Weird shifting issue (scratching my head)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
Weird shifting issue (scratching my head)
So I've had a shifting issue for a few months now but I've never tried to remedy it because I only drive my C5 once or twice a month.
The clutch fluid is clear and it shifts like butter when cruising through town and spirited sprints, however, over the summer (95-100* heat) once I hit about 6k or 7k rpms, I couldn't get the shifter into the next gear and my clutch pedal would go limp if I shifted to fast. If I ate a burger inbetween shifts at high rpms and let the rpms drop a bit, it would get into the next gear without issue.
Well a cold front came through and temps dropped to 39*, so I pulled the C5 out today. Did a few high rpm (6800-7k) pulls, with quick shifting (no drop in rpms) and it shifted fine without issue and the clutch pedal did not go limp.
I'm scratching my head. What could be the issue?
The clutch fluid is clear and it shifts like butter when cruising through town and spirited sprints, however, over the summer (95-100* heat) once I hit about 6k or 7k rpms, I couldn't get the shifter into the next gear and my clutch pedal would go limp if I shifted to fast. If I ate a burger inbetween shifts at high rpms and let the rpms drop a bit, it would get into the next gear without issue.
Well a cold front came through and temps dropped to 39*, so I pulled the C5 out today. Did a few high rpm (6800-7k) pulls, with quick shifting (no drop in rpms) and it shifted fine without issue and the clutch pedal did not go limp.
I'm scratching my head. What could be the issue?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Park Florida
So I've had a shifting issue for a few months now but I've never tried to remedy it because I only drive my C5 once or twice a month.
The clutch fluid is clear and it shifts like butter when cruising through town and spirited sprints, however, over the summer (95-100* heat) once I hit about 6k or 7k rpms, I couldn't get the shifter into the next gear and my clutch pedal would go limp if I shifted to fast. If I ate a burger inbetween shifts at high rpms and let the rpms drop a bit, it would get into the next gear without issue.
Well a cold front came through and temps dropped to 39*, so I pulled the C5 out today. Did a few high rpm (6800-7k) pulls, with quick shifting (no drop in rpms) and it shifted fine without issue and the clutch pedal did not go limp.
I'm scratching my head. What could be the issue?
The clutch fluid is clear and it shifts like butter when cruising through town and spirited sprints, however, over the summer (95-100* heat) once I hit about 6k or 7k rpms, I couldn't get the shifter into the next gear and my clutch pedal would go limp if I shifted to fast. If I ate a burger inbetween shifts at high rpms and let the rpms drop a bit, it would get into the next gear without issue.
Well a cold front came through and temps dropped to 39*, so I pulled the C5 out today. Did a few high rpm (6800-7k) pulls, with quick shifting (no drop in rpms) and it shifted fine without issue and the clutch pedal did not go limp.
I'm scratching my head. What could be the issue?
Could also be clutch boil over if you are truly driving it hard. But, that is somewhat rare on a stock setup with clean fluid ( even though appearance isn't a great indicator of moisture content ). Anything that might be adding heat to the area of the hydraulic lines like headers? I doubt fluid is the issue just mentioning it to be thorough. It certainly sounds like a master cylinder to me.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
pretty common problem, get an aftermarket clutch... I tried everything else and it only got slightly better but never completely cured until I changed the clutch out... in my opinion the self adjusting pressure plate is the main cause of this issue
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 4
From: cinnaminson n.j.
St. Jude Donor '14
From what I've read here, what you are experiencing is a common problem with the stock clutches. I installed a monster level2 and it shifts great at 6800rpm.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
its not a stock clutch, its a spec 3+
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
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From: Belleville Mich.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 149
From: chicago area IL.
did this happen after your long tubes?
I had the same problem car would be fine when I was putting around but if i drove it hard I'd get locked out peddle would not come back up
had the trans diff and clutch done by RPM the installed showed me my clutch hydraulic line was in the wrong spot and was touching one of the header primary's boiling the clutch fluid might be something to look into?
btw the "Tick Performance Adjustable Clutch Master Cylinder" will make your clutch peddle much harder then stock took me about 500 miles to get use to it but still grid lock traffic is a PITA
I had the same problem car would be fine when I was putting around but if i drove it hard I'd get locked out peddle would not come back up
had the trans diff and clutch done by RPM the installed showed me my clutch hydraulic line was in the wrong spot and was touching one of the header primary's boiling the clutch fluid might be something to look into?
btw the "Tick Performance Adjustable Clutch Master Cylinder" will make your clutch peddle much harder then stock took me about 500 miles to get use to it but still grid lock traffic is a PITA
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