Jerky at low RPMS
 

I've noticed this from when I first got the car, but now finally decided to ask you guys about it. At low RPMs, like in first gear leaving a stop light, the car feels jerky. I watch the RPMs, and they don't go up smoothly but the car kinda bucks slightly. It happens every time. Seems to only be an issue in 1st and maybe 2nd gear, when accelerating slowly. Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just my car?

I was just thinking about this today and whether or not I should post it here to see if anyone else felt it. +1 rep for reading my mind.

As far as I know, this is normal. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. It all depends on how you roll out of the clutch and how much throttle you have applied. My Mustang GT didn't do it with stock 3.27 gears, but when I swapped them out for 4.10s it did buck a bit at times.

:iagree: Be a little more aggressive on the gas pedal...

Man 4.10's are tempting me so bad!

I think the issue is low end torque there isnt enough for the 3.31 gear in the back of yalls cars or mine for that matter and so the engine is somewhat stalling a bit or struggling. also I think the throttle by wire in both of our cars has a hard time staying smooth at the low low RPM levels.

Nice parallel between our cars tho kind of interesting

4.10s and the Mustang will absolutely come alive. I went from running 14 flat with a bone stock 2003 GT to 13.6 with 4.10s. They effectively bitchslapped the car awake. You'll LOVE them.

Yeah, I have a bit of a problem of being a nanny driver when I'm not out driving for pleasure. Sometimes I go so slow I have to save the car from stalling, and then I complain about the lack of low-end torque at 400 rpm. :icon18:

Yep, I've noticed this too, but more gas does stop it happening

I don't know if you guys have noticed the sudden existence of torque at about 3,000 RPM. The car kind of struggles below 3 grand if you're trying to go somewhere quickly but once you cross that mark it feels like the VVEL does something and BAM you've just been hit with almost V8-like torque. It's kind of funny how driving this car reminds me of driving my old Ford 4.6L V8.

I think with 4.10's I will dip into the 12's so that would be exciting:driving:

my buddy Brian has 4.10's, Vortec SDS, headers, exhaust, and to date his best time is 12.9, he says the 4.10's are great for low end tq, but fall flat on their face in the upper RPM range. They might knock a tenth or two off your time, but dont expect miracles, he says he misses his top end.

As far as jerkyness is concerned, start @ about 1500rpms, keep the pressure on the throttle constant and slowly let the clutch out, voila! no more jerk. Self admittedly, I still cant manage a smooth shift every time, damn fat arse flywheel!

The only issue on a FI car with the 4.10s is you had to shift to 5th (overdrive on the Mustangs) at about 112 MPH.

With good tires I would think so.

I've felt the same thing. But for me its shifting from 1st to 2nd that seems a little clunky...and no so much the start. Its like the rpms take forever to drop...I have to shift slooooooooooooow to be smooth. Maybe its just me, I don't know.

Under normal driving I have to take it easy on the 1-2 for a smooth shift.

Same with me. The car is so much smoother at low rpms and 1st to 2nd shift when I accelerate hard!

I know a couple of people running 12.8's with CAI, tune, and 4.10's and thats on street tires. I may go with 3.73's tho for a little bit of balance and maybe F.I. someday

All I have to say is "don't fear the gear." :D

I do hear 4.10s are excellent for drifting, I say give that a shot!

I know that is what everyone keeps telling me

That's true, engagement into 2nd gear is slower when driving at slow speeds. You shouldn't need to shift into the gear so quickly because of the clunk and jerk. Try pressing in the clutch pedal a bit quicker than usual and ease it when you let it out. I've managed to change my footwork and driving the Z has been much more smooth and rewarding.

I've found a fix to the jerkyness problem. While in 1st rev the engine to 4K + with the clutch in. Keep your foot on the throttle and dump the clutch while depressing the throttle. The rev limiter will kick in at 7500 RPM. That will be your signal to engage the clutch again and shift into second. Dump the clutch again while maintaining the throttle and you'll be off without any jerking..... If this is to agressive for you the alternative is to get the automatic. Problem solved!

Dont fear RPM's either, give it the gas !

I think m4a1mustang was poking a little fun as there's a famous song by Blue Oyster Cult - Don't fear the reaper (or I could be wrong)

I have noticed this since day 1. It's because of the lack of low end tq of the Vq37VHR VVEL .As Modshack said, be a little aggressive on the gas pedal. I have trained my right foot to press the gas pedal enough to not have any jerkiness.

Same here. I can't seem to take off smoothly. It is like it is a combination of the clutch engagement being to long and soft motor mounts making the engine rock side to side.

you just need to get use to the car and you gotta play with the clutch and the gas a little bit to really understand whats going on. what i do sometimes is hold the clutch and then take off slowly and as soon as the car starts rolling i let go of the gas and i push the clutch a little bit so i just keep on doing that until i get use to the sweet spot.

the jerkiness goes away if you rev it around 1300-1500 k before releasing the clutch.

