Manual Transmissions

[SmoothTalker]

I bought myself a new car a few months ago and it has a manual transmission.

I can drive just fine now and don't stall or anything, but I had a few questions.

First, occasionally the shift knob gets 'stuck'. This most often happens when starting into first, but occasionally for higher gears. I can push the clutch all the way down, but physically can't move the shift knob into first gear for some reason. If I first move it into a different gear, for example fourth, and then try first again, it will go in just fine. Is this normal or something I should bring up next time I go to the dealership?

Also, anybody have any tips for downshifting? When I do it its either very bumpy, or if I rev to match the RPMs there's basically no engine braking.

 

[Nygard]

1- I've been driving Manuals all my life and never had such a problem. you're either doing it wrong or maybe it's really a problem. Ask anyways.

2- For downshifting? the key is on how fast you let the clutch come back to it's normal position.
First of all, let go of the accelerator. Second, push the clutch all the way down, then downshift. Don't let the clutch go yet! Do it slowly, otherwise it'll be all bumpy like you said it was. Also, careful with those RPM.

 

[bigjohnson]

I bought myself a new car a few months ago and it has a manual transmission.

I can drive just fine now and don't stall or anything, but I had a few questions.

First, occasionally the shift knob gets 'stuck'. This most often happens when starting into first, but occasionally for higher gears. I can push the clutch all the way down, but physically can't move the shift knob into first gear for some reason. If I first move it into a different gear, for example fourth, and then try first again, it will go in just fine. Is this normal or something I should bring up next time I go to the dealership?

Also, anybody have any tips for downshifting? When I do it its either very bumpy, or if I rev to match the RPMs there's basically no engine braking.

1) You are probably sitting with your foot on the clutch a long time before selecting a gear, for instance at a light in neutral with clutch pedal down. The gears can stop in a misaligned state that makes it hard to select a specific gear. Press the clutch in immediately prior to selecting a gear instead. Holding the clutch in while idling also wears your throwout bearing. Selecting a different gear then the one you want makes the gears rotate a little and realign.

2) When you up and down shift notice where the tach needle goes - for best results you can try to match revs as you shift, letting revs fall on an upshift (easy) or blipping the throttle on a downshift (harder), or the other option is to feather the clutch a little.


Nothing is 100% but those are my guesses.

 

[SmoothTalker]

CrimsonKing, its a brand new 09 Cobalt, about 2000 miles now, and no, everything is still straight from the factory.

For the shifting problem, I don't really see how I could be doing it wrong... Push the clutch in, move the gear knob to the gear you want, then properly release the clutch to get it moving. There's something making it stuck, guess I'll ask them to check it out.

As for the downshifting, I guess I should have been more clear. I can make it smooth by releasing the clutch very slowly, but then, aside from using it when going down a long hill, what is the point? Won't the extra wear from using the clutch so much end up being worse than just using your brakes?

 

[bigjohnson]

As for the downshifting, I guess I should have been more clear. I can make it smooth by releasing the clutch very slowly ...

A small engine isn't gonna have a lot of compression braking for a car.

 

[Bryce556]

i have a brand new 08 cobalt as well and its a stick shift and i find it dose that somtimes too, if I am too late on the cluch or such, just release the cluch and cluch again to shift into the gear you want.

 

[ketostix]

I think sometimes new transmissions synchros need to break-in, which should happen within a few thousand miles more. It's possible the shift linkage could need some adjustment-most are adjustable. The car is under warranty so I would take it to the dealer and see what they can do. Other than maybe a shift-linkage adjustment, if the transmission doesn't make any noise or throw itself out of gear, then there's probably nothing wrong with the transmission. You might just need to break it in more or get more used to using a manual. Like someone else mentioned, try shifting gears faster and with more effort.

As for the downshifting, I guess I should have been more clear. I can make it smooth by releasing the clutch very slowly, but then, aside from using it when going down a long hill, what is the point? Won't the extra wear from using the clutch so much end up being worse than just using your brakes?

I think so, and brakes are cheap compared to a clutch and throw out bearing assembly. You do not need to downshift to get some level of engine braking in your current gear. Just lifting your foot off the gas will cause some engine braking. Engine braking isn't really necessary. Most automatics not only don't downshift but even go into neutral when you left off the accelerator or brake. Some people just step on the brake and throw the car into neutral when stopping. Also downshifting too low can cause the car to slide in a corner or in slick stuff.

 

[tharam04]

Another problem you might get is not being able to put it in reverse, if that happens just put it in 1st and put it back in reverse, not sure why but it does the trick.

The reason that the transmission locks you out of reverse is so that you don't try to shift into reverse at a high speed. If you do, you would seriously tear up your transmission.

For downshifting? the key is on how fast you let the clutch come back to it's normal position.
First of all, let go of the accelerator. Second, push the clutch all the way down, then downshift. Don't let the clutch go yet! Do it slowly, otherwise it'll be all bumpy like you said it was. Also, careful with those RPM.

I do this occasionally when downshifting.

 

[Bible_Belt]

The problem of not wanting to go into first happens on my old truck, probably the synchronizers are worn, but it should not happen on a new vehicle. On rare occasion, I have to put it in 2nd and pop the clutch just enough to get the wheels to roll a half-turn or so, then it will slip into first.