Need some advice with second gear.
Need some advice with second gear.
Im having trouble shifitng into second. Sometimes it wont go in or sometimes it feels like its hiting something.
What your guys methods of putting it into second. Straight down or through neutral then down? Also what rpm(casual) to shift into 2nd.
Thanks for the advice.
What your guys methods of putting it into second. Straight down or through neutral then down? Also what rpm(casual) to shift into 2nd.
Thanks for the advice.
hmmm....idn....i shift from 1st to 2nd around 3-4k. i know what you mean about it not going in to second but i dont really have that problem cuz i learned how to drive with that tranny.
heavily!)
Originally Posted by Mast3rShak3
Im having trouble shifitng into second. Sometimes it wont go in or sometimes it feels like its hiting something.
What your guys methods of putting it into second. Straight down or through neutral then down? Also what rpm(casual) to shift into 2nd.
Thanks for the advice.
What your guys methods of putting it into second. Straight down or through neutral then down? Also what rpm(casual) to shift into 2nd.
Thanks for the advice.
Thanks guys. also when shifiting into gears the shifter sometimes feels like its grinding or hitting something. Is this bad or normal. If bad whats good to avoid that?
Originally Posted by insomniaxvi
Casual for me would be around 4k rpm and just give it an assertive pull towards you and down. It's stiff, but if you do that every time, it should become muscle-habit after some time.
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the only times ive ever had problems with second was when the car was just past the break in and I was getting all over it... the best thing to do if thats the case is just slow the shift down a little.... i havent had the problem in years...
for a casual shift into second... first gear is good to get you rolling... second can handle it from there... 2k-3k RPM is just fine.
for a casual shift into second... first gear is good to get you rolling... second can handle it from there... 2k-3k RPM is just fine.
I try to push the clutch all the way and it "feels" like it helps. It depends on also if you are a fast shifter or slow shifter. I notice you can get smooth shifts if you shift by into 2nd between 8 mph and 10 mph. Anything higher and it feels notchy as hell.
New Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 204
From: Edina, Minnesota
Thanks for posting. You have a good question.
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?
The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
Originally Posted by Spike100
Thanks for posting. You have a good question.
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?
The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
Originally Posted by Spike100
Thanks for posting. You have a good question.
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?
The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
Don’t you just hate it when you ask a question, and someone tells you to do a search. So, you’re thinking, what do I search on, how far back do I go, etc. You dutifully do the search and get about fifty threads with some having multiple pages. You can literally spend a few hours reading a lot and getting little information. You’re thinking: Isn’t this a Forum where people want to help and answer questions?The second gear shift problem you are experiencing might be a fault in your transmission (synchromesh issue or something else). If that’s the case, your dealer will need to fix that. If not, it might be the way you shift the car.
The Z’s (and G35’s for that matter) have a “notchy” shifter. That is not a criticism, in fact it’s a good thing (fun to drive).
Here’s the technique (for USA drive side, or the opposite for English drive):
1) With the car stopped, put her in 1st gear. Rev-up, release the clutch quickly but smoothly and listen to that great sound.
2) When you’re moving (briskly… let her run up a ways), keep your palm facing you (and the back of your hand away from you), push down hard and fully on the clutch pedal, and pull back on the shift (remember, palm toward you/back of your hand away from you). She glides into 2nd gear, and you release the clutch. You’ll hear more great Z sound.
3) You’re ready for 3rd gear. Now you turn your palm straight down over the shift **** (the back of your hand is straight up facing the headliner). Clutch hard and push your hand straight forward (and keep that palm straight down). Bang, into third and the car is really moving.
4) Use the same hand position on the gear shift going into 4th gear. Your palm is straight down and the back of your hand is facing the headliner. Clutch and pull back. You’re moving now.
5) You’re ready for 5th gear. Rotate your hand on the gear shift so that your palm is away from you and the back of your hand is toward you. Clutch and push your hand forward. You slide into 5th gear.
6) Ready for 6th gear? You are way fast at this point. With your hand rotated to palm out (same position as shifting to 5th gear), clutch and pull the shift lever back hard. At this point you need to check that lame rear view mirror for the highway patrol. The Z rocks!
Forgive the long description which I could not resist. The point is this “notchy” shifter is not adaptable to “feeling” your way into the right gear. You need to turn your hand on the shifter to get to the right gear fast. My up-shift sequence is reversed for down-shifting. For example, if you are going from 3rd to 2nd, rotate your hand so that your palm faces you.
If you do this and you still get grinding, have your dealer do a repair. --Spike
New Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 204
From: Edina, Minnesota
Originally Posted by insomniaxvi
I agree for the most part, minus your technique for shifting into 5th and 6th. Turning your palm out is, err, odd?
"Motor Trend" magazine reviewed the G35 MT, and their driver was critical of the "notchy" shifter. He was trying to shift palm-down ("feely" shifting) into 5th and really had no idea of how to drive this car
--Spike
Originally Posted by Spike100
You don't need to turn it out much. In fact you cannot turn your wrist very far this way (it would be uncomfortable). The idea is to keep the pressure to the right and away from you for 5th and 6th gear, instead of neutral (straight up) for 3rd and 4th gear.
"Motor Trend" magazine reviewed the G35 MT, and their driver was critical of the "notchy" shifter. He was trying to shift palm-down ("feely" shifting) into 5th and really had no idea of how to drive this car
--Spike
"Motor Trend" magazine reviewed the G35 MT, and their driver was critical of the "notchy" shifter. He was trying to shift palm-down ("feely" shifting) into 5th and really had no idea of how to drive this car
--Spike
I tend to just be assertive with my '03 6MT and haven't had a problem with it...
its Most likely a tranny problem (synchronizer problem to be more specific). bring it to the dealer under warranty and they're going to put a brand new transmission in. i had the same thing in 3rd gear. it sucks.. but i got my tranny changed and now it feels GREAT.
Originally Posted by Lo$t
its Most likely a tranny problem (synchronizer problem to be more specific). bring it to the dealer under warranty and they're going to put a brand new transmission in. i had the same thing in 3rd gear. it sucks.. but i got my tranny changed and now it feels GREAT.
