I've been experriencing some problem getting third gear in while shifting (WOT)or at very high RPM'S, I have to let go of the gas a little to get it in, first to second no problem but third gear gives me nightmare on the track., as anyone experience the same thing or is it just me, I consider myself a pretty good driver so it's not lack of skill.
Thanks

 

the only time i have a problem gettin into third is when i power shift HEHE

 

same here. it's hard to hit third fast, i just take the extra few milliseconds and make sure i hit it right because it's just about a gauranteed miss if i shift too fast.

that's why i wanted a shifter panel to replace the boot, with gates in it like some of the sports cars.. that way the thing slides right in as long as you get it in the slot.

 

I've had the same problem, I'll go to put it in 3rd when I'm shifting hard and it just will not go in. It doesn't grind or anything it just won't go into gear.

 

never had the problem

 

Do the make the shifter panel for our car's or did you custom fab one? If there is a vendor could you direct me to them. Thanks

 

the trick with the SS for getting to 3rd is not to try to focus putting it into 3rd gear. What I have found is if you lift up from second and push straight up it goes right into third like butter instead of actually physically watching yourself put it in third and focusing on getting it into the 3rd gear slot.

I'm not sure if the LS/LT is the same.

 

no one makes them, and i don't know where to get one fabbed at. thos ethings would sell awesome without a doubt, it's just that i'm not sure who could do it.

 

same here at times

 

Oh boy..... It's because you guys need to learn to shift! You can't just throw it in the direction of 3rd and hope you make it! Be accurate with your shifting because you will stretch your shifter cables if you don't! Another problem with novice drivers is when they're 'power shifting' they don't push the clutch in all the way at the right time. Work on your timing, its the key most important thing to driving a standard transmission!

 

i wouldn't know anything about shifting at all. i haven't been driving manuals since 1992, and haven't been racing since 1996. so there's no experience there at all.

so i guess people just coincindentally have a problem shifting into third because subconciously their right hands are afraid of the number 3 ? i can see it lol

 

Well.. I can shift into 3rd gear without problem. The only times I've had any problems is when *I* didn't shift right. Everyone is so quick to blame the car rather than the driver. You people put yourselves on pedestals and think you have mastered driving this car and you can't possible be at fault.

 

for 3rd all i do is take it out of second and push rite up and slides rite into 3rd easy all the time.

quick question what is a powershift?

 

If I understand it correctly it entails disengaging the clutch while your foot is still on the throttle. Without removing from the throttle (if it's slammed to the floor this is what is meant by WOT or wide open throttle) shift into the next gear and let the clutch back out again. The idea is also to NOT push the clutch all the way in, push it in just enough that it is disengaged and you can shift gears without grinding to **** which allows for the quickest shift possible. I'll typically do this when downshifting on the highway to get into 3rd if I REALLY need to move to get around the car as opposed to rev matching, but it is extremely hard on your engine, tranny and clutch so doing it on every single shift during every day driving would not be recommended. Typically it's only done while racing .

If I'm incorrect in any of this please feel free to correct me .

Permafried-

 

so powershifting is when you shift and dont let of the throttle?

another question on shifting, should i try and put the clutch to the floor everytime i shift? is it better to do that or does it matter?

 

Yes, the biggest thing with it is not letting off the throttle, if you do it right your RPMs should come out much closer on the next gear than if you were to just shift normally and hammer on the gas before pulling out the clutch. As well, it is much quicker than double-clutching since you don't have that transition period in between gears.

As for the second question, I don't think it really particularly matters whether you fully disengage it or not. My friend NEVER fully disengages his and has never had a single problem with his clutch, tranny or engine. The only disadvantage I can see to not pressing it all the way in is if you get comfortable with having it disengaged just far enough that you can switch gears, you may end up griding if you hit a huge bump or something and your foot comes out just slightly you're going to end up grinding the **** outta your tranny .

Personally, I don't particularly think about the clutch, I push it all the way in out of habit except when I'm racing or powershifting (or if I'm just sloppy or lazy that day ) at which point I disengage it just enough to switch gears. The clutch on my LS (not sure about the SS) seems to have quite a bit of travel and the clutch engages nearly 3/4 of the way out but just keep in mind what I said above...if you're disengaging just enough to switch gears and hit a slight bump, don't be surprised if you grind the gears from time to time .

Permafried-

 

i admit ive had that problem when shifting in 3rd gear also, but i know its my fault. it only happens when im romping on my car, or racing. basically its me trying to get into 3rd gear too fast and hitting the "divider" between 1st and 3rd gear.
when i shift slow i do like everybody else does, i just take it right out of 2nd, and let it loose so it only needs to be pushed straight up to go into 3rd, when i do it fast i dont give it any time and i hit it somtimes, and thats how mine gets "stuck" i thought it was the car at first, then i realized.
needless to say i havent done it in a while once i learned it was my fault.

 

lets just hope that when going from 2nd to 3rd when you dont hit the edge of 1st and 3rd and go into 1st

if anyone understood that lol

 

heh....exactly what i was thinking!

 

I have a base coupe 5speed, owned 6 GM's with 5 speeds in the past 10 years, and this cobalt LOVES going into 2nd instead of 4th. Not too bad when I'm hammering on it, usually when I'm just shifting easy it likes to fall into 2nd instead of 4th, have to sort of baby it in. Never missed 3rd or had any problems with third tho.

 

lol yeah i got that..lol...by that time youd be going too fast any way and your car wouldnt allow you to go into first

 

True, I have to slow down pretty good before I can slide it into first, it will give you some good resistance if you are going too fast.

 

Hopefully because this is one of the things that scares the hell out of me when it comes to racing...I think this is the reason why I am sometimes slow from 2nd to 3rd to make 100% sure I'm not going to toss a rod when I pull the clutch out.

Permafried-

 

Everyone needs to stop blaming the driver for this "can't get into third problem". I am having the same issue shifting from 2nd to 3rd. At high rpms, even when I take my time, it still grinds sometimes.

There have been numerous posts on this, its not just a coincidence.
I'm takin my car in to get it checked.