Notchy Shifter
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
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From: Columbia MD
Notchy Shifter
The shifter in my '06 MN6 is really "notchy" [hard shifting] until the car warms up or has been driven a while. Anyone else experiencing this? It's been fairly cold here, averaging below 50. Car has only 250 miles on it.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 55
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From: Phoenix AZ
My '06 MN6 is also notchy until it warms up, and I live in Phoenix where the temps are still in the 70s.
I experience it on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Interestingly, as I push the shifter forward for the 2-3 shift, I can feel it actually kick back in my palm after if passes thru the neutral gate. Initially, it required about 20 miles of normal driving for the shifting to smooth out. Now with 1700 miles on it, the notchiness lasts for about the first 10 miles. So it appears to be getting better. Once the transmission warms up , the shifting is very smooth in all gears.
I'm anxious for the release of the 2006 service manuals to see if there are any adjustments that can be performed on this. Maybe someone else on the forum has some thoughts on this.
I experience it on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Interestingly, as I push the shifter forward for the 2-3 shift, I can feel it actually kick back in my palm after if passes thru the neutral gate. Initially, it required about 20 miles of normal driving for the shifting to smooth out. Now with 1700 miles on it, the notchiness lasts for about the first 10 miles. So it appears to be getting better. Once the transmission warms up , the shifting is very smooth in all gears.
I'm anxious for the release of the 2006 service manuals to see if there are any adjustments that can be performed on this. Maybe someone else on the forum has some thoughts on this.
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Same with my 05 Z51. Real notchy in second and third until it warms up.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 145
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From: Longview WA
Originally Posted by vetdude
The shifter in my '06 MN6 is really "notchy" [hard shifting] until the car warms up or has been driven a while. Anyone else experiencing this? It's been fairly cold here, averaging below 50. Car has only 250 miles on it.
My 05 is what I consider always notchy. I blame it on all the mass hooked to the input shaft of the transmission since it incorporates not only the input shaft but also the driveline all the way up to the pressure plate. Also, I feel like the drive by wire throttle aggravates it since the throttle doesn't back the engine revs down immediately. These two things combined means a large difference in speed between the gear you came out of and the gear you are going into so the syncro rings have to pause for a second to match speeds before is can slide on in, hence the feeling of a notch. For me I only get an occasional smooth shift in under perfect conditions. I absolutely hate the way it shifts. Just my .02 worth.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 463
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From: Brandon Mississippi
Originally Posted by Brandegee
My '06 MN6 is also notchy until it warms up, and I live in Phoenix where the temps are still in the 70s.
I experience it on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Interestingly, as I push the shifter forward for the 2-3 shift, I can feel it actually kick back in my palm after if passes thru the neutral gate. Initially, it required about 20 miles of normal driving for the shifting to smooth out. Now with 1700 miles on it, the notchiness lasts for about the first 10 miles. So it appears to be getting better. Once the transmission warms up , the shifting is very smooth in all gears.
I'm anxious for the release of the 2006 service manuals to see if there are any adjustments that can be performed on this. Maybe someone else on the forum has some thoughts on this.
I experience it on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Interestingly, as I push the shifter forward for the 2-3 shift, I can feel it actually kick back in my palm after if passes thru the neutral gate. Initially, it required about 20 miles of normal driving for the shifting to smooth out. Now with 1700 miles on it, the notchiness lasts for about the first 10 miles. So it appears to be getting better. Once the transmission warms up , the shifting is very smooth in all gears.
I'm anxious for the release of the 2006 service manuals to see if there are any adjustments that can be performed on this. Maybe someone else on the forum has some thoughts on this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,186
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From: Evansville, IN The GOCC, rebels without a clue.
St. Jude Donor '06
SoCal
Here in SoCal I am experiencing the same "notchy" feeling. I kind of like wrestling with the car, and proving that I am the master of my vehicle when it wants to fight back. 
Seriously, though, 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd are the shifts it is most noticeable through, and when cold does seem to take a little more effort.
Seriously, though, 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd are the shifts it is most noticeable through, and when cold does seem to take a little more effort.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 152
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From: Charlotte North Carolina
I haven't done this yet, but some have put synthetic tranny fluid in the gear box and synthetic gear lube in the rear end. Redline, Royal Purple, Amsoil, Mobil and others all make these synthetic lubricants. I don't think the notchy feeling when cold goes away, it is just reduced.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,867
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From: Wantagh,L.I. New York
Originally Posted by DaBullish1
I haven't done this yet, but some have put synthetic tranny fluid in the gear box and synthetic gear lube in the rear end. Redline, Royal Purple, Amsoil, Mobil and others all make these synthetic lubricants. I don't think the notchy feeling when cold goes away, it is just reduced.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
Mine was very notchy and hard shifting for the first 1,000 miles or so. Now, with 6,000 miles on it, it shifts as smoothly as any manual I've ever owned. No more notchiness, and much less effort between the gears. Give it a chance to break in before you reach any conclusions.
