Those of with the 6-speed manuals, do you find that up-shifting into second requires more delicate clutch release? Its like whenever I accelerate from the line and let off around 3~4k in first, I cant just 'drop' the clutch for second gear otherwise the car rocks heavily from the tranny engaging second... on top of that when I do give it the gas it rocks once again from the acceleration. I've managed to overcome this by giving a little gas and sloooowly letting the clutch out in second. Is this a normal characteristic of the tranny?

 

I have noticed what you're talking about. It's a smooth shift with any other gear change but the 1-2, that one requires a little more finesse and effort than the other changes (for me at least.) I've found that the more I drive it and adjust to it, I find myself compensating with the throttle and clutch to overcome the jerkiness without even realizing it. I think there is just a bigger gap in ratio from 1-2 versus 2-3 and so on. Try slowing the 1-2 shift a tad when you're just cruisin and see if that helps (or you can feather the clutch some too, I just don't like unnecessary wear on my clutch.)

 

Have a new (1500 miles) 2k3 with MT.

Shifting seemed sorta rough in most gears initially, but now it has smoothed out. I certainly don't feel there is any difficulty making the 1 - 2 shift.

Recently read that we should imagine the shift **** os a fresh egg and act accordingly. So I am practicing pulling the lever into second with my finger tips. Use the heel of my hand to go from second to third (and fourth to fifth).

Further, I try to make all shifts both precise and fast. Probably spending too much time thinking about what I'm doing, but I want it all to become totally second nature so I never think about what gear or when. For example ; here comes a very sharp corner, down shift and give it gas; never think about using brake.

That is what this SE is all about and it seems to work.

 

Like this??



J/K

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... must be gentle with egg... delicate shifting.

 

Yep, I have noticed the same thing. The 1-2 shift is especially rough when the car is still cold, and the engine is spinning at higher rpms. I can't get the 1-2 shift smooth all the time unless I feather the clutch somewhat, but I don't like doing that, so I try to "time" my shifts. So sometimes it's perfectly smooth, sometimes I get a slight jerk, but it's never terrible (only if I dump the clutch when the car is still cold...I can get a nice buck in that situation).

If anyone has figured out a good way to avoid this 100% of the time, let us know. The 1-2 shift is the trickiest out of all of them. The rest are butter!

 

I experimented with the shift rpms and noticed the gap between first and second like you say. Second gear works very little at 20 mph versus first gear which is working faily hard. This must be the ratio setup??? I digress... I'll just have to compensate for the lack of smooth gear shifting with greater awareness.

 

its like having to deal with getting out of first gear a second time hahaha

 

When I'm driving normally, I shift very early into 2nd - meaning I get going in 1st up to about 1500-2000 RPMs and shift. That way, the only slight jerk in the car is me

 

 

Rotate the shifter **** sideways to the right just a little. It'll help with the shifting. Basically it's because it follows the patterns of shifting (it's pointing at the gear you are in and the gear you are headed toward) when driving normally. For me, it made a difference of missed upshifts vs. non-missed.

 

Are you a King or something?

Your collection of cars.....um.....WOW !

 

cause 2nd gear is short, and there is alot of engine braking. This is why u gotta ease the throttle on and let the clutch out slowly. Its like matching revs when upshifting.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RT03SE
[B]Have a new (1500 miles) 2k3 with MT.

Recently read that we should imagine the shift **** os a fresh egg and act accordingly. So I am practicing pulling the lever into second with my finger tips. Use the heel of my hand to go from second to third (and fourth to fifth).

I just bought a 6sp maxima, and I also think that shifting is very rough since the lever feels very notchy, so it requires more force than it should to shift the firts 3 gears. 4th,5th and 6th not as bad.
So I am a bit disappointed with how this transmission works.The other thing I have noticed is that when I an rolling to a stop I push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and try to dowshift (lets say, from third down to second and then to first so by the time I get to the stop I am allready in first gear)I have to be doing like 5 mph,if not it is very very hard to put the car in first gear,even with the clutch pedal to the floor. Do you guys think this is normal for the Maxima?

 

The fresh egg analogy does not mean that you treat the shift **** gently, but just that you THINK about what you are doing during every shift. Screw up and you are holding broken egg completes this analogy.

Gotta stop reading those books about pro racing ;-)

I don't have any problem going into first from second - moving or standing. If moving, I'd likely be 10 MPH or less - otherwise, why bother?

 

i did the same thing right when i got mine(July 02), and have liked it ever since...i have found that, as is obvious, it just takes practice to get it smooth all the time. it rarely ever jerks for me anymore, even when driving hard. you've just got to get the muscle memory down