ValorHeart 1 Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Hello, i've got my Spark 1.2 LT two months ago and did 2,300 KM's, I've try to find the best way to shfit smoothly, especialy from 1st or 2nd gear and just couldn't do it, allways when releasing the clutch the car jumps a bit, and knocks, i did try many ways to shift smooth but nothing work, 1.shift from 1st to 2nd at 2,500 RPM 2.1st to 2nd at 3,500 RPM and so... when i shift i leave the gas, put the clutch in, transfer the shift to the next one, leave the clutch gently and then put gas again, is this the correct way? maybe i have an clutch problem? is this possible on a brand new car? i did drive manual cars and never had that issue that i couldn't find the perfect spot to shift smoothly, i hope you guys can help me get a lead of this issue, Thanks, Adi. Link to post Share on other sites
icepick 9 Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Should be applying gas as you let clutch out. If your not giving throttle input upon releasing the clutch, it will hesitate. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 The electronic throttle makes it very difficult to get smooth shifts, I've mostly given up trying. Link to post Share on other sites
ValorHeart 1 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 How much gas i shoud give when leaving the clutch? it dosn't damage the clutch and gear to gas before there is a connection? Also, if the electronic throttle didn't have that much delay i think i would get better shifts Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I have a 93 325i and a 79 F100 with sticks, and the 1 - 2 shift on the spark is difficult to master.. I do 'drag' the pedal a bit as others have suggested. Nature of the beast with such a high first gear. Link to post Share on other sites
ValorHeart 1 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 (edited) What do you mean in "Drag" ?, you push the gas prittey much before releasing fully the clutch? it dosn't damage anything? Edited October 11, 2013 by ValorHeart Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 That's one way to describe it. First to Second can be pretty harsh and notchy if you don't do it all in one fluid motion.. Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge707 0 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 1st to second is just getting it to move so you can shift to second and then rev out 2nd and third for decent acceleration!! When ever possible I Try at a stop sign to just roll through it and Go (Directly) to 2nd gear and its much smoother!!! Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Try what's called "rev matching", that's when you give it gas while the clutch is pushed in, to closely match the engine speed to the gear your going to put it into right before you release the clutch. These cars don't like going into second, unless you shift from first around 3k rpm. Also, the 1'st gear ratio will cause the clutch to wear faster if your not careful or live where it's very hilly." Link to post Share on other sites
Sparktacus 10 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 One of my favorite how to videos. I haven't driven stick on a daily basis in years and needed a refresher course for daily driving again. http://www.ehow.com/video_2327201_getting-shift_-manual-transmission-lessons.html I would suggest against rev-matching personally as it seems futile on such a small engine. I agree with austex04 about the shift points, 1st gear likes a higher rev, and it is awkward too. 2nd and so on are much smoother. I use a general 10 - 15 mph rule for each gear. 10-15, 1st, 2nd at 20, 3rd 30 to 35, 4th at 40 and 5th gear from 45 mph and higher. 1st gear as said above does seem to shift best at 3500 rpm , pretty much the other gears around 2500 rpm. Personally I find syncing 1st gear with the gas pedal to be as graceful as a dance partner with a wooden leg. ;-) Link to post Share on other sites
TheDrip 25 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I find that my absolute smoothest shifts happen at < 2000 rpm. 1800rpm, shift, repeats 1st gear doesnt even get me halfway across an intersection. drives super smooth this way. I only use 1st gear to get barely rolling, into 2nd, then drive 'normal' from there. Link to post Share on other sites
stevesparky 20 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Just takes practice. Just drive and shift for the most smoothness. In time, you will get the feel of it. I did. Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 ^^^ what he said. I am normally shifting around 3K if by myself at a stoplight. Link to post Share on other sites
ValorHeart 1 Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 the spark shifts is prittey suck anyway, we need to match ourselves too much, in other cars i had much smoother shifting without any effort. Link to post Share on other sites
baby tires 1 Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 With small light weight cars you will notice changes more. try running the car in first gear to say 3000 rpm, look at the speed, then try 2nd gear at the same speed. notice what rpm you are at. like they say match your engine speed to your rpm for the gear you are going into. Link to post Share on other sites
ValorHeart 1 Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Thanks, after 5K Km's the gear is smoother.. Link to post Share on other sites
Miraj Choksi 16 Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 im having problems on the first gear sometimes it just gets stuck and not able to change when i slow down almost to a stop that time im able to shift can anyone help whats the problem? Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 You shouldn't downshift into first until you're below 10-15 MPH *anyway* *regardless* of vehicle. Your syncrhos will thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
Barry Doubleu 0 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 same here. i've driven a manual most of my 20 driving years, and the Spark is the first that i can't seem to get a smooth shift from 1st to 2nd. it sort of "shutters" before it catches. im guessing it the electronic throttle, cuz it's the first time i have that. maybe just more practice since my car only has 1200mi on it. lol Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 It's that super tall granny first gear that is tripping all of us up, combined with no torque from this engine. Link to post Share on other sites
Trancer07 30 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 The electronic throttle makes it very difficult to get smooth shifts, I've mostly given up trying. Yeah, when I first take off and the engine is cold, the throttle tends to "stick" open a little bit making mine go VRROOOOM shifting between 3rd and 4th gear unless I wait for the RPM's to drop a little before pushing the clutch in to go into 4th. Link to post Share on other sites
manualsparkls 6 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) Delete Edited March 3, 2014 by manualsparkls Link to post Share on other sites
manualsparkls 6 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) My gearbox will crunch going from 1st to 2nd when it's really cold (below freezing) unless it's babied into it (gently pressured into second). And this is with the clutch fully depressed, and it doesn't do it shifting to any other gear or when down shifting. After it's driven for a while and heats up it doesn't do it. My spark has less than 2k miles on it. Edited March 3, 2014 by manualsparkls Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mine only started this recently, last winter no crunching. Link to post Share on other sites
manualsparkls 6 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mine only started this recently, last winter no crunching. This seems to be a common occurrence. After doing some reading, I can come up with two conclusions. The gearbox oil is really thick when cold and slowing down the syncros, or the syncros are going bad. I hope it's not the latter. Link to post Share on other sites
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