New FRS and the notorious grinding gears

[tahdizzle]

I do not have any problem with the gear box in my BRZ.

[mike the snake]

My 1st to 2nd "nick" is now 99% gone after 5000 miles, clutch adjustment, and change to Motul oil.

The very 1st shift to 2nd when cold sometimes I get a tiny little nick, otherwise it is buttery smooth everywhere now.

Give it time.

[Hiros86]

Hmm never had this problem and I got the car when it had only 5 miles on it, its gotta be user error. I always let my frs warm

[Ultramaroon]

The engagement teeth between the slider and hub are cut with a slight bias to help hold the slider and keep it engaged in both modes - acceleration and engine braking. This isn't out of ours but it's a decent example.


With a warm, broken-in transmission, when the clutch is disengaged, it's pretty easy to move the slider and disengage.

When the transmission is cold, as soon as the clutch is disengaged, the internals will drag (resist rotation) and induce a force between the slider and hub similar to, but much weaker than engine braking.

That's the "pop" you feel when pulling out of first gear. If you understand it's all a matter of timing between clutch disengagement and the instant you put force on the slider to disengage it, it's possible to make a perfectly smooth transition from first to neutral. If you get really good at that, you wouldn't even need the clutch to disengage from any gear.

I don't recommend that, obviously, but while the transmission is cold, there's a great opportunity to work on that rhythm. Mastering this is one of the things that will take you from "competent," to "expert."

[Whatabouteggs]

Unfortunately that's just how these transmissions are. It gets better with more miles, but especially when it's cold, the transmission will sometimes refuse point blank to go into 2nd under any circumstances. 3rd tends to be very notchy as well, and it seems random. I would recommend when the transmission is cold to go into 2nd as soon as possible, and go directly to 4th.

I don't really think what you're describing is grinding, it's more just the synchos not doing their job very well. First thing in the morning when it's cold outside, these transmissions feel like they're out of something from the 60s.

[billyk]

Originally Posted by Whatabouteggs

Unfortunately that's just how these transmissions are. It gets better with more miles, but especially when it's cold, the transmission will sometimes refuse point blank to go into 2nd under any circumstances. 3rd tends to be very notchy as well, and it seems random. I would recommend when the transmission is cold to go into 2nd as soon as possible, and go directly to 4th.

I don't really think what you're describing is grinding, it's more just the synchos not doing their job very well. First thing in the morning when it's cold outside, these transmissions feel like they're out of something from the 60s.

Part of what you are saying here is what I also experience.

In cold weather, during the first couple of shifts from 1st on up, if 2nd gear does not go in, it will not go in under any condition, period. It's literally locked-out. Shifting sooner, shifting later, rev-matching, double/triple-clutching and being an experienced manual transmission driver (I've got 44 years with MT's) will not work. I typically just skip to 3rd and by the time I need to stop and go back through the gears, it's warmed up. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all the time.

As I said in an earlier post, holding onto 1st a little longer can help, at least with my FRS. But, it that doesn't work, I am SOL getting into 2nd.

I am hopeful that over time and with an eventual gear oil change, this issue will go away. I will bring this up with my Dealer/Service center and maybe they can adjust the clutch a bit "tighter", as suggested in other threads.

[AJPG]

And that's why my second FRS is AT.
I love to up shit and down shift alone and after 2 oil change in the MT it improve, but not Honda like
Now with the AT, 4.88 final drive it shift like a dream....
Disclaimer this is and will be the only AT car that I would ever buy, except (and only is life is good to my) Cayman, GTR, Ferrari or lambo.

[harkbrz]

Motul 300 transmission fluid and trd quick shifter. Won't ever hear that grind again.

[mike the snake]

That REALLY sounds like a clutch that's not completely disengaging. An adjustment I think might fix things right up for you. Your clutch is hanging up until it gets warm. Sounds like your clutch is hanging up pretty bad when cold.

That's what it sounds like to me.

Especially if an aftermarket clutch is installed, or even just stock, the clutches on or cars are often not adjusted properly, even from the factory.

