Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting weird 1st to 2nd shifting in the SVT

Since I bought the car aprox 2-3 months ago, it seems like the car hops or jumps a bit when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I have been trying diffeent methods to prevent this from happeneing (blip the gas when the clutch is pushed in when shifting from 1st to second, feathering the clutch w/ the gas, etc.) but it still seems to do it aprox 75% of the time i shift from 1st to 2nd. This is my 1st stick but is it me or is something wrong or is there a trick to smoother shifting from 1st to 2nd? What Im describing isn't the "wheel hop" is it?

My father has had many sticks, granted in the past (20+years ag0...GTO, stang, etc.) but he has the same problem when driving it. Is there something wrong or is it just a matter of getting used to it?

Any tips,hints,answers, etc. welcome

Thanks

I have found that contours are picky with shifting (at least mine is), so when I go from first to 2nd, I try to match the RPM's as well as I can... when im just driving around town like an old granny, I like to get to about 10 MPH slowly disengauge the clutch, wait for the RPM's to drop to around 1300 and reengauge the clutch (pull out) in the next gear (2nd) of corse. It tends to make for a nice smooth transition to the next gear.

its weird, but it works. Shift really slowly from 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd... after that it doesn't matter. The problem is in the OBDII emmissions crap. The engine will very slowly decellerate (negative acceleration for you physics buffs) to keep emmissions low. All the 2.5s from the 93 Probe GTs have done this. Damn flywheel acts like it ways 10oz spinning it up and 80 pounds slowin down.. Try the slow shifting thing. The other option is to drive it like you hate it.

have the engine & tranny mounts checked for wear. could be contributing factor.

try shifting slow eh? That kinda would suck though b/c its not like these engines produce wicked hrsp and when its time to shift to 2nd it seems like you have to do it FAST b/c you dont get to a decent speed in 1st and you have to rush it into 2nd to pick up speed (just in normal driving even, thats how i feel atleast. I'll give it a try though. Anyone else have any other ideas as to a solution?

Originally posted by ibub:

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have the engine & tranny mounts checked for wear. could be contributing factor.

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turns out I did have a broken tranny mount (roll resistor, the one right below where the air box would be). The bolt must have been snapped when i bought it a few months ago and i didnt even know it untill I installed my RU-3530. I have since repaired it w/ a new bolt.

The shifting is just kind of odd as it shifts from 2nd-3rd and 3rd-4th and 4th to 5th so effortlessly and smooth. Its jst the shift from 1st-2nd that rough and jumpy/jerky.

This isn't the "wheel hop" that everyone mentions on here is it?

Here's how you tell..


Place $3 worth of dimes in your coin tray on the dash.


When you shift and THINK you are getting this wheel hop, pull over.. count the coins... if there is more than $0.20 left, you weren't getting wheel hop..

All jokes aside: Wheel hop is a very violent occurence, and is VERY fast (as far as how often it "hops") If you could count them, I would imagine it to be in the 5-7 times per second range.


VERY noticeable... VERY BAD. The entire car front end (dash, cowl, etc) bounce harshly...


HTH
Ray

well then it wasn't wheel hop b/c what i was explaining was just like two jerks/hops/ after shifting to second

BUT...i found a solution that has made the shifting smooth as butter. When im driving, I only push the clutch just past the grabbing point (maybe 1/2 -3/4 of the way to the floor), shift and let off the clutch (keeping a steady flow of the clutch aka never stopping the movemenet). This has gotten rid off ALL the jumpyness. Before I used to push the clutch completely down till it hit the floor during shifts when I got the jumpyness/hopping. Like I said this is my 1st car w/ a stick.

Is this what everyone else does? Am I ruining the clutch or anything by not presing the clutch ALL the way down?

Thanks

If you are slipping the clutch while doing this, then it IS prematurely wearing the clutch down.


The "engage" point of the clutch seems to be very finite, vice gradual with many other cars. It is either biting, or not. You can continue to press the clutch to the floor, just become more aware of the engagement point on the transistion upwards, and don't pass that point up too quickly. This is what is likely causing your "two jerks"...

Those would be the clutch engaging very quickly, and the car jumping forward because of this... after two bounces, the momentum is absorbed and you are then in control with the gas, again. The reason the later gears do not do this is because the ratios are steadily decreasing, and you are getting less torque per gear.. (less ability to make the car LUNGE...)



Take some time.. practice with it, and you'll get it.

Ray

I wasn't stating that it is LITERALLY "either engaged, or not"..


just stating that there is a very finite engagement point.

Note: this point is the point in which the clutch is grabbing enough to accellerate the vehicle fully.. there is still "some" grabbing at points before this.. so shifting JUST before the engagement point, as you are doing now, is TECHNICALLY wearing on your clutch slightly faster.


Try this..


1st gear..
Accellerate to 3750 (one tick before 4K). Clutch in.. leisurely shift to neutral, then as the revs approach 3250 or so, leisurely shift to second.

Second gear.
(clutch STILL IN) As the revs approach 2600-2750ish, releash the clutch to engage in to second gear just as they hit 2700.

Perfectly smooth... less wear on the synchros because you matched the revs correctly.. this is the exact output that matches from first to second. 3750 in first = 2700 ISH in second. If you match the revs carefully, there should be NO NOTICEABLE movement when shifting..


Let me know what happens..


Ray