1st to 2nd Gear Clunk (Searched, but not the same issue as the other ones)
 

Hi guys,

Please note that I have searched and it is not the same issue discuss in other 2nd gear problem threads.

I have changed the transmission fluid and the issue remains, so it probably is not the fluid's problem. I have tried OEM, Motul and Amsoil.

I have added Perrin transmission mount and whiteline shifter bushing, it did not help the problem or worsen the problem.

My 2nd gear is not hard to go into when cold, I have no problem going into 2nd when my car is cold. It's just when I shift from 1st to 2nd, I can almost feel from the gear lever that it hit something and made a clunk sound.

It is also not like the grinding gear sound when shifting a gear and a clutch is not depressed completely.

While this happens 100% when the car is cold, and up to 15-20 min after, it also happens randomly when the car is up to temperate.

I also realize if I shift early, say around 2.5k - 3k, this happens more often. If I shift say around >4K, it doesn't happen as much.

So some of the difference I see with the other 2nd gear problem:
my problem doesn't really go away that quick after car warms up, usually 20 min later, and happens randomly thereafter. Also my 2nd gear is not hard to go into, even when very cold.

I was wondering if anyone has similar problem or if this is normal. I also have Perrin transmission mount and whiteline shifter bushing so I am not sure if I should go to dealer or if the dealer gonna blame on those parts.

Your feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,
Shu

I think I might of posted in the wrong section... can mods move this to the proper section?

Thanks

Exact same thing here, with the clunk sound and the mechanical feeling of pushing something out of the way before it completely goes into gear.

Maybe the reverse lock out plate underneath the shifter is out of alignment? I'm just throwing an idea out there.

Sounds like everything is fine. These transmission are clunky compared to most rubbery one out there.

Like @infinite012 I'm also just grabbing at straws. Are you shifting too fast and forcing it?

I am not shifting fast by any means, if I shift super slow and super gentle, the clunk becomes super gentle and I can also feel from the shift leaver that I have hit something very slowly and gently as well, but the feel is still there none the less..

I get second gear clunk too, but sometimes I think it's because I wasn't engaging the clutch at the shift point correctly, keeping the rpm connected via clutch and speed balanced, etc. That is, if I misshift as a slow mph 1st to 2nd gear near in between 7mph I'll hear an audible click from the drivetrain that you can hear outside the vehicle.

That is, going gentle as you say, I think the problem is that the motion was "too gentle" and didn't start engaging the clutch soon enough at the smooth 2nd gear shift when the engine is at idle, below 10mph and rolling motion. Keeping the momentum and the right inertial points and timing that the engine and trans synchronization to clutch and drive train engagement.

That sounded so complicated :eyebulge::eyebulge: LOL

It takes practice to make it perfect, I stored my car throughout the entire winter and have driven my 5spd impreza. Just a couple days ago I took my BRZ out of hibernation and had to make a few adjustments going into gear.

Another thing you want to do to lighten that "pull" is to get a lighter flywheel/pulley. The rotational mass is very hard from that 1st to 2nd gear shifting it drives me insane sometimes.

A cluch pedal adjustment is highly recommended if you have too much slack on your leg movement btw. I took mine to a tuner shop and he adjusted for a closer comfortable and easier engagement because I have longer legs.

Thanks for the advice, now I understand what you mean. I rarely got any clunks on the drive home today from work. I basically wasn't doing fast enough before, I had some delay between clutch pedal and shifting movement. Now that I tried shifting from 1st to 2nd immediately after pressing down the clutch, I rarely get any clunks or noise.

:thanks::thanks::thanks::respekt::respekt:

Good job, it's important to remember that even when your shifting is more leisurely in traffic there is a certain amount of urgency in the drivetrain that you need to keep connected at the right timings.

The "clunk" is annoying. The dealer told me that it had something to do with the way that synchros are built in a transmission for RWD. My FWD Honda transmission was so much smoother.

