]

As I understand it, changes were made to the later NSG370 in the JKs that eliminated this problem. There is a youtube video somewhere that details what the changes were. If you get your transmission rebuilt these changes would be included. As for the transmission being fragile, I am not sure that is true. There are known problems, yours being one and also the difficulty getting into or staying in reverse, but I haven't heard too much about them failing. I have a Banks Turbo that produces more torque than the NSG370 is rated for and it hasn't failed yet.

I believe the B&M shifter would solve your problem. I did not have your problem but I put one in anyways to get shorter throws and it works well for that. The shift detents are very stiff and hold the gears in place. As for difficulty getting into reverse, the shifter does not help with that, although once in it will prevent it from popping out.

JKs still have the same problem. I put the B&M in my JK and I've been very happy with it. It's expensive but in my opinion it's worth the improvement in shifting. One of the few things I've done that I get to appreciate every time I drive.

 

[Danarch]

JKs still have the same problem. I put the B&M in my JK and I've been very happy with it. It's expensive but in my opinion it's worth the improvement in shifting. One of the few things I've done that I get to appreciate every time I drive.

Agreed, my 2015 will pop out of reverse once in a while. More accurately just doesn’t like to go in all the once in a while. I’ve not had it pop out when in gear.

 

[TEZZA]

Has anyone fitted the Dorman shifter?
It comes with a cabin Gasket.
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p--6...7-025 : Manual Transmission Shift Tower. Many

 

[JMT]

I'm about to purchase an 05 with the 6 speed manual, and it occasionally pops out of 1st gear unless you hold it in. Can be dangerous pulling out into traffic. I had an 05 Liberty with the same trans that did the same thing. I spoke with a Jeep dealer and the service manager said their Jeep trans man who wasn't there that day knew how to fix the issue, it sounds like it is a fitment issue that is not allowing it to go into 1st fully.

Has anyone here had experience with this? If so, what was the exact issue and how much did it cost to correct?

Thanks!

Mine was iffy in 1 and 2. R was almost impossible. There’s no lockout to keep you from accidentally shifting into R when shifting into 6th on the ‘05’s. If that happens then it’s a fragile transmission and will likely suffer permanent damage like the weakly engineered shift fork breaking. All you can do then is hope for a good rebuild. If it’s popping out of 1st now I don’t see a simple solution to that. I called AA and they said they didn’t know a reputable rebuilder of the NSG370. I know one guy in here who had a good rebuild, but can’t remember the company. the cost is about $2400 minimum. I wouldn’t take the risk, so I swapped to a 42rle. The AX-15 is another possible swap if you want to stay with a manual.

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

Are you sure the shifter shaft isn't hitting the bezel preventing it from going fully into gear?

 

[g.hayduke]

My '05 had the issue with reverse. I bought a rebuilt from High Impact a couple years ago. Problem solved. Works great with the original shifter.

 

[TurboTJ]

Has anyone fitted the Dorman shifter?
It comes with a cabin Gasket.
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p--697-025.aspx#:~:text=Dorman Products - 697-025 : Manual Transmission Shift Tower. Many

It looks like it might be a good choice. It is somewhat cheaper than the B&M and it appears to have the same bend in the lever as the OEM shifter. The B&M has a different bend than can cause interference with the body in 2nd, 4th, 6th and reverse gears. In my TJ with a small TC lift (about 1 inch) but with no body or engine lift, the B&M positions the lever perfectly with no interference. YMMV.

 

[Autoxdriver]

Wow thanks everyone for all the great and relevant info. For now I think I'm just going to hold it in 1st like I did in my Liberty. Oher than that the thing shifts great and I like having closer ratios with the 6 speed. Some day soon I might get annoyed with it enough to replace the shifter or swap in the 5 speed. The worst part is having to tell anyone who I leave it with for service how to drive it, and still assume that they will let it pop out at least once, which can't be good for it.

I don't think the shifter is hitting the bezel but I will check that also. Again thanks for all the help!

 

[Rickyd]

Wow thanks everyone for all the great and relevant info. For now I think I'm just going to hold it in 1st like I did in my Liberty. Oher than that the thing shifts great and I like having closer ratios with the 6 speed. Some day soon I might get annoyed with it enough to replace the shifter or swap in the 5 speed. The worst part is having to tell anyone who I leave it with for service how to drive it, and still assume that they will let it pop out at least once, which can't be good for it.

I don't think the shifter is hitting the bezel but I will check that also. Again thanks for all the help!

The shift fork assembly in the transmission and the shape of the dogs on the shift collars among other things make the nsg370 not want to stay in gear. It was supposedly upgraded in later years?

 

[Dr. Internet]

I'm about to purchase an 05 with the 6 speed manual, and it occasionally pops out of 1st gear unless you hold it in. Can be dangerous pulling out into traffic. I had an 05 Liberty with the same trans that did the same thing. I spoke with a Jeep dealer and the service manager said their Jeep trans man who wasn't there that day knew how to fix the issue, it sounds like it is a fitment issue that is not allowing it to go into 1st fully.

Has anyone here had experience with this? If so, what was the exact issue and how much did it cost to correct?

Thanks!

When I'm driving by myself, I just start in second gear, wind it up and shift to fourth. Like an old Chevy 2-speed!

 

[Rubiconned]

I always wished for a 6-speed but after reading this I'm now content with my NV3550