5 spd tranny problem.Very stubborn trying to engage into first gear.

I don't know what the deal is with this thing.It's been doing this for quite awhile but has been getting steadily worse over a long time.The problem is that when I go to shift into 1st gear,the shifter will get stuck.I'll have the clutch pressed in all the way and as I move it into 1st,it wont get into gear.The shifter stops half way as if it's hitting something.It'll move into every other gear just fine.But 1st gear,the only way I can get it to go into gear is if i'm holding the shifter towards 1st and I start to let off the clutch,then it catches and moves into gear.

Any idea what would be causing it to get stuck like this?I hate having to let off the clutch half way just to get it to go into gear.It used to only do this every now and then but now it does it allmost all the time.And yes,i've changed the tranny fluid twice.

By the way,this is a '96 3.8L

Thanks for the informative replies.It will give me more to work with,especially since I allready have the seats,console and carpet pulled searching for a water leak.Just a note......this post is a bit on the long side.

Since tranny fluid was brought I up I thought I might mention a couple extra details of the tranny condition + fluid contained.Several months back,sometime last year,it would grind second + third gears..just every once in a while.It wasn't always predictable.But it had a much bigger chance of grinding if for,say I got on the gas real good till the tach hit about 4K RPM then I shifted to 2nd....grrrrrind! I know how to shift.My foot went to the floor fast till the pedal nearly hits the firewall then I shifted.It is like the synchros are taking longer to speed up/slowdown for smooth gear transitioning.Basicly,if I don't shift fast then it most likely doesn't grind.

Another stubborn problem the tranny had back then was...(And keep note...it also only did this next problem every great once in awhile)...The problem was,sometimes i'd put it into 1st,i'd start going,usually if it was a faster takeoff..and then a quarter way into taking off...WHAM! The dumb ass shifter pops out of 1st into neutral position.

Both of these problems were getting so very annoying so I decided I'd change the tranny fluid.It hadn't been changed before this (Had car since 2000).I leveled the car off.Pulled the top fluid level check plug..and crap just starts pouring out if there.I couldn't believe how much kept coming out.And it was a very light milkshake color.Felt very thin and watery.Was told by 2 people that water had gotten in the fluid.I have no idea how the hell water got in the trans.But there must've been an awful lot in there as it kept dumping out (the fill plug) for a little while.And there was never any trans leak.For all I know it could've been in there for awhile.But anyway,because of all the probs I had and the water problem,I was told (Again) I should use gear oil in as it usually helps out worn transmissions.I filled it to proper levels.Drove it for awhile..it seemed a little better..I guess.Still grinds if I shift too fast at higher RPM's.And..like I said..half the time it wont move into first gear position unless i'm holding it against the gear and letting off the clutch.I recently emptied and refilled fluid again just to make sure I got residual water/contaminents out.

I havn't had the gear oil in that long.But long enough.I am going to dump the current contents and put the standard requirements back in and see if that helps any.I'll check the specifics that everyone noted.

The clutch adjustment.Well,I've known all about this one for ages.Pulling up on the clutch just moves it a very slight ammount and really does nothing.The assembly never clicks unless I manually pull back on the large quadrant gear by hand and let the pedal fall to the floor.Letting go of quadrant and pulling clutch back up resets it.As for the inner shifter boot.Is there a way you can get to the shift fork by removing all shifter components inside the car? Or does the trans need to be pulled for this?

Again,thanks for all the help.It is appreciated.