blocked when downshifting to 2nd
 

Hello
when i drive my TII, in 3rd gear and i try to downshift to 2nd, but it seems like there is a door not allowing it. This happens in 4th gear downshifting to 3rd also. I was wondering what is the matter(if any) is with my TII. When I am in 3rd gear, my RPM is around 2000, so downshifting to 2nd should be ok. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP

i almost have had the same issue but mine still works just......
with a center force dual friction clutch and my current Racing beat street clutch .
both have had the MazdaTrix short shifter

I mean, when i try to slow down from 4th to 3rd, sometimes it doesn't work

but sometimes i want to slow down from 3rd to 2nd, and it almost NEVER works

and i was wondering if it is my Transmission or clutch that is causing this. Or am i doing something wrong?

It's called rev-matching, and your synchros don't like it when you do that unless you rev match.


-Ted

I dont really have that problem but rev matching (tapping the gas to the amount of revs you were at before pushing in the clutch) is a very good idea, less stess on tranny. I do it as a part of my daily driving and performance driving.

throw-out bearing?

just get a new stage one or 2 centerforce clutch, not too expensive, but then i do work at keystone automotive, in the warehouse so i see this stuff all day.

Double-clutch rev-matching is for cars without synchros.
And drifting, for proper control. However... for street driving? Doesn't really make a difference. I don't, and I don't have a problem downshifting.

You don't have to double-clutch. Rev matching is a must if you want your tranny to last. We're not talking about heel and toe here.

It doesn't take extra effort once you learn it...

And a perfectly matched downshift is always hella sweet.

Amen brother. :D

Keep in mind that if you are down-shifting to slow down, brakes are much cheaper to replace that clutches.

Always try to rev match myself. Still working on perfecting it.

rev matching cause almost no wear on the clutch, where as down shifting does. just something to think about

The abuse in downshifting is done to the bearings in the tranny as well as stressing your LSD....I just slow down in the same gear I was driving in then, I use the brakes to come to a stop, downshifting is fun but it put alot of abuse to the car, why not leave the launching and accelerating to do the abuse.

Yeah sounds like Syncro's almost. Mine would stop and not go into 2nd from 3rd unless it spun down to a low RPM.

Double clutch/Rev matching rocks.
It not only saves your syncros but you become a better driver.

I use to rev match instinctively even on the newer cars.

I was also wondering... because my clutch FEELS stiffer than others, and when i start my car i have to PRESS DOWN VERY VERY HARD to start and sometimes even then it won't start. my 1st gear is REALLY sensitive, i release the clutch even only .5 inches (a little exagerated) and the first gear is engaged, My sister said that (she has been driving longer than i have on stick, sports cars mind u) the "depth" of the clutch pedal can be changed. make it a little HIGHER so not as sensitive and more "room" for giving gas and releasing the clutch so somewhat less sensitive. Is it because my clutch pedal is so stiff compared to others, that even when i press on the clutch pedal, the clutch disengage less than other cars and so from 3rd to 2nd, its harder to shift and when i do downshift it seems like i didn't step on the clutch all the way?

Sorry, i know its confusing (and somewhat denial maybe....)

^ Your sister is right. While you're there, you might want to check the hydrolics too. There are other things it might be, but check that first. (Other things are more expensive)

I double-clutch on all of my cars. Saves synchro life, and on my 7, the tranny complains a lot less. I do it by habbit now, when I was teaching my girlfriend stick, I kept doing it by accident when I was showing her how to shift.

Calling it 'Rev-Matching' always makes me think of shifting without using the clutch . . .

any experts have any other comments? because i am already stressed out that my 7 eats so much gas =P its hard for me to think that i have to fix another BIG thing =D if the clutch just doesn't open up enough, then its cool. I'll get that fixed right away.

I have a similar problem its really hard to pull into second when down shifterin, rev matching and double clutching don't seem to help at all, bad synchros maybe?

rev match is a must if you are a competent driver... your synchros will go.. change your trans fluid if you see bronze dust in the fluid<<<<<<

You could have an aftermarket clutch in there...
most heavy duty pressure plates require more out of the hydraulics than the stock plate, and you get a VERY short pedal engagement area in return.

Try adjusting the clutch pedal and see what happens.

