[Black_Sunshine]

I've been really annoyed with my stick since I got it. I love a good 5-speed, but either these transmissions are crap or I don't know how to shift. Three things:

1. When I let the clutch out too quickly, the car jumps.
2. If I let it out too slowly, I feel like I'm grinding away my clutch.
3. If I try to accelerate from a stop, and I'm behind someone meaning I can't just let it rip, I need to let the clutch out extremely slow (and I feel like I'm eating up my clutch) or I will end up in someone's rear end (and not in a good way).
4. If I wait for the revs to match after either down OR upshifting, the transmission CLUNKS.
5. If it's the first start of the day AND it's cold out, I cannot let the clutch out slowly enough, it almost always jerks/jumps.

Overall it just feels really simple, brutish and ineffective. I'm not even talking about the shifter, that's a whole other story. Is there any way to smoothen out this transmission?

I used to drive an old Golf and even it's yard of throw and mile-long clutch pedal didn't bother me half as bad as this.

 

[05horse]

maybe clutch is worn, or clutch cable, if sixer is off or ur low on clutch fluid GT

maybe.

 

[Black_Sunshine]

It's a GT. Only 38K miles.

Would a tranny oil change help any?

 

[05horse]

well i doubt it because its a manual. but im not to up todate on if these manuals work with some fluid, or just plain greese, .

u could have bad wear on your clutch, where the previous owner hot rodded it alot. could be alot of stuff. but these trannys are pretty strong. sorry to hear about your bad experiance!

someone will help you

 

[GT speeder13]

haha, my car does the same thing. I always just thought it was normal... funny we both live in orlando too, wonder if it was fords bad batch they sent to FL haha

 

[jaystar86]

haha, my car does the same thing. I always just thought it was normal... funny we both live in orlando too, wonder if it was fords bad batch they sent to FL haha

Im with you speeder.... I always just thought it was normal too... I pretty much feel the same way as black sunshine about most of the transmission in the points he/she? made... I came from driving a manual transmission Audi before I got the stang and just assumed it to be normal as i knew and was also told the stang would not nearly be as a 'smooth' as a german car... not that I care about that... I didnt buy the stang to give me german car smoothness.....

but if there is any truth to this not being true then I would like to know while im still under warranty.

BTW... black sunshine... I really do think the transmission is just like that on these cars... the clutch and tranny are very touchy and that sweet spot on the clutch takes some time to perfect where you can just smoothly always kick it and go.... Ive gotten somewhat used to it now and can smoothly do it most of the time.... Maybe someone can chime in on this speculation.... but do you think the self adjusting clutch could be suspect in this? Like i mean i felt the clutch had a completely new sweet spot after some of friends drove the car each time... so maybe every time you drive with a different shoe it sort of shifts and changes on you? I dunno just guessing.

but in the morning its a whole nother story... until she doesn't warm up that transmission is clunky... especially the shift to second from first.

 

[grabborange]

You might have the clutch checked out. I don;'t find the manual tranny too bad at all and no clunking. It is a heavier car and a big V8 compared to a little 4-banger with a manual so you have to expect it being a little more challenging to use. Right from the first few days I got it, it was just an issue with getting the feel of the sweet spot in the clutch and getting the timing down.

My only real complaint is the long throw and I wouldn't have known to complain about it until I read all the posts about how great the short throw shifters are.

 

[BlueSteelGT]

Same thing here! cold starts the shift from 1st to second is always a little lurchy. At first I just thought I was a bad manual driver because this is my first stick, but then I drove my dads car while he was out of town (350Z) smooth as butter. honestly it doesnt really bug me I think of it as a challenge every morning, if it doesnt lurch on me, I win!

 

[BULLITT_2008]

You might have the clutch checked out. I don;'t find the manual tranny too bad at all and no clunking. It is a heavier car and a big V8 compared to a little 4-banger with a manual so you have to expect it being a little more challenging to use. Right from the first few days I got it, it was just an issue with getting the feel of the sweet spot in the clutch and getting the timing down.

My only real complaint is the long throw and I wouldn't have known to complain about it until I read all the posts about how great the short throw shifters are.

lol i got a hurst and i only move my shifter about a inch when shifting:bigthumbsup and for the trans feeling funny i have no problems with it i can blast through these gears dont feel too much different then my old 5.0

 

[Steve Smiley]

Just takes time to get used to the feeling of the car you'll get used to it or you'll smoke the clutch. :gringreen

 

[Black_Sunshine]

What is this about a self-adjusting clutch? I didn't know about that...

Anyway, it must be something about the tech/build quality. I feel like I'm fighting the transmission all the time; like how I can feel the pain of the synchros whenever I try to shift into first from anything higher than 5mph...

Might just have to get used to it, but was kind of curious as to what kind of options one has. Thought maybe a better shifter that engages the gears more smoothly would help, synthetic lube in the gearbox or maybe even a GT500 6-speed?

Also: Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a few issues. I thought I just might not know how to use a stick. :shigrin

 

[jaystar86]

yah sunshine.... its just gunna take time getting used to to the clutch.... once you perfect that sweet spot you wont be jerking around so much.

As for the transmission... its just like that... I think cuz we were used to german car transmission smoothness this seem to clunky... but im used to it now and the car doesn't really jerk anymore with some proper clutch control... but the mornings are still rough when the car is cold.


too bad no one commented on my theory of the self adjusting clutch being suspect.