Cold is one issue that I have, but 1st to 2nd clunk and crunchiness is pretty standard for this box from others that I've spoken to.

Try making the 1st to 2nd shift in 2 motions. 1st to neutral then neutral to 2nd. I've always shifted like this and it seems to go more smoothly.

Clunking seems pretty normal to me. I tried shifting & clutching anywhere from super soft to super hard and anywhere in between. Made no difference to be honest. Despite shifting & clutching correctly, I get pretty annoyed with the grinding, clunking and other random sounds coming from the gear box (whenever i shift below from 3k and below)... so I don't even bother shifting until i hit between 3-4k.. I also noticed that it prevents the car from lurching forward for smoother shifting. It may be a little more noisy inside the car but it's also a good trade off if you want your passenger to be more comfortable riding with you.

same here and good evaluation!

I also have another solution- start slow in 1st, pause, rev 3.5k rpms and drop it in 2nd! The second gear clunk is gone then!

I get a clunk when I go into first. It seems worse when im driving faster/slower (Turnpikes) then if im putting around town under 35.
Murphy Law would have it that when I took it to the dealership, during the test drive (I drove) it didn't do it hardly! The guy was a young gear-head and understood, felt it some and had heard of it. He suggested preventative main to the service manager to change the fluid before doing anything else. Agreed that it may work itself out in another couple of thousand miles. Car had just under 3000 at service. I paid for an oil change too! At 7500 you get a Free "deluxe" service - WoHo!!
Service was checking with Toyota about fluid change but both agreed that it should be done before anything else, even at a price which Im fine with.
Its intermittent too and not temp related.

Im getting old :-/ I take off easy, no tire burning here (often) and I tend to go straight into 3rd. I do LOTS of skipping; 1-3-5, 2-4... Little power below 3000 to speak of. Absolutely nothing below 2000! :-(

I love granny shifting too, just letting the vehicle carry itself along. I love driving a manual, when there's nowhere for me to be and no traffic I'll sometimes catch myself going slower than 20mph in third gear, pondering stuff, haha just enjoying a smooth ride.

One thing I'd like to figure out is how to make the shifter on my BRZ feel better. When it was new, it felt so nice, slick, creamy, textured, snicky. I could go from 1st to 2nd with a flick. Now the gearbox is notchy, rougher and has less of that nice textured slicky feel that I had. My friend's FR-S, who has 2000 miles less than me (I'm at 5000), has a much better shifter feel.

He recommends I change trans fluid. Dealership disagrees, says it's too early to consider changing that. I personally think its the bushings.

I would really like to improve the feel of the shifter so if anybody has ideas let me know.

1) Changed tranny fluid? check
2) Not hard to shift into 2nd when cold? check
3) It's NOT a grinding gear sound? check
4) Occurs randomly, cold or warmed? check
5) happens more often at a "lower" RPM shift? check
6) Doesn't go away after the car warms up (same as #4, "Occurs randomly, cold or warm).. check!

Yep, you have the same 'non-issue' as me. :D
I wouldn't worry about it too much.. Yes, it can be annoying at times.. but its not going to break anything in the long run.

Sounds about the same as mine with 300mi so far...


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I am having the same issues as OP, had a few mates tell me that I'm not shifting fast enough. When i do it quickly, sometimes I won't get a clunk, sometimes I do. It's a total hit or miss.

I did change my tranny (and diff) fluids to the Motul 300V and it's much smoother up from 2nd onwards. But I still do get the clunk sometimes at 2nd, 3rd and sometimes 5th.

That brings me to a side question, (sorry OP, don't mean to hijack your thread) I do get more vibration in the shifter at 5th, more over any other gears, is this normal tho?

add mine to the list too ..

shift faster huh .. i will try that .. my other soultuon is to drive like a 16 year old and shift out of first at 4k

mine did it driving off the lot.

Had to bring this back from the dead, mines a 2015 and I have this exact problem you describe. Did you ever take it to the dealer to see if it was a problem or not? This was the only thread I found that I've seen with my symptoms