If you have an aftermarket clutch, then can you adjust the clutch pedal to allow yourself more engagement area? Mine is like at the very bottom of the pedal travel coz of god damn aftermarket clutch.

wow. lots of bad info here. too much too even list and argue.
anyways, sounds like a) your synchros are dying, or
b)your clutch is not disengaging fully.
most likely, it is a. double clutching will help u out here. double clutching will allow u to shift into any gear no matter how bad your synchros are. i suggest u do some research on double clutching, or u rebuild a tranny that u pick up somewhere. either way, it is a great learning experience.

well for today, every gear i shift into and downshift i've been rev-matching. obviously the ride is smoother =P and if i PRESS on the clutch with ALL MY WEIGHT when i am downshifting into 2nd gear. i can usually get into second gear when i couldn't before but i still hear scraping... so i am leaning more towards the after market clutch theory and should adjust my pedals. but i think i'll looking into the bronze dust also. but basically its like what oregano said? a) bad synchros, b) clutch not disengaging

I dont believe its an issue with your clutch. Its most likely a tranny problem. Syncros is a possibility, but id be willing to bet its an issue with the detent system on the shift rails specific to those 2 gears. $$$ wise it would be much much cheaper to buy a new tranny then rebuild, if that was the issue.

what i'm asking is do i need a rebuild and are my sychros bad? i know about rev matching and double clutching

I managed a pretty good technique of rev matching while passing. (people go so slow around here...)

Mash the gas to the floor. While it's still floored, quickly smash the clutch in and out while pushing the stick to the gear you want. You never let off the gas, and almost allways a perfect smooth, extremely-fast downshift, as if it were a fast shifting automatic.

If your syncros were bad, u would experience trouble shifting period, not just downshifting. And rather then rebuild, its cheaper to find a tranny.

And what happens if you don't get it into gear fast enough? You'll be all over the rev limiter before you let off the gas.

ok first of all this happend to me when I put a new tranny in my car. Its a quite simple fix. First try this this. when you start your car while its in nuetral rev it up, now put it in first gear and and with the clutch pressed in all the way rev your engine again. If you notice that your engined reved faster with it in neutral then your clutch isnt disengaging completely. Simply adjust the clutch pedal. If you dont notice a difference then its most likely your syncros. If its the syncros then pik up a used tranny, about $90 down here.

I have had some tranmission problems with some grinding (upshift and downshifting). Nothing to serious yet (that im aware of). But strangely enough, it feels alot better when its cold. Anyone have an explination? or am I crazy?

" But strangely enough, it feels alot better when its cold. Anyone have an explination? or am I crazy?"

maybe the tranny oil is thicker when its cold and helps the synchros out.

"Mash the gas to the floor. While it's still floored, quickly smash the clutch in and out while pushing the stick to the gear you want. You never let off the gas, and almost allways a perfect smooth, extremely-fast downshift, as if it were a fast shifting automatic."

lol. ever try shiftin from 1st to second gear without letting off the gas?? now thats fun!

never happened, it works so smoothly that the rev's are perfectly matched, it seems like you could almost do it without the clutch. And if you can't get to it fast enough... you shouldn't be driving a sports car. :p:



yep, in my 626, I beat the shit out of that car. I swear to god that clutch was indestructible.

i know when i got my car,everytime i tried to shift from 1-2-3 at high rpm's id grind it terribly.and down shifting 4-3-2,like coming out of fast curves,it would either grind or not go.but i learned to match the reving,and now i can do whatever and no grinding

If you car can shift up normally, your synchros are fine. If you can revmatch and shift, your tranny is fine. If you have to double clutch every time you shift even at the proper rpms check clutch system pressure, then it's your tranny fanny...

Match the engine spin ratio to the gear-driveline
 

One function of an in-spec synchro is dampening and resisting attempts in mating mismatched driveline spin rates.

Double-clutching is smarter driving and independent of the types of manual transmission, even helping a Tiptronic. Matching the driveline in upshift and especially downshift (lowering gear) is the work of a more precise and sporty operator/driver.

After this skill becomes habit and background, try the difficult heel-toe braking while RPM-matching during downshifts. One may need to adjust clutch and brake assemblies to assist.

But, each of us probably knows at least one synchro-smashing lazy-foot.