I have had lockout with the XTSS while drag racing. It just seemed to not want to move from third to fourth. It would feel like hitting a wall at neutral position just before you get into position. Reverse could be a ***** as well.

Are you feeling like it is not allowing you to move the shifter out of first?

 

What you're describing sounds like the classic lockout. In my case the shifter wasnt rejecting me from getting into 2nd but rather locking me in 1st. Subtle difference.

Anyway, I moved the clutch engagement point upward some and the shifting seems to have gotten a lil better. I did a few 1-2 shifts last night but didnt want to get myself into trouble and draw a ton of attention but I was able to successfully shift again so I think the adjustment helped or it just worked itself out.

It still baffles me however as why would it just start to do it now assuming the clutch adjustment prior was not ideal? Either way it seems to be better so cross my fingers all will be well tomorrow. I didnt have time to play around with it all night so is what it is. If it still fights me tomorrow I will try moving the pedal upward a lil more and see if that makes a difference.

 

I would bleed the clutch.

 

Put it up on jackstands and run the car in gear, if you push the clutch and rev the motor the wheels shouldn't move.

If they do, it's dragging.

 

Yeah Im gunna order some fluid (had good luck with the Amsoil DOT4) and bleed the clutch. It just wont happen for this weekend unfortunately. Usually the fluid is flushed at least once a year but this year I havent really raced so fluid is probably close to a year old now. But yes absolutely a good idea, just wont be happening before tomorrow. I like to get fresh brake fluid so I dont order it in bulk like all my other fluids.
I've actually never tested it that way but sounds very similar to the one where people disable the lower clutch switch to disable the stationary rev limiter and rev it up with the clutch in to see if the wheels move. I typically just get the car in the air and try to get the wheels moving with the clutch around halfway out.

Honestly, I had too much going on last night so I just moved the engagement upward then took the car out for a few test runs then came back in and put the car up in the air to swap wheels and look things over to make sure all is well. The car is still on the lift so I guess I could try that quickly when I get home.

Im hoping all this was after all was a simple clutch being out of adjustment. As I've said before and I'll continue to say, I find it very strange that its only done this now and never prior. I know how important the clutch adjustment is but I've never had issues shifting and do adjust it from time to time if it feels out of adjustment. But for it to be fine then sit and then fight me didn't add up.

Seized shifter bushings made sense and one was and that helped but it apparently wasnt my only issue. My biggest concern is that the seized bushing may have caused one of my shifter cables to bend slightly and now that is the issue I am running into. The linkage feels fine to me so I doubt it but its something that is in the back of my head.

 

This is what Jon at TRE recommends /\/\

 

I recently replaced my transmission with a new one. The bracket on the new transmission that mounts to the control housing had slotted holes. I don't remember the bracket on my '03 vintage transmission having anything but round holes. So, some new place where shift adjustment can be made has been added. This would be an adjustment to the in and out position of the shifter shaft.

I don't know if your '05 would have the slotted holes or if the bracket could have shifted - the bolts would have to be less than tight.

 

^Very interesting observation on the bracket. I will take a look at mine and made sure its properly tight. I raced on Saturday and there was a kink right after the start so I ended up just short shifting 2nd anyway so it didnt give me any problems. FWIW this whole thing may have just been a result of a simple out of adjustment clutch. Honestly, that was my first thought but the fact that it was fine before was throwing me off.

I have to swap wheels and brakes this week and then go and bed in the new pads so Ill see how the 1-2 shift feels this week after the clutch got a good workout this weekend. I may be a newb here after all. Really hope that is the case...if it is let this be a lesson to everyone to make note of the importance of a properly adjusted clutch.

 

you should launch the car and see what happens

 

Lol car launches fine. Didnt do any 2 step launches and rarely do but a good slip off the line and I was able to induce a lil bit of wheelspin which I go for and allows me to get off in boost nicely. As mentioned however this past weekend there was a turn right after the start so no sense in giving it the beans off the line anyway or Id end up in the grass!

I do want to check out my shifter bracket as mentioned by barneyb but I think all in all it was a case of the clutch not being in the ideal range. I never ended up testing it with the wheels off the ground but Ive got some work to do anyway so the car will be back up in the air this week and I can confirm or deny that all is well in that test soon enough.