Why is it difficult to shift into first gear?

[DominicLee]

There are several possible reasons: The car is cold, especially in northern regions, and the transmission oil is not fully lubricated; try shifting into first gear without starting the engine—if it shifts smoothly, there's no issue; difficulty shifting into first gear while moving is due to a mismatch between vehicle speed and gear position—use double-clutch shifting with a throttle blip in between, and ensure the speed is below 10 km/h when driving in first gear; first gear and reverse gear lack synchronizers, making them generally harder to engage. Manual transmission tips: 1. Depress the clutch (and release the throttle): This step may cause a jerk. The jerk occurs if the sequence of releasing the throttle and depressing the clutch is incorrect. If the throttle is released before the clutch is depressed, the engine stops supplying fuel while the clutch remains engaged, potentially causing "engine braking," which results in a jerking sensation. At higher gears (e.g., fourth or fifth gear), engine braking is mild and barely noticeable, but at lower gears (e.g., second or third gear), the jerk becomes more pronounced. 2. Shift gears: This is the core step in the shifting process. Normally, due to the synchronizer's function, the two gears waiting to mesh will not engage until their speeds are synchronized, preventing gear clash. Once synchronized, the gears will mesh smoothly, so this step should not cause any jerking. 3. Release the clutch and apply throttle: This is the stage most prone to jerking, making clutch release control crucial. Clutch release control involves at least two aspects: the timing of the release and the technique used.