Okay, here's the latest:
Got my car back from dealer yesterday, with new tranny (this is the third replacement) AND a new clutch.
I have not driven very far yet, but so far, there is not even a hint of the old first-reverse lockout problem.
The clutch however, has a slight "judder" when taking up drive in first and reverse. I'm wondering if they slopped a bit of oil or something in it during installation. Does not seem to be any slippage in any other gear.
If it is oil contamination, is that likely to burn off over time, or should it be opened up and cleaned out?
Now, I have suspected the clutch from the beginning, and the dealer now seems to agree that the clutch was malfunctioning on an intermittent basis. For example, sometimes, when I started the car in gear instead of in neutral, there'd be a strange little shudder in the front end, and the car would pull forward ever-so-slightly...as if the clutch was sticking for an instant.
As for the tranny, I'm giving it a few more days before I declare an "all clear."
