Jerky gear change 1st -> 2nd

[purchox]

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum but anyway...I've recently bought a new Cooper and sometimes the gear change between 1st and 2nd is a bit jerky. All other gear changes are fine. Sometimes the 1st-2nd change is quite smooth but other times the car bucks a couple of times. I normally change from 1st to 2nd at about 10mph and approx 2000rpm. Has anyone else suffered from this or is it just my crap driving?

Cheers.

Purch.

[Kaelaria]

2000? Why bother if you're going to drive like that - just start in 2nd! Seriously - use the powerband better and you'll have smoother shifts...let the clutch out to the end slower too.

[adamlondon]

If this is what I think this is then its a trait of all Minis. The way the car is geared means that the revs dont drop quick enough when you put in the clutch to go to second, so when you bring in second gear the car is doing more rpm than second gear, hence the jerk. Try making a slower gear change and let the revs drop a bit more before bringing in second, and see if it makes a difference. Alternately, I also found that sitting further back and thus using more heal than knee for the clutch pedal also helped, but at the end of the day its horses for courses...

[purchox]

Thanks for the replies. Going back to the rpm bit, the reason I change up at about 2000rpm (I've just took it out and it's between 2000 and 2500) is because it's begging for an upshift at those rpm's and I daren't take it any higher, especially 'cos I'm still running it in and all that! Anyway, I've tried doing what you both said and it has helped to some degree. I've read that brand new clutches/gear-boxes can be jerky and get better and smoother as the parts "bed-in", is that true? What I also want to know is why it only does it between 1st and 2nd? I really love driving the car but that gear change is giving me a complex! Finally, changing the subject, after I've been driving for about 20/30 minutes I notice my exhaust (standard Cooper exhaust) seems to get more "throaty"! Is that normal or could I have a leak somewhere?

Thanks again...

[xtremepsionic]

Bringing an old topic from the dead, as I find that I had the exact same question/problem as you did when I first got my 2005 MC.

Yes, the first couple of weeks 1st -> 2nd shifts were horrid. Now in the 3rd week and over the break in period, I think I've found out the reason why 1st -> 2nd shifts are so "jerky"

1. As others have said, the RPM definitely drops too slow in the MC for quick shifts or, in the case of a 1-> 2shift, a big drop in RPM in a short amount of time. I've found that by shifting slower, (hold the clutch in just a split second longer for the RPM to drop and match 2nd gear) the shifts are much much better.

2. It might also be that the car is brand new and the gearbox/clutch is still a bit tight. Even when I am shifting faster, now that I'm over the break in period, the car doesn't "buck" or "jerk" as much as before.

3. Also the first and second gear of the MC (2005) are quite low, therefore they are very sensitive to any RPM mismatch between the engine and the road speed. Most cars I've driven can go over 100km/h or 60mph in 2nd gear, the MC can't. Second gear is just a bit short, therefore a bit choopy if you don't match rev.

[mg5904]

Quote: Originally Posted by purchox

[snip] the reason I change up at about 2000rpm (I've just took it out and it's between 2000 and 2500) is because it's begging for an upshift at those rpm's and I daren't take it any higher, especially 'cos I'm still running it in and all that! [snip]

Thanks again...

Isn't the redline on the Cooper somewhere around 6500+ rpms? And doesn't the owner's manual allow revs up to 4000rpms during the break in period? It's not begging for an upshift, its begging to rev harder

[supercharged]

Hi purchox

It's a good thing that you don't drive you car too hard during the running in period, but it's also important that you don't drive it too gently either. The manual suggests that you don't exceed 4500RPM during the first 1250Miles or 2000KM. I recommend you take it up to 4500RPM on a regular basis so that the engine will produce maximum power and so that the engine won't become "lazy"

I hope you find this useful

SuperCharged