Problem with 1st gear and 2nd gear!?!?
 

Hey how’s it going guys, recently I bought the JDL turbo kit for my 2017 86. I still have yet to install it because I’ve been having trouble with my first and second gear. I didn’t know it was a problem until a buddy of mine let me use his frs. My first gear doesn’t let me go any faster than 9 mph, and once I do go pass 9mph the car jerks really hard, it almost feels congested. Does anyone know what this could be?

Well, you are in New Jersey. Congestion is kind of normal by my understanding. ;). (hey, I could have joked about jerking instead right?)

Now some real questions:
MT or AT?
This only happens in first and second?
Does it happen at the same rpm for both?
Will it let you past that rpm in 3rd?
Has the car been tuned or modified in any way?
Did you buy it new or used?
Does it make any strange sounds when it reaches whatever limit?

1. It’s a MT
2. It happens in first through third, so in first gear I try to get past 9mph but then it jerks extremely hard, second gear goes from 9-16mph then it does the same thing and then 3rd gear struggles a tiny bit but it opens up a lot more then the first two gears.
3.it doesn’t happen at the same rpm, first gear is at like 3000-4000 rpm and second gear is at about 4000-5000 rpm.
4. Yes it does let me past that rpm I’m third.
5.I’m the second owner, from my knowledge the previous owner had a full exhaust system (Tomei) from headers back, but I bought it stock. Then I bought it and put tomei UEL headers and a tomei catback.
6. From my memory the only thing it does is shake the aftermarket shift knob a lot, like it’s a really loud and annoying rattle, I wish I could put a video up but I’m currently overseas on a deployment.

I'd suggest you take your car into a shop or dealer and ask them to re-flash the ECU.

Sounds like a rag in the throttle body lol

The only things I can think of is that your car has an aftermarket tune that is messing up really bad, or some sort of sensor malfunction.

6. Does it behave any differently in various states of traction control? VSC Sport > TCS Off > Pedal Dance?

7. Are you 100% sure the prior owner didn't tune it?

6. It does not act any different at all everything works fine.
7. From my knowledge he didn’t but he also tracked the car, I probably should’ve mentioned that because that sounds like a big piece to the story lol.

In addition of wrong for current bolt-on intake/exhaust bits ecu tune, i'd also check for eg. exhaust leaks, that may mess up O2 sensor readings. If there was that tomei full exhaust system, it also was removed/replaced with stock bits. Thus leaks very possible.

This doesn't sound like a minor tune issue. I would make sure the tb is opening and I would check for a clogged cat.

How would any of these affect the car differently per gear? This has to be either a problem actually specific to certain gears, or a problem related to low speed.

Can you post a video with sound to help us understand your issue a little better?

So you have headers installed and no tune?

Has it always had this stutter from when you bought the car?

I’m on deployment right now and can’t send a video since the car is back home.

I had headers and I tuned it on the open flash tablet stage 2+. I had it tuned but I’m not sure if the previous owner had it tuned.