Down shifting into 2nd gear when cold
 

Hey guys,

My FR-S has only 10k miles and every since I picked it up in April the car cannot downshift into 2nd gear when its cold. Shifting from 1st to 2nd is a little rough but works however 3rd to 2nd or neutral to 2nd doesn't work period. Now with the winter weather it is only getting worse. It has been to the dealership twice for this issue and they claim that it is "normal" which I think is a load of bull. He did mention a TRD short throw shifter which was installed before I purchased the car. Could this be an issue and does anyone else have this problem when their car is cold.

Are you granny shifting or double clutch/ rev matching?

This transmission does not like to be granny shifted. If you are trying to downshift by pushing in the clutch and holding it there while pulling the shifter down into 2nd, you're doing it wrong... If you don't know how already, research double clutch shifting. Get used to it and it will shift smoothly.

Also get rid of the OEM transmission fluid. I dumped mine and put in Pennzoil Synchromesh and it made a big difference. There are some other recommendations on oil here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46208

I have tried double clutching and it didn't seem to make a difference. I also rev match whenever shifting. I'll try changing out the transmission fluid and see if that helps.

Thanks

Change your transmission oil. Seriously, it makes a big difference. Just be sure to use an oil rated GL3/GL4. This oil is safe for brass components. The more common GL5 oil is not safe...

Awesome! Thanks!

Most likely there is nothing wrong with your transmission.

No, it doesn't seem to like to go into 2nd gear ...... especially while it is relatively new and never likes to when it is cold.

Like mentioned, work on your shifting technique.

Yep, some folks have found that a change in transmission oil helps.

In time, your transmission will get broke in .....and you will "learn" how it likes to be shifted....;)

PS - I don't reckon the short shifter is helping the situation ..... :iono:


humfrz

Solution: warm up the car sufficiently before you attempt to downshift into 2nd in the manner you wish.

Normal operation, the tolerances are tightest shifting to 2nd when cold. May take 10-15 of driving for it to shift smoothly. Just have to live with it.

1. Short shifter definitely increases force required. Archimedes 101.

2. Double clutching absolutely helps but only if done properly. If indeed double clutching then I suspect revving up more will do the trick. Timing is everything.

A note on the TRD kit: They come loose. If you feel the slightest (and I mean slightest) rotation in the gearshift, it has come loose. It's a piss poor design. If it comes loose cut your losses and ditch it.

Some people have good luck but it's 50/50.

ive noticed its been getting worse since its colder, but its whatever since its normal... and its such a bad noise/feel. cant wait for the synchros to go, hahaha

Once again I didn't install or purchase the kit so I have no idea what to do with it. If it is more trouble than what its worth I might get rid of it.

The dealership claims that it is normal for this transmission since its "new". How likely is it that the synchros could explode?

make me glad to have an automatic after reading all these shifting threads...downshift even to 1st smooth like lubricated warm butter

but that's what happens when you are granny shifting, not double-clutching like you should ;)

Some gearboxes are just rubbish. Had mine at the dealer multiple times (owned the car from new) for adjustments/oil changes to try and make 2nd acceptable, lived with it for 6k miles and it wasn't getting better. The two demo cars I borrowed had no problems at all at similar mileage. In the end they did replace the gearbox in my car and the last 2 years have been perfect.

Usually a synchro won't "explode", it will just get ground up and fall as pieces into the bottom of the crankcase.

humfrz

Yes, I read your OP. As you have no practical experience, I am just sharing mine.

I also get balked out of 2nd if things aren't warmed up. But I've found ways to prime the gears after a cold start. Just reverse, 20 feet or so, then 1st, then repeat if necessary. The gears get spinning and the syncros well lubed, makes the first couple shifts in the morning easier.

How many miles when you bought? Any chance a test pilot fucked it over?

Driven my car plenty of times when its below freezing out and never had an issue. Last winter my car was only at 4k miles (now its at 10k).

It definitely got smoother over time.
It definitely gets smoother as it warms up.
It definitely got smoother after I replaced fluids (last January, approx 4.8k miles).
It definitely got smoother when I added a heavy shift knob (from Anarchy Motive).

^ All things you might want to try. I also don't have a short shifter (of any kind from any brand).

This is my first manual transmission (and car in general), other than stalling the car and missing a gear when shifting in my first few miles, I didnt have any issues with my car when it was new and cold out.

Are you hesitating when you shift? I've noticed sometimes when I hesitate, it'll feel like the gears are grinding a bit. Happens to me when I'm in traffic and I go from first to neutral then back into first (<5 MPH) with some hesitation because I'm expecting traffic to freaking come to a standstill again.

I am using blox weight 1lb for shift knob, it felt much better, but sometime still hard to put in reverse and 1st gear in the cold morning though

Try this:

* Let's say you're on 3rd gear.
* Clutch pedal down.
* Pull gear out to neutral.
* Clutch pedal up.
* Jab the accelerator pedal to spin up the input shaft and all the gears attached to it. Don't keep the accelerator pedal pressed, though. Just rev it quickly and let it go. If you're still pressing down on the clutch pedal when you do this, it won't do anything to the input shaft because it won't affect the clutch and anything past it (input shaft).
* Press clutch pedal while input shaft is still spinning.
* Quickly put it into 2nd gear.

The way to think about it is that the synchros are good at slowing down the transmission side to match flywheel speed, but it's terrible at speeding up the transmission side to do the same. It shouldn't be like this, but we get what we get, so.

Throttle blipping helps going into 2nd for me. This may sound weird but I have less stubborn tranny with E85.

you know i try to stay away from any tranny :bellyroll:

i saw an episode of america's next top model and this one tranny was mocking another girls chia pet wooly mammoth like eyebrows but i was thinking bitch you shouldn't be talking you is a man, wtf

Not that kind of tranny haha..

When the car is cold this doesn't help. When I go to put it into 2nd gear it feels like there is something blocking the shifter from going into 2nd.

Did you try spinning it up higher? You have to get it spinning above the speed it would if already in gear. Don't be afraid to really rev it then disengage the clutch quickly before it spins down.

If it improves just after warming up then I don't think there's anything wrong with the trans.

If you change to another fluid like Redline MT90, it will help a little. It will do so at the expense of becoming significantly noisier. Again, this is my firsthand experience.

Switching to Motul fluid and rev matching helps a ton but ultimately you just have to let the trans warm up.

Then again im pretty convinced my trans has a bit of an attitude. Some days it will shift through everything perfectly smooth regardless of the temperature. And some days 1st and 2nd are just not having it even if its completely warmed up.

TL;DR Just take some time to learn your trans, they all have their own personalities but new trans fluid and rev matching does help.

https://youtu.be/KlS6DF3NjJE

But still can feel the clutch "dragging"...