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First and Second gears are clunky...
I have heard that this is a recurring issue with our cars. Just looking for any updates or tricks for a long term solution.
I just purchased the vehicle (2013 FR-S) pre-owned and it has about 15,000 miles on it. Just started noticing it. When shifting from Neutral to First, there is a bit of resistance. Same with Second (which actually has a small clunk also). Now if I take it out of First or Second and back to Neutral for a second then back into gear, it shifts smooth. Third gear has very slight resistance, but nothing extreme. I also let the car warm up for a few minutes. Note: temperatures where I live are starting to fall below 45 degrees (f). Not sure if it is just the cold weather or not. I have tried the 2nd gear start trick and that works temporarily (although the transmission makes a bit more clunking noise after). I plan on doing a tranny and diff fluid change in the coming weeks with Motul 300, since I see alot of recommendations for that. Any other ideas guys? Thanks! |
Yes, this is a minor quirk with this car. The gearbox needs a but of warm up to operate smoothly. When cold, just baby it. Simple as that. It should come up to operating temperature quickly.
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As mentioned above, a warmer transmission is a happier transmission. In addition, I would suggest that when shifting, wind up the last gear pretty tight before shifting into the next higher gear. Also, when shifting from 1st to 2nd, pull the shift lever slowly and firmly into 2nd gear. It's not a toggle switch ..... the lever is moving heavy transmission parts. I suggest you not "lazy leg" it ....... push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. If this technique doesn't help, you may consider a different transmission fluid. humfrz |
I noticed that the second or third transmission fluid change helped even more. I think getting out all of the original OEM fluid is the reason here. I think this may be the reason that some people say, "fluid A didn't do it for me, so I got it out after 1000 miles and put in fluid B and now everything is great." I am using Amsoil, and will probably change it again in the spring.
The transmission shifts super smooth after warm up. I have no trouble with first gear, but 2nd is a pain in my car that needs quite a bit of warm up to work well. In the winter with cold starts (no garage), I sometimes just skip 2nd gear altogether until the transmission is fully warmed up. |
I dont quite get what you mean by clunky transmission, if tranny making clunky noise you should have it checked it should be still under warranty. If you only have issue on 1st and 2nd gears it's more likely you are talking about 2 piece driveshaft which tend to jerk the car on start. At least that's what I was told, im ordering single piece driveshaft next month if it eliminates jerk I'll post it up here
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humfrz |
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I guess it's common? When my transmission is warm it's still hard to get it into gears (It's a lot worse when its cold but its still ressistent). I rev my car up to about 4K to have it shift smoothly and eliminate the resistance in gears & jerkiness when releasing the clutch. At times all my gears can be really stubborn though. The 3rd and 4th gears are much better but 5th and 6th dont feel as nice and dnt get me started on 1st & 2nd gear lol Seems to be common. I think?
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When it's feasible, I wind it up to 5k in 1st and shift to 2nd, then I wind it up to 4k in 2nd to shift to 3rd. When it's cold out, I leave my house, which is at the bottom of a hill, and drive to the top of the hill in 1st to warm the trans up a bit. Hope this helps.
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its one of those things where you learn the car's quirks; as it warms up 2nd gear works like normal without fighting you. of course, if you're slowing down and don't want to start her up again in 2nd, but you're going too fast (6mph or above) my transmission does not like being put in 1st; in such a situation I'd launch from 2nd. usually if im going 3mph or less ill go back to first gear (i.e. stop and go traffic). 3rd gear has never given me any kind of resistance however. |
just once I would love to drive someone's car that says they have this issue. Perhaps my car doesn't have the issue but I guess I'm skeptical of others that do. This transmission is definitely the tightest, most affirmative transmission I've ever owned. 1st to 2nd, it just clicks right in. Granted, you can't just pull it straight down with no resistance but you move it in motion with all the other parts.
Has anyone driven multiple variants to confirm that some of these cars shift significantly worse than others? Now shifting gears in my 1-ton Silverado, that takes some time and patience and the gear lever is longer than my leg, hahha |
1st to 2nd is never a problem--even in the cold. The problem comes when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd--and it feels like you've hit a wall!
