So like, I have no problem going into gear, etc and I rev match properly and do not have problems where a certain gear does not want to engage,etc.

HOWEVER,
It seems like my shifter is extremely 'notchy' and say inbetween the 1-2 shift, it feels like it 'hits the gate' or something similar so that there are two contacts being felt. As you come out of the gear, then as you enter the next gear. This has caused me to come off the clutch too early on a 1-2 shift maybe 3-4 times since I got my car last year, but more importantly, it makes shifting a huge pain in the ___ sometimes

I recently testdrove a mazda3, 06 Si, and a 06 WRX TR, and neither of them had the slightest hint of this behaviour... Is this a tC thing or should I try and get my cage/assembly replaced?

Thanks

 

Sounds like you drive your car a little hard, mostly an assumption based upon your little array of test driven vehicles and that you 'rev match' your shifts.

I am not blaming you for your catchy clutch, but I have found that the majority of this problem comes from shifting too hard without fully engaging the clutch. That is a big problem, because you eventually wear the synchros down just enough to force it to catch like that. Try this, drive down the road and shift from first to second and second to third and so on, BUT, instead of doing it like you always do, pause a quick second before each shift, as to let the rpms drop just a bit, this will allow the synchros to move easier. If you do this and you have no problems, it would more than likely be your synchros and you would need some lessons and properly using the clutch. If you do this and you still have problems, your clutch plate is more than likely worn. But I would think it could be the synchros first. Post what you find out.

Not trying to be rude, just letting you know what I think it might be:-)

 

To answer the first part, no this is not when slamming through gears =P The time in between shifts is generally long when I am just driving around, with the clutch to the floor.

Generally I feel that I probably take too long sometimes, but ill pay attention and sdee where my revs are when I am actually moving into gear.

dunno ill poke around with it and see if there are any situations where things different

one thing to note, theres a good bit of play left/right in my shifter when its in gear, also.

 

I never drive my car hard, and I have felt the same thing and mine is only 1 month old. Mine does not catch very badly (it's never messed up my shifting), it just feels like it rubs on something when i shift from 1st to 2nd. My shifter also has more play than any other standard I've driven. Anyone else experiencing any of this?

 

Exactly how mine is. Instead of just *snick* its like *snick*snick* every shift =P

The rare case when It fcks up my shifting is only 1-2, and its because Im pretty tall so its kinda awkward going into 2nd for me with the way im sitting, like, alot of extra effort/leverage vs 3-4 or 5->4 or etc. Ill feel it and think oh im in gear, but im not, nrr.

I checked it out, and no matter how long or how short (slamming gears, taking my looong **** timmeee) its the same.

Also on a proper rev->upshift, it does it too so i doubt its teh sync

 

i have had this problem, only in my 1-2 gears. Its never messed up my shifting becuase i feel it and i know its not in yet ... its like a clunk..., but when im shifting hard... like i always am doing, i drive the hell outta my little tc, i just slam that sucker in and its totally fine.

I also noticed that when i shift into second pusing against the wall ( toward the driver side) it avoids the clunking.

 

It's the cold weather. I've taken my tc to two different dealerships and they both gave the same explanation. The tolerances on the tc are very close and when it's cold the gears contract, making it harder to shift. The weather here in texas fluctuates like crazy and for several days it was around 75 degrees, and the car shifted perfectly. Today it was high 50's and the tc shifted a little rough. Don't panic your car isn't broken.

 

try one more thing. drive in say 3rd, if it is doing it from 3rd to 4th, if not, 1st to 2nd would be ok. Just drive and when you go to shift, push in the clutch and put it in neutral, then let out on the clutch, then push in the clutch and slide it into gear, if it doesn't grab or anything while doing this, it could also be an indicator of a synchro. I am just thinking of things from my transmission classes.

 

I know the cold weather has a ton to do with it. I took my car in on the cold weather sludgy tranny then when they went to test it in the morning it was 65 out (doh). Its very sluggish under 40 degrees out here, for like 15mins of driving after starting it up.

 

Its in all gearchanges... its probably just the coldweather as above, because I remember the last warm day it was smooth as butter. Just really aggravating because ive never driven a car with such problems in the cold like that. Maybe I need to try a diff trans fluid

 

The MT has triople-cone synchros on 1st and 2nd gears "for smoother shifts."

This is what a little blurb on a brochure I have states. Mine only has the *click**click* in N-1, 1-2 and 3-2 shifts. It is definitely more tempermental in the cold.

Steven

 

mine feels notchy too, but i thought it was just cuz it was new.

 

yea i th9ught the same thing, thats exactly what my friend told me when i bhrought it up to him, and he told me that, damn

 

It's a combination of the synchros, the bushings, the assembly, and the cables. . . but mainly the synchros. It's not designed for ultra fast shifting. . . but rather for smoother shifts, as stated.

Honda/Mazda are reknowned for their above average MT's. Slamming the gears in a Honda is downright easy and the tranny will comply without complaint.

But relative to the rest of MT's, the tC (as well as the other Scion's) have decent MT's. Try a Hyundai, Kia, or Chevy. . . it's like trying to clear a clog in the toilet with a plunger.

 

Mine has done the same thing since I bought it in Jan with six miles on it. I figure it'll smooth out some when I dump whatever junk is in the tranny now and replace it with Redline.

 

I thought the the Get-Rag 5-speed tranny on the Cobalt was compliant and smooth while slamming thru, but this may just be me not having a lot of experience with different manual transmissions.

plus, the 6-speed in my brither GLi is SOOO buttery smooth. i didnt noticed when he first got it, but after i got mine and after a month of driving the tc, the GLi feels WAY soft and agile and oh so smooth. BTW its a 05.

 

I've also felt the same thing, like the shift gate isn't really all that smooth. if you take the stick and put it into 1st , then pull down to 2nd while holding it to the left all the way down . about half way down between the gears it feels like there is a lump it goes over.

could just be me but give it a whirl see if you feel it too

 

downshifting from 5 to 4 catches sometimes, but its pretty rare.

 

Well, I never got past the exterior of the Cobalt, so I never tested one. The Aveo's? Crap. The Sunfire's? Crap. Anything from Saturn? Hahaha. . . well I won't even go there.

Even the tranny on the Corvette bugged me. . . some weird mechanical or electrical shift nanny. Supposedly it can be disabled. I never tested a GLi, but I've heard a lot of good things about the GTI. I have tried the Audi TT's MT and it was a little too rubbery for my taste.

 

^^^^^ yeah, it feels wierd how much play there is in the shifter... it feels like im going into the passenger seat when giong into 5th and 6th haha, still a good tranny tho.