I have a 2011 GT and I feel like the 1st to 2nd shift feels a little "forced" (requires more pressure to put into gear). Has anyone else experienced this? The third back into 2nd gear is fine, it's just that the first to second feels like it requires more pressure especially at high throttle shifts.

 

is it only when you are crusing slowly? i ask becasue if the tranny decides you need to go from 1st to 4th because of skip shift you can force it to second and it feels just like that. I see you say high throttle shifts though, so maybe thats not your issue. The 11 im driving now feels forced at lower rpm and speeds when i know its wanting me to hit 4th, i can put more pressur eon it and it will go into second. At WOT there is no resistance at all. It's impressive to me to that this car will break traciton, with traction control on, on the damn shift to fourth at WOT with 3.73's. to put it anotther way, the car will bark 4th. i can feel it jerk a bit on the move to fifth some times. i wish my 10 5speed cold shift that fast and hard. That's the only part of the 11 i wish my ten had, i dont even need the sixth, i just want smooth shifting like that. maybe a MGW will give me that feel in my 10.

 

Maybe pressing down on the shifter and snagging reverse gate? No I have not noticed that in mine.

 

OP, how many miles are on yours? This car has about 5500, very hard miles on it judging from the melted tires. if its low milage, maybe it just needs more break in time.

 

You do realize, do you not, that this car has the dreaded 1 to 4 "skip shift" feature? All 4th and 5th gen Camaros, Vettes, and Dodges (I believe) are so equiped. Once the car is warmed up and operating within certain parameters 2nd gear is locked out and you are guided to select 4th gear. Usually happens if you dawdle away from an intersection. At higher rate throttle movements or more throttle, it is disabled. This may be what you are feeling. By the time you keep trying to force the shift, the system releases and allows 2nd gear. Most of the other cars have resister gizmos available for around $40 that attach under the car on the transmission tunnel which will by-pass this feature if it is bothersome. You should get a message on the RPM message panel, but I've found it is too quick to read and only see a flash out of the corner of my eye. Compared to my '98 Camaro the Ford system seems quite benign and so far haven't felt a need to get rid of it. Just use a little more oomph when moving away. It's a way for the manufacters to help meet fuel economy figures under certain test conditions.

Another thing it could be: I found that the throws are about the same as the '05+ but that the gates are closer. There seems to be a stronger centering spring for 2nd/3rd and a definate pull left against the spring when selecting between first and 2nd is needed. Ditto when in 5th or 6th. Its easy to select 3rd or 4th. Be careful as a missed downshift at high RPM will bi-pass the rev limiter.

Hope you are enjoying the new car.

Cheers.

 

I have noticed the 1st-4th message. I didn't know that had an effect on the transmission feel though. I have 500 miles on it now. I'll play around with it more tomorrow, it seems to require the extra force both at high and low RPM, but more so at low rpm than high. Maybe it is this feature acting up then.

 

this is only a feature on the GTs?

My v6 6speed, it seems like there is an extra "bump" or resistance to get over when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I'm not gunning it from an intersection and then at 3000rpm when I shift from 1st to 2nd I pull it down, have to pause for a split second till I can feel that resistance over come and then pull down the rest of the way. The shift from 2nd to 3rd is smooth.

Putting the car into 1st is easy/smooth only if the car is completely stopped. (only been driving standard for 2 weeks so I apologize if some of what I said is normal/to be expected)

 

1st to 4th shifts only occur at 17 mph and goes off at 20 mph in first gear for the 5.0. It will show up on the message center on your dash at 17 and disappear at 20.

 

I every now and then notice the message board light up under the tach to skip shift if I exceed 2500 RPM in 1st gear. I ignore it and simply shift into 2nd as if it did not light up at all.

As for being locked out of the next higher gear due to skip shift feature, I have not yet had that happen to me.

 

Skip shift SUCKS and I could not get it gone fast enough.
This trans sucks even more and it will be gone for a five steed in the spring.