2nd gear not as smooth as the others???

VQinside

Hi,
Newbie here
I have 1,700 miles on my car so far and I've always noticed that going from
1st to 2nd gear is not a smooth transition as the other gears, specially on low rpms.
Is this normal? I know the transmission is noisy but this just feels notchy and maybe even a little grinding.
I've driven nothing but Manuals for 12 years so I'm not a clutch newbie.
thanks in advance.

LuckyJinx

It kinda jumps if you let out a bit too fast? Mine does that. I keep the clutch in and press the gas in and let out for smoother.

Soygen

Do you mean the clutch engaging or the actual shifter feeling knotchy? My shifter from 1st to 2nd just started to feel a bit knotchy or resistant about a week ago. Have 4000 miles.

jaedub

my MT is working fine. Maybe not pushing the clutch far enough?

PontualZ

Mine is notchy as well from 1st to 2nd. It doesn't grind, but it's the least smooth gear change for me as well. I have 3700 miles and I've noticed that for it to be as smooth as the other changes you need to get the rpms just right. It takes some practice to get that gear change just right.

DIGItonium

The gearbox is very notchy when new. I'm at 17k miles now, and it is much more smooth now. The only problem I have is the on/off feeling (lack of progression) of the clutch, which is something others have described.

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VQinside

thanks for the feedback.
I guess saying is notchy the best way to describe it.
sometimes It just shifts really smooth but 70% it doesn't.
as mentioned above I have noticed that it shifts better on higher rpms.

How far do you guys push the clutch to engage?
I realized that the engaging point is at the beginning of me pressing the clutch. probably the first 1/3 of the entire travel.

BeachZTT

I drive and track manuals. Second gear was/is considerably more "notchy" than the others for me. I have almost 6k on it now and it's starting to feel better. Making quick shifts until recently from 1st to 2nd would almost always warrant feedback from the transmission (yes even with the clutch adequately depressed).

I think it is a synchronizer issue that a break in period helps. My Z32TT is very picky about what gear lube she runs. Others have experienced the same thing but it seems to get better.

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'10 ZR Black Cherry Sport/Touring/Nav, Swift Springs, Stillen G3s, 15mm-F 20mm-R Spacers, SPC, Spoiler Solutions Rear Wing, Stubby Antenna

VQinside

well its good to know its just how the Z's tranny is.
thanks for all the feedback

christian370z

Definately, even people with prior manual transmission experience find the transmission/rear end noisy and notchy compared to many other cars.

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-320whp / 259wftlbs-
SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

Dembflyr

I'm on my second transmission because I was getting a bad grind from 5th to 6th.
My new transmission has the same issue as described by the OP when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. All other gears are smooth. At least it dosent grind any more.

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2012 G37S Sedan 6MT - Project Practicality

2009-6MT-Sport/Touring-Dembflyr's Journal-TT Build Thread-CAR IS SOLD

destinyZ

I had the same issue and the tech at my nissan was saying that the transmission is a free-floating transmission. he checked out a BRAMD new one and it had the same traits as mine. gears were not as rough but the same traits so im sure with some road time it would be doing the same thing. Try shifting at 3k-4k daily driving, it is very smooth and very easy to drive. GL

christian370z

One thing I am going to try is switching to a high quality synthetic transmission fluid to see if that lets things move around more easily. I am going to do the same with the differential since you can really hear the faint whine coming from the internals after a drive.

__________________
-320whp / 259wftlbs-
SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

destinyZ

let us know how it works out.

VQinside

destinyZ thanks for the tip of driving around 3k-4k from 1st to 2nd, the car just shifts the way it should, really smooth.

What sucks is that you may find yourself in a situation where shifting at 3k+ rpm might not make sense, like traffic. It also not the most gas efficient way of driving.
I've found that the sweet spot is anything over 3.5k rpm.
I appreciate the advise.