How does your M6 feel?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 253
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio TX
How does your M6 feel?
So.... the manual six speed in the Vette feels very.... mechanical.
To the point it almost worries me.
Between the death clatter (if you turn the car off without depressing the clutch) to the often difficult shift gates, it's a rough transmission. No problem with slippage or actual shifting or clutch grip though.
It makes odd noises at slow speeds. When I shift from first gear at a low rpm, it's kinda death clattery if it's done too slowly at really low speeds.
This is my second C5 (it's a 2003), but my first manual C5... and the last manual I drove was a 2004 M3 about 5 years ago.
Am I just being paranoid or is this all normal? I drive very conservatively 99.9% of the time, I'm 25 years old. If I'm being an ******* to my car, then sure, it feels like a Corvette and awesome and great and sporty...
Mostly just curious if this sounds like everyday drivetrain stuff for the model or if I should work on some maintenance. This may have been covered before, but it's pretty personal, being a gearbox and all, so was looking for personal answers/questions.
Should I think about clutch fluid change?
2003 Corvette M6 Convertible, black on black, with 50k miles.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Travis
To the point it almost worries me.
Between the death clatter (if you turn the car off without depressing the clutch) to the often difficult shift gates, it's a rough transmission. No problem with slippage or actual shifting or clutch grip though.
It makes odd noises at slow speeds. When I shift from first gear at a low rpm, it's kinda death clattery if it's done too slowly at really low speeds.
This is my second C5 (it's a 2003), but my first manual C5... and the last manual I drove was a 2004 M3 about 5 years ago.
Am I just being paranoid or is this all normal? I drive very conservatively 99.9% of the time, I'm 25 years old. If I'm being an ******* to my car, then sure, it feels like a Corvette and awesome and great and sporty...
Mostly just curious if this sounds like everyday drivetrain stuff for the model or if I should work on some maintenance. This may have been covered before, but it's pretty personal, being a gearbox and all, so was looking for personal answers/questions.
Should I think about clutch fluid change?
2003 Corvette M6 Convertible, black on black, with 50k miles.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Travis
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 253
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio TX
Sounds pretty normal to me. If you change the trans fluid to Amsoil Torque drive or Royal purple or some other good synthetic product it will get a little better but they will still be pretty noisy and notchy to shift.
I would use the Ranger method to exchange the clutch fluid especially if it is very black:
Take Care of Your Clutch--the Ranger Protocol - YouTube
I would use the Ranger method to exchange the clutch fluid especially if it is very black:
Take Care of Your Clutch--the Ranger Protocol - YouTube
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 253
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio TX
Don't wanna go breaking any plastic forks!
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The C5 6-speed does have a marbles-in-a-can noise under slight acceleration - that is normal. And many complain about the notchy feel of the shifter. You can always get an aftermarket shifter and make the car shift smoother.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
My 2000 FRC has the original M6 with 130k and 500whp going through it.
PO's and myself have treated it well - shift nice and easy, no abuse. It feels mechanical, but no nasty noises. At least nothing I can hear over the straight pipe exhaust
6th is a bit recalcitrant but otherwise, no issues.
I highly suggest quality fluids in the diff & trans for noise & wear reduction. Clutch fluid is a good maintenance item but won't change trans noise.
Shifter: mine is a shortened stock shifter with a Hurst ****. It's nice. aftermarket shifters replace the shifter only; does not change the mechanism/linkage at all.
You can reduce the notchy feel by the anti-Venom mod:
http://www.toquez06.com/avm.html
basically reduces the spring pressure around the detents. It's good to do the alignment procedure on the shifter as well, it's pretty easy.
Best of luck!
PO's and myself have treated it well - shift nice and easy, no abuse. It feels mechanical, but no nasty noises. At least nothing I can hear over the straight pipe exhaust
6th is a bit recalcitrant but otherwise, no issues.I highly suggest quality fluids in the diff & trans for noise & wear reduction. Clutch fluid is a good maintenance item but won't change trans noise.
Shifter: mine is a shortened stock shifter with a Hurst ****. It's nice. aftermarket shifters replace the shifter only; does not change the mechanism/linkage at all.
You can reduce the notchy feel by the anti-Venom mod:
http://www.toquez06.com/avm.html
basically reduces the spring pressure around the detents. It's good to do the alignment procedure on the shifter as well, it's pretty easy.
Best of luck!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Sounds pretty normal to me. If you change the trans fluid to Amsoil Torque drive or Royal purple or some other good synthetic product it will get a little better but they will still be pretty noisy and notchy to shift.
I would use the Ranger method to exchange the clutch fluid especially if it is very black:
Take Care of Your Clutch--the Ranger Protocol - YouTube
I would use the Ranger method to exchange the clutch fluid especially if it is very black:
Take Care of Your Clutch--the Ranger Protocol - YouTube
Yep - This will do it! The Amsoil Troque drive makes an amazing difference. The M6 has always been notchy at best. The Ranger method also works very well to clean up the clutch fluid. Zuti
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 18
From: Scottsdale Az
So.... the manual six speed in the Vette feels very.... mechanical.
To the point it almost worries me.
Between the death clatter (if you turn the car off without depressing the clutch) to the often difficult shift gates, it's a rough transmission. No problem with slippage or actual shifting or clutch grip though.
It makes odd noises at slow speeds. When I shift from first gear at a low rpm, it's kinda death clattery if it's done too slowly at really low speeds.
This is my second C5 (it's a 2003), but my first manual C5... and the last manual I drove was a 2004 M3 about 5 years ago.
Am I just being paranoid or is this all normal? I drive very conservatively 99.9% of the time, I'm 25 years old. If I'm being an ******* to my car, then sure, it feels like a Corvette and awesome and great and sporty...
Mostly just curious if this sounds like everyday drivetrain stuff for the model or if I should work on some maintenance. This may have been covered before, but it's pretty personal, being a gearbox and all, so was looking for personal answers/questions.
Should I think about clutch fluid change?
2003 Corvette M6 Convertible, black on black, with 50k miles.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Travis
To the point it almost worries me.
Between the death clatter (if you turn the car off without depressing the clutch) to the often difficult shift gates, it's a rough transmission. No problem with slippage or actual shifting or clutch grip though.
It makes odd noises at slow speeds. When I shift from first gear at a low rpm, it's kinda death clattery if it's done too slowly at really low speeds.
This is my second C5 (it's a 2003), but my first manual C5... and the last manual I drove was a 2004 M3 about 5 years ago.
Am I just being paranoid or is this all normal? I drive very conservatively 99.9% of the time, I'm 25 years old. If I'm being an ******* to my car, then sure, it feels like a Corvette and awesome and great and sporty...
Mostly just curious if this sounds like everyday drivetrain stuff for the model or if I should work on some maintenance. This may have been covered before, but it's pretty personal, being a gearbox and all, so was looking for personal answers/questions.
Should I think about clutch fluid change?
2003 Corvette M6 Convertible, black on black, with 50k miles.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Travis
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 4
From: Lawrenceburg KY
The C5 shifter and trans are pretty clunky compared to most of the German and Japanese manual transmission experiences for sure. They don't seem to actually break any more often, they just feel/sound worse. It's one of the compromises made by GM to achieve so much performance per dollar.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 142
Yes mine feels like that also! this is my third C5 and they all felt like this ! every morning I start the car, take off and I just hate it in first gear especially !! sounds clunky at low speed, then second gear I try to go a bit higher in the rpm's and its ok after that ! I had a 328I BMW 5 speed also (sold now) and this thing had the best shifting transmission I ever had in my life ! BUT of course I love the Vette way more !