help?!

[Bosshammy]

:(I was coming to a red light today when I downshifted to first and it grinded, I backed off and tried again and it shifted fine this is the second time this has happened anyone have any info!

[Hyperion]

If you're in a manual, you can't go into first until you are pretty much at a complete stop.
If you were at a complete stop, you gotta use that clutch.

[KidRambo]

Sorry, but why would you downshift to first? Just downshift to second and tap the brakes if need be. I was always taught to never shift into first unless moving the car from a dead stop!

[Bosshammy]

I was coming to a complete stop and I know what speed to shift at, I was pretty much completely stopped when I shifted

[Booostin]

do not shift into first until you are at a dead stop

[Junior]

The grinding sound is your car saying "ouch". Hope that helps.

[Zuluwun]

Does speed matter for a grind? Whether the OP was at a dead stop or slow roll shouldn't affect the shifter engaging first. Though I'm not positive that first has a synchro..

I've downshifted to first at a slow roll in traffic and it's all about rev matching. do it right, it's smooth. do it wrong, well it's unpleasant to say the least.

(I should clarify that I rarely do this and it's not at all necessary)