Ok! I just have a few questions in regards to shifting mostly going into 1st, 2nd, & 3rd gears; It doesn't always shift smoothly into the gears ...it's hard to explain but it feels like it grinds a bit (even with clutch floored) going into the desired gear regardless if i shift slow or fast...don't get me wrong this doesn't happen everytime and there are times when the shift is smooth with no problem...Is this normal? Also, I described this to somebody who works in an autosports shop that specialize in Evo & Sti and he said that the sychros were going and that SE models were known to have weak synchros....i really don't want to believe him, i mean the car drives fine so i don't think it's the synchros; but i could be wrong.
Now about launching......I have no idea what the 2 step means, can anyone clarify?
Again, i do appreciate all the suggestions & advice.

 

it doesn't SOUND normal...get it checked

 

yes, def does not sound normal. I have not heard anything about bad synchros in the SE models but if your shop specializes in evos then they would know better than me. hopefully it is not them bc thats expensive. is it just grinding or getting locked out completely? stock or after market clutch? what rpm are you shifting at?

to answer your second question, a 2 step is basically launch control in simplified terms. it allows you to pin the throttle while holding the revs constant (at w/e rpm it is set at) thus allowing you to build boost while not moving. this should, in theory, help with the bogging down issue upon the launch resulting in faster ets. hopefully this answers at least one of your questions and gl with everything bro

 

The car is stock and i usually shift around 3500 & 5000 rpm. I don't get completely locked out and i don't think it's the gears grinding it's something with the shifter and how it travels into the gears. It sometimes feels rough when shifting. Boostedtres, How does your car shift; is it smooth all the time?
Thanks for the advice.

 

well if it is not the synchros, and your not getting full lockout it could be something else. do you have a short shifter? i know it sounds dumb but a lot of times with short shifters people (including myself) let out the clutch faster than you put it into gear because the travel is decreased so much. this is not good as it "grinds" the gears and wears out the synchros faster. my car does not shift smoothly all the time. i have the b&n short shifter, and sometimes its notchy (esp when cold), hard to get into gear, and if i shift to quick it can grind. you need to put real effort into getting it into gear, but the shifter feel is great.

have you tried shifting slower, adjusting your clutch pedal, or checked your lines and cables? hopefully you can figure out what this is soon!

 

My evo has a short shifter as well & I think you've described my problem exactly when you mentioned that the shift can feel notchy at times and that the temp. can affect that. This is my first manual car, on top of everything it's an evo so maybe i'm getting just a little too paranoid in assuming that there is a problem. I'll look into this further to see if i may need to adjust the clutch. Hopefully everything is all good and the only thing i need to adjust is my shifting. Thanks again.

 

He might be right with the synchros or it might be just the way you're shifting. Try not to force it or push it to hard into gear. I grip the knob with three fingers and kind of let it find it's own way into gear with a slight push. Or maybe you need to torque match on the shifts. I had the same problem, but it was mostly my driving. I wasn't that experienced at first, but I eventually got better. Plus going to the track I learned a lot also. But eventually my 5th gear went out and I bought myself a Shepherds race transmission. Now it shifts with ease, and way smoother than ever before.

 

When my 5th gear went out AMS told me it's quite common for the synchros to go out in the early 05's. And I wanted to put a short shifter in my car but they also did not recommend this. I guess a lot of Evo owners have had problems with it and they said it's also not good for the car. They didn't really specify on why they are bad though.

 

thanks for the replies i recently went to a mechanic who is a friend of mine, he drove the car and felt it really had no problems going into gear other than second. Its not a major thing for now but the second gears sychros may eventually have to be replaced...i'll probably replace all synchros and clutch at the same time probably some time next year... but like you said rev matching is the only way in order to preserve synchros (transmission) and clutch.

 

Same thing happened with my car, it was the synchros which sucked. it was in the shop for two weeks. but it was under warranty...so i guess it worked out

 

try some new fluid.

 

Launching is simple.

Step 1: Stop

Step 2: Push in the clutch

Step 3: Put the car in first gear

Step 4: Let the clutch out to find where it engages and hold it just before that (it'll make it easier to slip/dump)

Step 5: Floor the gas, and hold it to the floor. You will start bouncing off the 2-step at 5000rpm and build around 10psi.

Step 6: DO NOT let off the gas pedal at ALL, slip out the clutch until you feel it grab, then let go.

Step 7: DO NOT let off of the gas pedal until you shift to 2nd gear. The gas pedal should be held to the floor from the beginning until you shift to 2nd.

Step 8: Continue shifting gears accordingly.

that's how i've always done it, and it was good enough to get me and my basically stock IX MR to 12.82 @ 107.41 with only a cat back, no tune, no other power adders, a boost leak, and a possibly slipping stock clutch.

 

Fml