i went to the track for the first time with my Z (first time in a stickshift car).....i got a lot of runs in (i left traction control on for some by accident)...anyway my best was a 14.565 @ 98.81 ....I'm having problems shifting into 3rd...is it because I've only been driving stick for a month in a half, or something wrong w/ my car? How exactly does a mis-shift happen?

p.s. i removed spare/jack, but that's it...i didn't lower tire pressure or anything, and advice on how to lower my times?

 

It just takes more practice.

At the track, you're probably missing third because you're too nervous, and want to shift as fast as possible, so you let out the clutch before you're in gear.

Third is harder because it's a longer throw than from 1st to 2nd. Just practice shifting fast more on the street, before you get to the track, and you'll get better.

 

are you grinding or is it not going into gear. Grinding in 3rd gear is a common problem for the car, and many have had the transmission replaced for it. I had some grinding in the winter, but not when its warm out.

I have a different problem, that I dont think others have had. When I am racing (Track or auto-x, not dragstrip), the car will not physically go into 3rd gear at all sometimes, or it takes several attempts. At the last auto-x, after my run sitting in grid at a stop with the engine running, I put the clutch all the way in, held it to the floor, and could not engage 3rd gear at all. It finally went in on the 3rd attempt after I slipped the clutch out a little.

 

durobred , i suggest u practice more on the street or on some parking lot before you go to the track but u will get it... also does that happen to you when you drive on the street ? or only when you try to change the gears faster ?

 

2003z, I had experienced a similar problem in my Type R right before the pressure plate broke in 3 places. I bought that car used and I think the prior owner must have been big into drag racing because with only 20,000 miles on the car, the clutch disintegrated on me, and I never drag, and I don't do hard street starts either. But that's how my problem started. At first the 3rd-4th shift was notchy, then it progressivley became more and more difficult to get it into gear. Two days later, this was the case with all gears, and I had to let up slightly on the clutch pedal for it to clunk into gear. Then, it just went completely. But since you don't drag and only autocross and track your car, I doubt you have abused your clutch to such a degree that it would be the pressure plate. I have read in other threads on the Z boards of 3rd gear problems, so this may be a warrany issue for you. A search for this might yield some clues.

 

Yeah, I need to bring it in, but its so intermittent and only when driving really hard that it will be hard to duplicate at the dealer. I have 2.5 more years on the warranty, so I think I'm gonna wait for it to get worse.

 

i had the clutch all the way down, it grinded, and wouldn't let me into 3rd... ...maybe it is becuase i was trying to hard (wasn't really nervous)...i never tried shifting into third while redlining on the street...maybe i just need more practice....

 

Yeah but, under normal conditions, you should always be able to get it into 3rd at any engine speed and at any road speed around 90 mph or lower. So what I mean is, redline in second and you should have no problems going into 3rd, whether you go fast or slow (that's what synchros do for us). Now if you're redlining in 4th or higher and you go try to go into 3rd, you'll definitely grind the gear and it won't want to go in. There's definitely something wrong with your clutch and/or tranny. I'd go to the shop before you can't get it into gear on the highway somewhere. What you're describing is what I experienced right before the pressure plates in my clutch broke.

 

let me break down what happened before i go to the dealer and tell them theres something wrong with my pressure plate....

i launch, slam into 2nd (no problem)...redline 2nd, slam into third, but it doesn't go in, i hear a big *** grind and start bouncing off the rev limiter...i take my foot off the accelerator and notice i'm doing about 60 (if i remember correctly)...i'm now rolling at like 60 in neutral, push in the clutch and still can't get it into 3rd, so i end up puttin it in 5th and running a 19something....

what I thought was weird was that even after i missed the shift or whatever you wanna call it, i let off the throttle, and pushed the clutch down while rolling at like 60mph and STILL couldn't get into third...i was taking my time (not tryna rush cause i know i had already f*ked up, but just couldn't get it in there)

 

People have answered it man. This is a known problem, and it is because some trannys are just a tad out of spec so the grind happens. I have the same problem, arose around 4500 miles, at 6100 miles now. Mine is only when it's cold, if yours does it while warmed up, doesn't matter if driving hard, with clutch fully engaged, it's a problem.

Take it in.