Hey folks, I haven't been here long, I just bought a 2003 Cobra convertible two or three days ago and I noticed something. Now, I haven't owned a manual transmission car in a long time, but I've driven them here and there and I'm noticing something that I'd like to ask if it's normal or not.
As far as I(or the dealer) know, the shifter is the stock T-56 stick, but do any of you who have stock shifters notice a slight clunk and a difficulty in engaging the gears? I'm still having to work at making smooth shifts, and there are still really jerky transitions between first and second and second to third, that goes away when I shift to fourth, fifth, or sixth.
Is this how this shifter is supposed to be? I've got a full warranty on this beast and I'll take this beast to the dealer and let them deal with it if there's something wrong, but I'd rather know that this is just either:
1. My ineptness at using this transmission, and that it'll smooth out with time
2. Something might be wrong with the shifter.
I have read a few other threads here and see that people switched out their shifters. Does this truly help? Is this a procedure that I can do myself, or do I need a mechanic to install it?
I'd sincerely appreciate any help you guys could give me.
When mine is cold, it's hard to shift from 1 to 2. When the transmission warms up it shifts almost flawlessly, but still is a little knotchy. My '02 GT did the same thing too. Does yours do this only when cold or also when the tranny is warmed-up? How many miles? BTW...congrats on your Cobra.
An after-market shifter definitley will make an improvement.
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Current Vehicle: 2004 SVT Mustang Cobra: Born 03/03/2004 #2882 of 3768
Previous Vehicles: 2002 Mustang GT & 1998 Mustang GT
When mine is cold, it's hard to shift from 1 to 2. When the transmission warms up it shifts almost flawlessly, but still is a little knotchy. My '02 GT did the same thing too. Does yours do this only when cold or also when the tranny is warmed-up? How many miles? BTW...congrats on your Cobra.
An after-market shifter definitley will make an improvement.
First of all, thank you for the response. This car, and Mustangs in general are entirely new to me. My last car was an LS1 Camaro Z28, which was an automatic, and I knew a lot about those cars before buying one. All I knew about the Cobra was its impressive performance value for the dollar, plus its ease of moddability for more power.
Your first sentence sums up my own experience perfectly. "when the transmission warms up it shifts almost flawlessly, but is still a little notchy". So, it's not that it's rough, it's just notchy, and you really have to be firm putting it into third gear, which feels really widely spaced from first.
To answer your question, I got this car with 10,800 miles on the clock, one previous owner, it was a weekend toy. I got such an incredible deal on this, I fall in love all over again every time I look at her out in the parking lot at work.
If I were to look into aftermarket shifters, is there a particular type that you might recommend?
It appears notchyness and Mustangs go hand-in-hand. A good after-market shifter is a Steeda Tri-Ax, which is the only one I have personal experience with. It was on my '02 GT. I had really no complaints with the Tri-Ax. Huge improvement over the stock shifter. It's a little stiffer when shifting gears, but loosens up over time. MGW from what I hear has a really good one also...a lot of people are really raging about it. Pro-50, from what I hear, is about equal to the Steeda unit.
I haven't bought one for the Cobra yet, but I think I am going with the MGW unit.
BTW...what color did you get?
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Current Vehicle: 2004 SVT Mustang Cobra: Born 03/03/2004 #2882 of 3768
Previous Vehicles: 2002 Mustang GT & 1998 Mustang GT
It appears notchyness and Mustangs go hand-in-hand. A good after-market shifter is a Steeda Tri-Ax, which is the only one I have personal experience with. It was on my '02 GT. I had really no complaints with the Tri-Ax. Huge improvement over the stock shifter. It's a little stiffer when shifting gears, but loosens up over time. MGW from what I hear has a really good one also...a lot of people are really raging about it. Pro-50, from what I hear, is about equal to the Steeda unit.
I haven't bought one for the Cobra yet, but I think I am going with the MGW unit.
BTW...what color did you get?
Wow! At least I'm on the right track! I'm also looking at getting a Steeda Trii-ax. Oh, and I got a white one. Not sure what Ford calls that color. I know in GM-speak it's "arctic white".
It's called Oxford White. www.alfageek.com/03faq.htm click on this...it has some good information on the '03 Cobra.
You have any picture's of that bad boy yet?
After re-reading your first post concerning the "herky-jerky motion" in the lower gears sounds like drivetrain lash which is normal and has been complained about. I think after some seat time you will learn how to drive smoother.
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Current Vehicle: 2004 SVT Mustang Cobra: Born 03/03/2004 #2882 of 3768
Previous Vehicles: 2002 Mustang GT & 1998 Mustang GT
Last edited by TorchRedGT02; 03-26-2005 at 03:14 PM.
My car is in the shop right now for a internal transmission problem. It started poping out og gear then it locked up Both Ford & SVT do not know of any other cars which have this problem but if you put it in 5th and go on & off the gas and you see and feel the shifter jumping & making a clunking sound then you may have the same problem I do. I have high mileage for a Cobra 20k in less then 11 months so it make become a problem tio others later. I should know by tomorrow what it is and I will let you know. Hopefully it wont be a big deal. They say if its the Tranny they will just replace it not try to fix it so I should get the car back this week
shift issues, mostly related to the clutch quadrant
Since moving from an 01 Cobra to an 04 there is a big difference in the shift patterns or shall I say locations. The shifter may pose some issues due to the long thow, but that is not much different than the 01. What I did find out is that the stock clutch quardrant is not a very good component. At times my cobra will shift flawlessly without any issue at all. As smooth as glass either hot or cold. Every now and then I do notice a pressure change in the clutch pedal followed by issues of not being able to get into gear or out of gear. With only 7k miles on the clock there should be no issue, but there is. In fact, after the first 500 miles is when all the problems started. The problem at hand is that there is excessive slack in the clutch cable. The ratchet mechanism tends to slip usually after performing the clutch pull method. I had found that by manually adjusting the clutch quadrant by hand fixed the clutch cable slack and what a difference it made. It is easier to shift when you can disengage the clutch properly and you do not damage any internal transmission components. The stock set up does not completely disengage the clutch which tends to make it much harder to shift. Some of it may be due to a sticking throw out bearing. My guess is that the cable end which is attached to the throw out bearing yoke is the issue along with the plastic clutch quadrant and toothed adjuster. My next step will be to replace the clutch cable assembly, clutch quadrant with a steeda adjustable cable, firewall adjuster and a clutch quadrant. Has anybody used the steeda parts or are there better components on the market?
Snakepit, used the UPR firewall adjuster and the clutch quadrant with their adjustable cable and made a big difference, really liked it alot. But , went thru 2 of their cables in less than 9000 miles. Everyone told me to go backwith the stock cable, did, and no more problems with approx. 8000 miles on car now. All firewall adjusters and adjustable clutch quads. are probably about the same but, I would stick with the stock cable, seems to be stronger. Hope this helps
Hey folks, I haven't been here long, I just bought a 2003 Cobra convertible two or three days ago and I noticed something. Now, I haven't owned a manual transmission car in a long time, but I've driven them here and there and I'm noticing something that I'd like to ask if it's normal or not.
As far as I(or the dealer) know, the shifter is the stock T-56 stick, but do any of you who have stock shifters notice a slight clunk and a difficulty in engaging the gears? I'm still having to work at making smooth shifts, and there are still really jerky transitions between first and second and second to third, that goes away when I shift to fourth, fifth, or sixth.
Is this how this shifter is supposed to be? I've got a full warranty on this beast and I'll take this beast to the dealer and let them deal with it if there's something wrong, but I'd rather know that this is just either:
1. My ineptness at using this transmission, and that it'll smooth out with time
2. Something might be wrong with the shifter.
I have read a few other threads here and see that people switched out their shifters. Does this truly help? Is this a procedure that I can do myself, or do I need a mechanic to install it?
I'd sincerely appreciate any help you guys could give me.
I too have this similar problem with my cobra. I can feel and hear a clunck sometimes when I go into first gear? Have you heard anything regarding this matter? At least now I know I am not the only one having this problem.
I have a 00 GT with a Steeda Tri-Ax, clutch quadrant, and firewall clutch adjuster -- it works great, improved shifting, and was easy to install. Last weekend I bought a White 03 Cobra. When I am very light on the gas and slow shifting it works fine. When I push it a little it doesn't want to shift into third. Oh, it never wants to go into reverse. I think I will try the Steeda set up on this one too.
Tony
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White 03 Cobra, Billetflow pullies, MAC CAI, Mangnaflow exhaust --- Black 00 GT Steeda, stage 3 G-Trak, Steeda Tri-Ax , Steeda underdrive pulleys, BBK CAI, Edelbrock 75mm TB, ported plenum, BBK long tube headers w/x-pipe, 3:55s --- Blue 67 Coupe, Grab-a-Track 620 front springs, Shleby lowered, subframe connectors, 302 w/edelbrock performer package, JBA shortys, exhaust, AOD, 3:55s
I have a 2003 Cobra and had similar problems. One was the quadrent and clutch adjustment, new quadrant, stock cable and firewall adjuster helped with that. Second was the throw out bearing was very stiff riding on shaft. Disconect cable and move the clutch fork, if it is stiff clean shaft and lube and install new bearing. I had to use a prybar to make it move. Installed a new cutch also. Works great, shifts like butter. Also installed MGW shifter, love it. Have steeda shifter on 2001 GT, switching to MGW on that also.
Stock 2003 Cobra Shifter Question 