Originally Posted by billyk

Part of what you are saying here is what I also experience.

In cold weather, during the first couple of shifts from 1st on up, if 2nd gear does not go in, it will not go in under any condition, period. It's literally locked-out. Shifting sooner, shifting later, rev-matching, double/triple-clutching and being an experienced manual transmission driver (I've got 44 years with MT's) will not work. I typically just skip to 3rd and by the time I need to stop and go back through the gears, it's warmed up. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all the time.

As I said in an earlier post, holding onto 1st a little longer can help, at least with my FRS. But, it that doesn't work, I am SOL getting into 2nd.

I am hopeful that over time and with an eventual gear oil change, this issue will go away. I will bring this up with my Dealer/Service center and maybe they can adjust the clutch a bit "tighter", as suggested in other threads.

[Ultramaroon]

Maybe read the rest of this other thread for context but here's a quick step-by-step I did for clutch adjustment. Just a couple steps which include verifying proper operation. Steps 3 and 4 are the important ones.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...58#post2071558

[Koa]

Originally Posted by harkbrz

Motul 300 transmission fluid and trd quick shifter. Won't ever hear that grind again.

You know, it's funny... I have switched to motul after 2k miles, and recently installed the TRD USA quickshifter kit..

The motul made cold operation worse (thicker, consistent with others' reviews about it)... however when warm it shifts like a dream

the TRD Quickshifter kit, while requiring more force to shift into gears now, has eliminated the grind. +1 for this recommendation. Just be prepared to know what Motul and the TRD's adjusted leverage will do to operation, especially cold!

[Whatabouteggs]

Originally Posted by billyk

Part of what you are saying here is what I also experience.

In cold weather, during the first couple of shifts from 1st on up, if 2nd gear does not go in, it will not go in under any condition, period. It's literally locked-out. Shifting sooner, shifting later, rev-matching, double/triple-clutching and being an experienced manual transmission driver (I've got 44 years with MT's) will not work. I typically just skip to 3rd and by the time I need to stop and go back through the gears, it's warmed up. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all the time.

As I said in an earlier post, holding onto 1st a little longer can help, at least with my FRS. But, it that doesn't work, I am SOL getting into 2nd.

I am hopeful that over time and with an eventual gear oil change, this issue will go away. I will bring this up with my Dealer/Service center and maybe they can adjust the clutch a bit "tighter", as suggested in other threads.

Yeah, this is the first car i've owned with a manual, and I assumed initially that my inexperience was to blame for jerky starts and rocky shifts. But from what I understand these are just really finicky transmissions. Over a year since I bought it and it's still annoying. I need to try adjusting the clutch and seeing if that helps. The shifter itself I can live with, at least it isn't a T56 where 1st, 3rd, and 5th are within millimeters of each other.

[juanmartin88]

I have seen that most of you have changed to motul oil. I was thinking of doing the same for my transmission to get rid of this problem. What weight would you guys suggest?

[Koa]

Originally Posted by juanmartin88

I have seen that most of you have changed to motul oil. I was thinking of doing the same for my transmission to get rid of this problem. What weight would you guys suggest?

Motul 300, Pentosin, or redline are common. Quick search yields a lot of perspectives and experiences about each and more.

Originally Posted by Whatabouteggs

Yeah, this is the first car i've owned with a manual, and I assumed initially that my inexperience was to blame for jerky starts and rocky shifts. But from what I understand these are just really finicky transmissions. Over a year since I bought it and it's still annoying. I need to try adjusting the clutch and seeing if that helps. The shifter itself I can live with, at least it isn't a T56 where 1st, 3rd, and 5th are within millimeters of each other.

These aren't finicky transmissions by a majority of people's feelings... the box has a track record of dependability even in boosted/higher TQ applications in other platforms. The factory clutch setup, however, has been a common complaint. Adjustment DIY will yield you favorable results if you are still uncomfortable about the vagueness and high clutch biting point.