You do know how much a clutch costs right? Why would you tell people to dump a clutch all the time when driving normally? Unless my understanding of clutch dumping is wrong, that will tear it up a lot faster. A ;) might have been nice at the end of this to stop people who don't know from following your "advice"

I'll agree with everyone saying to ease out at 1500rpm into first and go slow into second. It just takes some getting used to, although I still get caught sometimes and jerk around a bit. Sometimes I just wind out 1st gear up to 5k to make shifting to 2nd easier. Plus it sounds awesome :P

Again, from my experience, it's not about the RPMs. If you drive slow, you'll have to shift and engage slower. Make sure your clutch pedal is down or close to the floor before shifting. If you get in the habit of shifting while clutch pedal is being pressed, you'll more likely to hear the clunk and feel resistance. To help with the smoothness, press the clutch pedal down to the floor quickly before shifting and ease out of it once you get in 2nd. You shifts will be much more lighter and smooth regardless of RPM.

For daily driving, I find myself hovering under 3k RPM all the time. It gets herky jerky once in awhile. Just watch your footwork with the clutch pedal regardless of how much gas you give it. What I also found that improves smoothness with upshifts is to pivot my foot higher off the floor when pressing down the clutch pedal. When downshifting and starting in first gear, you can press clutch pedal anyway you like it (which I pivot my foot closer or on the floor).

Seriously if you don't realize that reving your car to red line and dumping the clutch isn't tounge in cheek as a solution for a jerky start then you shouldn't be driving a car! No smilie need on that one.... Can you imagine someone taking that advice seriously? Come on..... Every light doing a massive burn out?

No offense to any of the posters but its pretty basic driving here to get the car to pull away without jerking. Its not the car - its the driver not adjusting to a new vehicle. Once you spend a little time with the car you'll figure out how to use the clutch and shift properly.

:icon18:

:iagree: It took me awhile to adjust from the 350Z, and I had lots of issues because of clutch pedal "play" (funky engagement point) and clunky shifter.

I don't see it so much as that for me. Even after I've fully engaged the clutch, and I'm in first gear accelerating, say from 2500rpm up, if I do it slowly and smoothly, the car jerks/bucks slightly once or twice (not really a large buck, but it hesitates and the RPM fluctuates slightly). It's weird. It almost seems as if the electronic throttle is modulating up and down a few times.

If its uncontrolable then it needs to go in for repairs.

Appears to be Common
 

I have been driving a stick shift non stop since 1959. I currently have an X-Runner 6sp and I traded a 350 6sp for a new 370 6sp. I have had injected small block Chevrolet drag cars with stick shifts as well as Big blocks. I must say that the 370 has the touchiest Clutch that I have ever driven!! But, this "Appears to be Common" for the car. I thought at first it was me and old age (67) and time to give up the manuals. Then I went back to my dealer and told them I wanted to drive a "Z" on their lot. I took it out and guess what? It reacted the same way as mine. There was another thread on here that some have readjusted their pedal travel and have helped the problem. But so far I have not found the time to try it myself.

:tiphat:

67 and driving a Z, you sir, are my hero.

Yep, 1st gear allows you to feel the engine's torque the most. Drive along in 1st gear at 3k RPM and then floor it. You'll spin the tires and your neck will snap back. Do that in 6th gear and you'll slowly accelerate. The lower the gear, the more torque you'll be experiencing. This can make the herky-jerky feeling if you aren't smooth on the accelerator and also makes the 1-2 shift the most challenging for smoothness. This is also why you should start off in 2nd gear from a stop when driving in snow so you don't spin the tires as readily.

ive tried this and it is VERY hard to avoid stalling, guess I should really give it some juice, maybe thatll work.

I bet you'd spin the tires if you pop the clutch at 5k RPM from a stop in 2nd gear.

I will try this tomorrow with haste!

Understood. Magazines gripe Z/G having an on/off abrupt feeling with the clutch engagement.

When you release the clutch in 2nd gear too slow or fast will be abrupt. This is where you need to pivot your foot (ankle) back as you let out the clutch so it doesn't engage too abruptly. It's hard to describe. Let's say the ball of your foot is on the floor when you start in 1st. When you go to 2nd, lift the ball of your foot a few inches off the floor and quickly and fully press down the clutch pedal with your toes, then engage 2nd, and pivot your foot back as you release the clutch pedal before applying gas.

Pressing down the clutch pedal quick before easing it out seems to smooth out the engagements regardless of RPM... and I can get things smooth and fast as low as under 2k RPM.