 

[MCB197]

I serviced my 3650 with Royal Purple SynchroMax fluid and it shifts a good deal smoother. The drivetrain's on these cars have alotta "slop". I think these cars have a two piece driveshaft. I complained about the slop too for, and they said

"Checked transmission; veryify customer concern; operation and drivetrain freeplay normal".

As far as the clutch engagement, maybe its glazed up from a clutch rapist?

you say it feels as if its grinding, and im not sure about this one- when big trucks do that, its usually a worn disc- like break pads, they are riveted on (on the EATON truck units)- the rivets dig into the flywheel/intermediate plate. I doubt this is the case with a car though, if it was that shot it'd prob slip.

 

[monk3619]

you suck at driving :gringreen

 

[jaystar86]

I serviced my 3650 with Royal Purple SynchroMax fluid and it shifts a good deal smoother. The drivetrain's on these cars have alotta "slop". I think these cars have a two piece driveshaft. I complained about the slop too for, and they said.

thanks for the tip... will do that sometime and see if it helps.... im not having any problems per say with the transmission... just wished it was a bit more smoother.

 

[chp2150]

If you try to down shift with out double clutching into first at any speed except a crawl, the synchros are going to scream for mercy. Hence the warning in the owners manual. If you are trying to double clutch your downshifts and the drive shaft clunks, you didn't match the rpms very well. That's the car basically telling you that you screwed the pooch on your attempt. There is approximately 1500 or so RPM difference between the gear ratios. It's all about technique. Do you have a tune in the car??? If not, it takes almost 7 seconds for the darn engine to come back to idle. With out a tune, you've got to be really good to pull off a double clutched down shift. You can't really "blip" the rpm up to the proper speed. As far a your clutch problem, get it looked at or you need more practice. A clutch is not a on-off device. It is possible to smoothly engage it. Last, rent a copy of Gran Prix with James Garner and watch how to double clutch a down shift. Good movie too!:bigthumbsup

 

[Vandal]

After trolling around here for a while I decided to get involved in this, because it is too good of a moment to let go to waste.
If you are having that many problems I can think of a few things

Time to go back to driver's ed and learn to shift a 5-speed. You moved from a Golf with VWs loose trannys and mushy clutches to a car with some balls and double the cylinders. The Mustang GT rolls on a, and correct me if I am wrong here, a racing inspired transmission made by Tremec. An aftermarket shifter will not help you if the loose stock shifter is giving you problems. Something like the Hurst tightens it all up and makes your shifts more solid. The stock one is loose...

I am going to second what chp2150 said, practice your downshifts. The Mustang GT is a pretty powerful car and it won't be as smooth as a commuter car. With 38k on it, you shouldn't be having major clutch issues unless you caused them. I have yet to find a way to make the Mustang GT shift as smoothly as my Taurus SHO, its because the cars have very different purposes. Gran Prix will help you, Great video of double clutching downshifts in racing environments. Practice as you watch.

What have we learned, the Mustang shifts differently than your old Golf. It takes more work to make it smooth there is a word for that called finesse. Use your clutch it is what it is there for, to ease the gear transitions and to help you start. And finally, if you cannot figure it out after some practice, go get an auto. That will shift nice and smooth. So, to finally answer your question, bad driver.

 

[jaystar86]

Just practice a little more with the clutch control and soon you will be shifting through the gears like butter.... I dont know how long you've had your ride... it took me about one and a half weeks to get the shifts perfect coming from my audi 5 speed to the Stang... remember this car has some serious torque compared to your old ride and wants to just rip it if you over gas and jerk if under gas it... believe me my first few days with this car were a surprise to me too... but once you get a hang of that clutch the transmission pretty much seems to smooth itself out.

the only complaint I have is the shift from first to second is not jerky but clunky in the morning time when the car is a little cold... but its no biggy.

 

[Taxpayer]

It's something to get used to, for sure. I know there are smoother transmissions out there.

 

[Black_Sunshine]

Great replies, lots of good info here. Vandal, I appreciate the detailed response, although I really think you need to cut me some slack. Yes, it's definitely a bit of a steep learning curve going from 115 hp to 315 hp.

However, I consciously got another stick car. I really enjoy being as close to the act of driving as possible. That's why I even enjoy the extra bit of NVH I get out of my suspension mods. Keeps you closer to the road.

So obviously I am doing something wrong here. I know about the 10mph warning in the manual. I thought people didn't double-clutch anymore because of the sophistication of modern transmissions and their ability to sort of "soak up" the difference in rotational speeds better than those of previous eras. Can someone give me an example then of the clutching technique you would use, say, in cruising up to a stop sign and then doing a mild roll-through?

Also, I thought the longer you ease the clutch out, the more you slip it and the more you wear it down. So is that also a problem? Am I just not giving it enough slack? Because I feel that especially with this kind of car, shifts should be crisp, quick and precise, especially if we are talking about a "race inspired" transmission.

Oh, and chp what is your suggestion then, say, for a situation when you are going to take a corner and you downshift in preparation for it? Do you still try to blip it, even though its difficult? Or do you let the synchros do the work? Would you blip and wait, or just blip and shift?