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[QUOTE=humfrz;2471022]Here is my stock suggestion:
As mentioned above, a warmer transmission is a happier transmission. In addition, I would suggest that when shifting, wind up the last gear pretty tight before shifting into the next higher gear. Also, when shifting from 1st to 2nd, pull the shift lever slowly and firmly into 2nd gear. It's not a toggle switch ..... the lever is moving heavy transmission parts. I suggest you not "lazy leg" it ....... push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. If this technique doesn't help, you may consider a different transmission fluid. humfrz[/ I also bought my twin used with 8k miles and had the same issue at first. But now I always let it warm and shift like @humfrz suggested bro I'll give you the rice noodle😘 |
My transmission is much better after the break-in period. I have now 5500 km (3400 miles) and it shifts pretty smooth.
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The more I have been driving it, the better it has gotten. Not sure if getting used to it, or it is being "broken in" more.
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Lol I did change my fluids to Motul, but other than that first and 2nd have been pretty damn clunky especially 2nd gear
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Slap a hello kitty band aid on the transmission
works wonders |
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Wtf!!💁🏼 I'll give you the rice noodle😘 |
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"The infinite monkey theorem, which states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare." :sigh: humfrz |
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http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...51#post2448051 |
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edit: I guess I had seen that thread but not tcoat's post... |
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shifting from 1st to 2nd: accelerate in 1st up to 4k RPM clutch in pull down to neutral clutch out let revs fall clutch in pull into 2nd it went into 2nd just fine. admittedly it doesn't like to downshift into 1st without rev matching but when I match it goes right in. maybe I'm just lucky |
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For the record, I have zero complaints about this transmission, so far. I just instinctively play around to see what technique gets me through the gears using the lightest touch possible. That knowledge, IMO, applies just as well to the more "spirited" driving. That second part was just extra opinion for whomever. You double-clutch into a rolling first so we're pretty much on the same page. |
That "pause" works wonders never try'd it before and holy shit does it make a difference! Thanks a lot Ultramaroon
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I have fewer than 2000 miles on my Subarota. In that time, though, I've noticed it shares some transmission quirks with my '06 F150 DD. The most notable is, it does NOT like to be forced into a shift. If I'm sitting at a light with the truck in neutral and the light turns green, a quick stab on the clutch pedal and a shove of the shifter into first will yield exactly nothing. It will simply NOT shift into first. On the other hand, a gentle push of the lever leaving time for the various parts to do what they are supposed to do results in a smooth engagement of the gear.
My particular BRZ is very similar. It responds very well to a gentle, but firm, hand on the shifter. Give it a little time. Sometimes the fastest way to get something done is to slow down a little. |
I can see how it's easy for the casual reader to misunderstand my reply to JoeC. I am not advocating for pausing between first and second. I was explaining how to create the condition that causes people to have trouble shifting into second when it's cold.
Different techniques yield different results because physics. |
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Pausing is exactly the magic that works for me. Though I pause on the accelerator still in first, hold rpm for a second, then shift into 2nd. Works like a charm. |
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Leveling out in gear and coupled is a different part of the process. Nothing wrong with that. The question is how quickly do you transition between being engaged in first to applying pressure to the second gear syncro clutch, especially first thing in the morning? I am suggesting that the people who don't have any complaints and don't understand what others are experiencing, are those who already instinctively do not pause in neutral between first and second. |
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Anyway it's normal for these I think. Changing out your trans fluid for something a little better than OEM helps in most cases. Otherwise just baby it when cold and be patient. Once you're used to it the only tricky things are 3->2 and 2->1 when cold but it's fine as long as you're good at rev matching and don't try to force the shifter anywhere it doesn't want to go. |
I've had a similar issue with my car since buying it with 22k on it, and can't figure it out. It is a really annoying problem driving around in the city in a car I otherwise love.
The shifting is always a little clunky in all gears, but the real problem is shifting into 1st from a stop. It almost never will go into gear on the first try, no matter how hard I push. If I push and release 2 or 3 times it will drop in. Temps do not effect this, neither does the timing of pushing the clutch in. I see other similar complaints but not this exact one. Suggestions? |
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To test this, try starting in second a few times in situations where 1st normally wouldn't work. Don't worry about hurting anything, you just need to ride the clutch a little to get going in second, I do it in snowy weather a lot. Let us/me know if from a stop, you can put it into second easily or if you have the same trouble as first gear. Also, mandatory question- have you changed your trans fluid yet? You definitely should if we're troubleshooting shifting issues. |
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No floor mat issues. It does this even with the floormats out at autox. It shifts into second or any other gear much easier from a stop, so I don't think its a clutch adjustment issue. I can also downshift into 1st easily when moving. I have read about the fluid change and plan to try that for general smoothness, but it doesn't seem like fluid would physically prevent me from getting it in gear. |
Does 1st gear have synchros on this car?
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