Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General This gear thing is getting to me! PLEASE READ

As everyone with an SVT knows that when shifting from first to second it takes good timing to keep the car from jerking like you don't know how to drive stick shift. Is it normal?? Because I drove my friend's Cougar and it seemed to be much smoother when shifting. Can this shifting from first to second problem be fixed or is it just how our SVTs are? It makes it really tricky to race also because you have to release the clutch in a certain way to prevent loss of acceleration and also that jerkiness.

Also on a slightly unrelated note, I was pushing my car last night and at one point I think in second gear while flooring it, the car acted like it was being red lined and was doing the fuel shutoff. I was at about 5 or 6 000 rpms, not redlining it. Is this normal or should I take it back to Ford before my warrenty is up?

Thanks for answering,

Danny

SVT2000/SILVER

I haven't experienced either the problems you are referring to. It doesn't mean they don't exist on your car though.

When I bought my SVT I traded in a 1998.5 Contour SE Sport so maybe I'm just used to the clutch and gearbox...

As for the redlining issue, I would definitely attempt to replicate the problem again. If it is still happening, take it to Ford.

Good luck.

Anyone else??

I haven't had either problem myself, and I don't believe either is normal. Have them checked out while still under warranty.

I was driving a 1994 Sentra before this with a 5-speed, so I was used to the MTX, but not the Contour's (am now after almost 89,000 miles, but not at the time).

I have the same conditon with the clutch on my SVT. My release point is closer to the top,I prefer to have it much lower but I don't think that there is and adjustment.

Also for some crazy reason the problem has lessened since I removed the resonator. I am still trying to figure that one out.

i've got the same problem. Had a friend drive it also to see if I was insane.

What we concluded is that because of the gearing change, it's in a very odd rythm to people who are used to other transmissions. You'll just have to adjust to the shift point, it's a pain and I still screw it up sometimes.

Anyone else have these experiences?

Yes I have driven other stickshift cars (99 maxima, 96 cobra, 89 bmw, 97 integra gsr), and all of those were easier to drive smoother than the svt. Don't know exactly why, though.

-James

Yes, I too know what you are talking about! This brief and very small "lurch" as I've come to describe it, occurs under fast shifting IMO, especially from 1st to 2nd. I've found that shifting slower helps, at least on my car. If you've not done the throttle hang fix posted on the CEG, this may help, although I haven't done so yet. This may occur b/c the revs don't fall fast enough due to the well known throttle hang these Duratecs experience to enhance emissions.

I didn't start to experience this problema until about a year into my ownership experience. It may be one of the wear characteristics of the clutch and how it contacts the flywheel when you shift? Who knows...

I have a 00 SVT and have zero problems with shifting it what-so-ever. Maybe you just got a bad one?
Have you switched to the "cocktail"? You did atleast change the MTX fluid to get all the breaking material out already right?

The clutch setup is Intentionally set to engage/disengage at the top of the pedal. It is a drivers car after all! This is the ideal setup for the true driver. (heel/toe tap shifting) This would have been quite obvious in a/the test drive. I love it personally, but then I'm a true driver

You might be experiencing throttle hang. That would increase the effort to shift as the rpm's stay up instead of dropping down to match the lower tranny rpm (higher gear)
There's a fix for that!