C7 M7 question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 2,366
From: SF Bay Area CA
C7 M7 question
I'm strongly considering picking up a C7 in the spring as a second car/toy, so I finally test drove one yesterday, a used 2015 Z51 yesterday. The manual felt a bit clunky, and I had a hard time getting shifting into 2nd.
This was a pretty new car, about 1500 miles, and it was cold outside, though it felt kind of strange that it should be tough to go in. I've driven manuals most of my life, this would be my sixth (though mostly honda's and mustangs, this would be my first vette) and it just felt hard to go into gear, for lack of a better description. Is that typical with the C7 M7?
It could have just been the car, it was early in the morning, mid 30's and the car didn't really warm up as it was only a ten minute drive. I'm planning on finding some others to drive, though I'm just curious to hear from other drivers if this is typical or anyone had a similar experience and you just have to get used it?
Thanks!
This was a pretty new car, about 1500 miles, and it was cold outside, though it felt kind of strange that it should be tough to go in. I've driven manuals most of my life, this would be my sixth (though mostly honda's and mustangs, this would be my first vette) and it just felt hard to go into gear, for lack of a better description. Is that typical with the C7 M7?
It could have just been the car, it was early in the morning, mid 30's and the car didn't really warm up as it was only a ten minute drive. I'm planning on finding some others to drive, though I'm just curious to hear from other drivers if this is typical or anyone had a similar experience and you just have to get used it?
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 493
Likes: 292
From: Boston and Cape MA
thats strange i drove a rental z51 with 17,000 miles and the manual trans was a smooth as butter, great positive clutch engagement..I was thinking to myself if its this good at 17,000 miles then buying a used car with under 10,000 would be no risk
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 405
Likes: 176
Many forum members have indicated that their M7 transmissions have a balky 1-2 shift until the car is well warmed.
Mine is the same at 4000 miles. 1-2 shifts in cold weather with a cold car are damned near impossible unless you force it, which I don't like to do. Instead, I skip shift to 3rd until the transmission has some heat in it.
Edit: based on KGS365's comment I'm thinking that this behavior may improve with miles.
Mine is the same at 4000 miles. 1-2 shifts in cold weather with a cold car are damned near impossible unless you force it, which I don't like to do. Instead, I skip shift to 3rd until the transmission has some heat in it.
Edit: based on KGS365's comment I'm thinking that this behavior may improve with miles.
Last edited by Zaphod B; Dec 18, 2016 at 03:25 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,040
Likes: 939
From: Bonney Lake Washington
Agreed
...the first to second shift is balky until (and I would monitor it for the heck of it) the tranny temp inched off the stop,about 15 minutes of driving depending on other conditions.....otherwise it's quite nice.
I have added an MGW shift kit to my previous 2 C6's but I won't be doing that with this car....it is that good in stock form........
I have added an MGW shift kit to my previous 2 C6's but I won't be doing that with this car....it is that good in stock form........
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 196
Likes: 21
From: Valencia CA
As others have stated, for some reason shifting from 1-2 sucks when transmission is still cold. I would often just skip to 3 until warmed up. All other gears are smooth (even when cold). Once warmed up, 1-2 will be just as smooth as others.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,114
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From: Edmond, Oklahoma
On mine, during warm weather or when the transmission is warmed up the 1-2 shifts smoothly. In cold weather and when the transmission is not warmed up, the 1-2 shift is very hard engage smoothly. During those times I do a 1-3 shift.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
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From: Springfield MO
Are you familiar with the Corvette's CAGS 1X4 shifting? You might have been trying to shift into 2nd when the CAGS was engaged and it was trying to lock you out of shifting into 2nd gear.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,785
Likes: 1,417
The MGW shifter will fix that 1-2 problem. (and yes, the CAGS delete thing is a must.)
I hate it when I read somebody says "that's the way it should have come from the factory!!", but in this case, I gotta say it's true. This shifter should have come from the factory. The only downside is you have to buy it. But if GM just did it, it wouldn't add much cost to the car overall, maybe $100. But it's so worth it...
If you go Blah, Blah, blah... my shifter is perfect, then you just don't know better, and haven't driven a car that has it. No matter what you're doing, it's just better. No, I don't work for them...
I hate it when I read somebody says "that's the way it should have come from the factory!!", but in this case, I gotta say it's true. This shifter should have come from the factory. The only downside is you have to buy it. But if GM just did it, it wouldn't add much cost to the car overall, maybe $100. But it's so worth it...
If you go Blah, Blah, blah... my shifter is perfect, then you just don't know better, and haven't driven a car that has it. No matter what you're doing, it's just better. No, I don't work for them...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 315
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Mine has 10k on it. It does seem to get better over time, but I have 2 04 GTOs with the 6 speed manual which the C7 M7 trans design is based on, and they do the exact same thing in the cold. It will always be a little balky when the trans is cold and the weather is cold enough.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
My previous 2014 was smooth when up to operating temperature, although a little clunky when cold, but not bad. The new 2017 is really stiff (@70 miles) but is starting to limber up. Fifth gear is the worst, have not used sixth or seventh yet.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
I'm guessing the CAGS was blocking him. Easy/soft low speed shifts are usually blocked by the CAGS unless you put the skip shift part in. I have the same problem occasionally with my 6 spd manual Challenger.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 405
Likes: 176
You can feel the difference between a CAGS-induced skip shift and a cold tranny balky shift. Also, in the C7 you get a message on the DIC when CAGS blocks a 1-2 shift.