I am probably just paranoid but the threads around about tranny/clutch problems have me worried everytime I feel something weird when shifting. So perhaps someone can confirm or deny if this is normal behavior for the tranny?

1) When cold, the transmission tends to be notchy and clunky on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts (no grinding or lockout, just not too smooth).

2) Once warmed up it is much better but generally still a little notchy. What I mean is when I shift, there is the first notch at the syncros and a second notch kinda half way into the gear. However sometimes it does go in super smooth with just the syncro notch felt. Can't figure out any pattern to when it goes in smooth vs notchy. There are no really abnormal noises, just a slight thud sound when engaging the gears (from the shifter itself, not the tranny)

3) Sometimes when rolling to a stop and engaging 1st, it doesn't feel like the shifter has hit a hard stop. It is fully engaged but just doesn't have that positive stop feeling. Again sometimes this happens and sometimes it goes in solid.

4) Downshifting seems generally smoother than upshifting.

My 2005 GT had a short shifter on it so it was nice and solid in a out of gears which is why this has me a little concerned. Having said that, it might just be how these new tranny's feel in a effort to make them softer.

Anyone notice these things?

Thanks

 

I have the nearly the same worries. I came from an '08, albiet no short shifter, but we're kind of in the same boat.

It definitely is pretty notchy when cold. This is not out of the norm however, just the way of the beast. When the transmission fluid has gotten warm and circulated well, it smooths out the actions quite a bit.

I haven't really researched it yet, but, on all of my older cars I've always switched to either Royal Purple or Redline transmission fluid, and they have always made them sooo silky smooth. Perhaps look into it.

 

Sounds perfectly normal to me...

 

i have it happen to mine too. also mine is rattling when its cold, right around 3,000 rpm.

 

sounds normal to moi

 

Good Lord. You'll know when something's wrong. Then, you'll take it to the dealer. This board suffers from some kind of automotive hypochondria.

 

Unfortunately sounds "normal" to me too = normal being what everybody is experiencing.
The tranny (shifting) is the only issue I'm having so far with my car.

Just like you said, "no grinding or lockout, just not too smooth"
So far this is the worst standard I've ever driven.

 

I test drove a 2011 when they first cane out. during the test drive the shifter balked when shifting from second into third. mentioned it to salesman riding with me. he told me all further 6 speed gt"s where on hold at the factory for that problem. I also read an article in one of the car mags that the test driver had the same problem. Im not sure if ford issued a tsb for that problem, speak to your dealer. let me know how you make out.

 

i sure hope mine is different lol

 

LOL - guys, I can definitely tell you that the Mustang is not alone in it's "strange" shifting characteristics.

This is my 24th car, 9th Mustang, and I can recall many of my manual trans cars having very similar shifting characteristics, even a few front wheel drive cars w/cable operated shifters. All have slightly different quirks, but the most common issue was hard shifting when cold.

My most recent cars that had 6-speed Manual Transmissions:

2004 Pontiac GTO 5.7
2004 VW R32
2003 VW GTI VR6
2003 Mustang Cobra
2007 MazdaSpeed 6
2011 Mustang GT

My 2004 GTO was so hard to get into 1st gear sometimes that you felt like you were going to break the shifter handle. Sometimes you had to try putting the car into reverse, then back to 1st a few times before it would go into gear.

It could be worse guys, trust me. I suggest that if you really feel like you have a legitimate issue, take it to the dealer. Most of the posts I've read on here sound very minor. I've found that as my car got more miles on it, it's shifting has changed a little for the better, but the transmission always shift better the harder you drive it.

 

sorry but some people would rather catch problems BEFORE they turn into a serious problem. i dont want to ignore a symptom that could be an early warning of a more serious problem down the road.

 

Another MS6 convert to the GT! Welcome!

OP, sounds like normal shifting to me.

 

Totally agree. This transmission is designed to handle the mighty 5.0, not some 4-cylinder 1.6-liter Honda (I've owned many), hence the brutishness. Exacerbating this is the 1-4 "assisted" upshift to appease the Almighty EPA.

As for me, I've noticed sometimes my MT82 wants to grind a little when going QUICKLY 4th to 5th, even tho the clutch pedal is to the floor; it doesn't like lightning upshifts. And I HATE HATE HATE the "made in China" aspect. But that's why I have a warranty, at least until 60K. So in the meantime I intend to enjoy the car, monitor this forum, and will take it to the dealer to resolve anything that seems amiss.

 

Glad to hear everything "Chaotic Bliss" listed is normal behavior because I'm experiencing the exact same thing.

 

The "made in China" part doesn't bother me so much. If the system works as it should, the QC systems that are put in place will take care of things and ensure that we end up with a quality product in our vehicles. If it was made somewhere in Europe or the US I would be happier, but that's not going to be a sticking point for me. Considering that in today's society, nearly every car available is a "global" car, if you do the legwork and find out where parts come from.

Now, back on topic. I am very anxious to see what a tune that removes skip-shift would do to the car, and from feedback in various other threads, it appears to fix some of the roughness that people notice in the 1-2 shift.

I will also say this - I recently installed the Steeda Tri-Ax, and the difference it made in overall shifting quality was worth it. I've done a short shifter in each car I've owned, from Kartboy, TWM, and now Steeda, and this is by far the best unit I've used. It takes an already good feeling shifter and takes it to another level.

 

Yup.

 

Mine does the same thing. Glad I'm not alone.

 

Same here.

 

With the exception of the crappy 1-2 shift that is possibly attributed to "skip shift's" mechanical lockout mechanism, I think most of the transmission anomalies can be attributed to the fact that this tranny is mated to a high-revving, high-horsepower and high-torque 5.0L engine. I, too, experience most of what the OP mentions above, but they seem to disappear the harder I drive the car -- meaning, usually, the quicker I take off and the higher I rev the engine. Couple that with the fact that Ford's shifters are typically horrible (although, I must say, the 2011's shifter is much better than the one in my 2007 GT), and the problems are exasperated; everyone that's installed a Barton or Steeda short-throw shifter claim most of the "slop" and problems finding gears are quelled upon installation of their new, short-throw shifter. Personally, I'm going to wait and see what MGW brings to the table.

 

Most of these direct-input transmissions are going to be on the rough side. For what it's worth, the MT82 is a lot smoother than the 6MT I had in my 370Z. Quieter too.