Trouble downshifting to 1st

edub370

Guys.... It's called first gear lockout. Many cars, ecoboxes included, that don't let u downshift to first until a certain (and very low) mph. And u should never be shifting into first while rolling anyways . After 10mph, 2nd gear has all the power u would ever need. Only shift into first at a complete stop.

I'm guessing what's happening, is you're trying to get ahead of yourself and throw it into first before fully stopped. Which combined with a car with a super finicky mt (i.e. 370z) then u will have problems. As stated a bunch of times before in this forum, u cannot rush or "force" this trans to do anything.

#sluggish_synchro_problems

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IDZRVIT

There is nothing wrong with the mt in a 370Z for those that know how to use it. I'm in that category with many others in here. I agree with you that you will have a problem trying to down shift into first above a certain speed. I like to do this though in my vette and Z to lock up the rear wheels momentarily. But that's me and it's no worse than doing a burnout when it comes to wear and tear on the drivetrain.

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"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

edub370

Dude why are u doing that?? Why do u think car manufacturers make transmissions that don't allow that? just cuz its fun to do? If u shift into first at anything other than stop, u are driving a manual wrong.

Listen, i love the 370. Clearly, i bought one. but I'm also not delusional. If u think this MT couldn't use a little work (a corvette isn't exactly the industry standard in tranismissions either) then u are drinking the kool-aid a little too much. go drive ANY manual... try sticking it in first at 15mph then report back,


And burnouts don't kill synchros. jamming into first at speed does.

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IDZRVIT

Dude, driving it 'wrong' huh? Didn't know you were an automotive authority on how to drive a manual. But I'll drive my manuals the way I want. Been doin' it for 40 years. Funny, never had a manual fail yet. Back on topic. Gear oil doesn't jam gears as the op is describing and the mt is pretty stout for the Z and shifts good if your an 'authority', lol, like me. Oh, ten easy steps. That's for girls, dude. Can't you tell the difference? Report back when you do.

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"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

ayrton88

I have to ask too...why do you want to shift into 1st at anything above walking pace? Makes no sense. Maybe on the race track, but with the right gearing not even necessary there.

edub370

Idk what u want me to say? Ok so u have been driving a manual wrong got 40 years? Funny that u say that article is "for girls". I asked my girlfriend just now, "babe, when do u downshift into first?" She responded, "only at a stop light. Is this a trick question?" Funny that even my girlfriend knows better. And secondly i find it odd that u think girls can't drive manuals. Save that sexist crap for another forum.

I want u to tell me what logical reason u have for shifting into first at speed. Cuz I'm pretty sure chirping your tires on a downshift isn't one

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bfowlzr33

ok man chill out unless you are a pro im not downshifting to first while im going 15 - 20 miles per our, not even 10 or 5. im holding in the clutch while barely moving almost at a complete stop. even when im sitting there at a stop sign (not moving) sometimes it has trouble going into first unless i work it a little bit. thanks for sharing how to drive a stick also, i had NO idea how to until now.

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07 TITAN CC OFFROAD PKG
06 Mustang GT 5MT
01 Audi TT ABT 6MT

edub370

I have no idea how to drive a stick either. i just move the lil knob around in the middle till something happens or it crunches (idk is that bad). that combined with blindly stabbing at the 3 little mystery peddles has seemed to work out so far

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Telephone

OP,
1. Switch back to OEM fluid
2. Stop downshifting into 1st while moving.

Has anyone given Redline any feedback on their fluid's effects on the Z tranny?

Japanjay

I shift down to first at around 20mph. But I dont use SRM but heel toe and it shifts smooth as butter. But when everything was royal purple I was getting the 5th gear grind. Everything fluid wise went back to OEM and no grinding in 5th anyomore.

JARblue

20 mph?!? And if you're having troubles getting the shift knob in gear at that speed, that's the car telling you you're doing it wrong...

I will agree that SRM is pretty bad at downshifting to 1st. I can rev match myself better. But downshifting into first at 20 mph is pointless and almost guaranteed to cause you problems down the road. The only reason I ever downshift to 1st is when I'm slowly approaching a red light that turns green before stopping and when I'm approaching my driveway to avoid scraping.

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Japanjay

I stated I have no problems dropping into first at 20, it is only like 3.5k rpm. Simple heel toe blip and slides right in with no issues at all. No jerking or nothing. Then just gently hit the brakes to stop at the white line. Pretty simple. I will note the SRM on this car suxs IMO. Dont like the down shift from it, the motor feels like it is bein held at the lower gear RPM for a split second before the SRM lets go and lets the tranny brake the motor, and dont like how it hangs the upshift. Just not my cup of tea.

SS_Firehawk

You know, it's only until very recently that other cars have their own version of SRM. BMW M5-M6, Porsche 911, Cayman, and the new Corvette, all considerably more expensive than the 370Z

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SS_Firehawk

Theoretically, if your car is moving and changing gears based on speed, the driver is operating it correctly, maybe not smoothly, but it is working. Just like anything, you can always take it a step further... Double clutching, rev matching, heel toeing, etc. I wouldn't call it incorrect to shift to first if not at a complete stop, just out of the norm. I'm definitely no qualified expert, but I'm not going to tell my Wife she doesn't know how to drive stick because her habits differ from mine. Synchros and clutches wear out over time, some driving habits preserve them much better than others.

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IDZRVIT

Yes, it is not the norm. I didn't say I do it all the time, everytime, I drive a manual. I just get a kick out of locking up the rears momentarily coming to a stop. Some people are just too wrapped up in themselves to read what others are saying. Hey, I do it downshifting into second sometimes too. Big f'n deal. But for others to come in and say if you do that you don't know how to drive a manual is just being ignorant. Also, I doubt there is any more or any less wear and tear on the drivetrain compared to a burnout, speed shifting, etc. Done.

PS - My mt works just fine and speed shifts without issue. Anyone care to speculate on why my mt works good and doesn't for others? Now might be the time to talk about not knowing how to shift a manual.

__________________
"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP