2,500 mile manual transmission report

[MotoBrad]

My expertise is definitely not in the mechanical area, but I somewhat agree with others saying "user operator" break in period. I feel like I had to adjust the way I drive my JT because it is different than driving any other vehicle in my experience (I used to drive manual cars). In my other cars, I used to completely let off the gas and let my rpms drop a tiny bit before shifting up to next gear (I do this to avoid violent head jerking movements). However, it appears my JT does not like this at all. My JT likes to be shifted without dropping the rpm. So in order to do this, I give it a little gas after pressing in the clutch and then shift up. Timing is impeccable if you want a smooth ride in the JT. With that being said, I love the way it drives and I'm having the most fun driving my JT than any other manual cars I owned. Absolutely no regrets.

I would not reccomend shifting like that. Any time you press the clutch and gas at the same time, you're slipping it, and causing wear and tear. The only time you should ever have throttle and clutch depressed at the same time is when youre taking off in first gear. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a critical jerk, I'm just a mechanic trying to help. Keep trying, you'll find a smooth way to do it without using your clutch as a punching bag between shifts.

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[Onebigyoshi]

I would not reccomend shifting like that. Any time you press the clutch and gas at the same time, you're slipping it, and causing wear and tear. The only time you should ever have throttle and clutch depressed at the same time is when youre taking off in first gear. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a critical jerk, I'm just a mechanic trying to help. Keep trying, you'll find a smooth way to do it without using your clutch as a punching bag between shifts.

Oh no I appreciate the advice. Just to be clear on my end, I'm pressing the clutch all the way in which at that point the JT is in neutral. When it's at that neutral state that's when I give it a little gas so my rpm doesn't go down and then I'm shifting up to next gear and accelerating. I don't hold the clutch at the engagement point while giving it a gas if that makes sense. I'm kinda like rev matching like when you downshift, but instead I'm shifting up. Is that still considered as slipping the clutch?

Scratch all of that sorry for the confusion I had to think about this again. If what you're saying is true I may be slipping the clutch. When I'm shifting to the next gear, I press the clutch and at the same time I don't let off the gas all the way. So as soon as I press the clutch I see my rpm go up a little because I'm giving it a slight gas, and then I put it to next gear. Of course when I do this it's happening all at once with no hesitation. I only do this for gears 1 thru 3. If I don't do this, my JT does not drive smooth at all. Will this still wear out the clutch prematurely?

 

[MotoBrad]

Oh no I appreciate the advice. Just to be clear on my end, I'm pressing the clutch all the way in which at that point the JT is in neutral. When it's at that neutral state that's when I give it a little gas so my rpm doesn't go down and then I'm shifting up to next gear and accelerating. I don't hold the clutch at the engagement point while giving it a gas if that makes sense. I'm kinda like rev matching like when you downshift, but instead I'm shifting up. Is that still considered as slipping the clutch?

Scratch all of that sorry for the confusion I had to think about this again. If what you're saying is true I may be slipping the clutch. When I'm shifting to the next gear, I press the clutch and at the same time I don't let off the gas all the way. So as soon as I press the clutch I see my rpm go up a little because I'm giving it a slight gas, and then I put it to next gear. Of course when I do this it's happening all at once with no hesitation. I only do this for gears 1 thru 3. If I don't do this, my JT does not drive smooth at all. Will this still wear out the clutch prematurely?

Yes. Don't do that.

I assure you, there is plenty of time while the rpm is falling when you let off the throttle (unload the engine) and depress the clutch (revs start falling) for you to row up to the higher desired gear. Be swift, but patient. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Try releasing the clutch a little slower, but don't add throttle till you're off the clutch.

 

[Dr Kel]

I picked up my JTR manual just 3 days ago, and I'm less than 100 miles deep so far, but I am very pleased with the transmission. I never got a chance to test drive a JL or JT manual, so I really had no idea what to expect other than "truck like". My summer car is an E39 M5, and the winter car I traded in for this Jeep was a Subaru STi, so I sort of come from the performance car world. To me, it feels fairly slow, but I knew that going in, and is honestly exactly what I was looking for to keep me out of speeding tickets. I find the clutch to feel predictable and responsive, and the throws are not nearly as "Trucky" as I was expecting. But the fun factor sure is there, not just 6 gears, but 12 to play with! It's very satisfying. But it is screaming to me for a regear, I think this rev happy engine would excell with 5.38 or something. Especially when I go to bigger tires. In these parts, we have more hills than highways.

LOL! My other vehicles are an Audi and a Porsche (albeit a very underpowered one), and one thing I love about the Gladiator is that I’m "slow" now!

 

[Onebigyoshi]

Yes. Don't do that.

I assure you, there is plenty of time while the rpm is falling when you let off the throttle (unload the engine) and depress the clutch (revs start falling) for you to row up to the higher desired gear. Be swift, but patient. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Try releasing the clutch a little slower, but don't add throttle till you're off the clutch.

Great I'll have to readjust the way I drive now again Guess I'll go back to how I used to drive normal cars and find the sweet spot for the JT without slipping the clutch. I appreciate your advice tho!

 

[FunWagon]

Great topic. I’m driving a manual JK for 11 years, and contemplating a manual JT.

 

[firemedic2714]

IDK about anyone else, but I've been too fast for the auto start/stop a few times (i.e. when you pull up to a red light and just before your completely stopped it turns green, but the engine has already shut down and now your letting the clutch out on a non-running Jeep) and it just sits there. It just reinforces the act of shutting that off as soon as I start it up.

 

[LongTimeListener]

IDK about anyone else, but I've been too fast for the auto start/stop a few times (i.e. when you pull up to a red light and just before your completely stopped it turns green, but the engine has already shut down and now your letting the clutch out on a non-running Jeep) and it just sits there. It just reinforces the act of shutting that off as soon as I start it up.

Same here. I try and remember to disable ASS every time, but frequently forget. An ASS disable device is next on my purchase list. It’s awful with a clutch.

 

[MotoBrad]

IDK about anyone else, but I've been too fast for the auto start/stop a few times (i.e. when you pull up to a red light and just before your completely stopped it turns green, but the engine has already shut down and now your letting the clutch out on a non-running Jeep) and it just sits there. It just reinforces the act of shutting that off as soon as I start it up.

Every time I get in and fire her up, I 2 finger punch the auto start and traction control conveniently located side by side! It's not nearly as annoying as the hidden down low, nearly under the dash traction control button position of my last car (STi), and that one had to be held for 5 seconds to fully disengage!!!
When my warranty runs out of like to get a tazer to permanently deactivate them but for now I'm content!

 

[Hurley82]

Every time I get in and fire her up, I 2 finger punch the auto start and traction control conveniently located side by side! It's not nearly as annoying as the hidden down low, nearly under the dash traction control button position of my last car (STi), and that one had to be held for 5 seconds to fully disengage!!!
When my warranty runs out of like to get a tazer to permanently deactivate them but for now I'm content!

Why would it be necessary to turn off traction control for 99% of daily driving?

 

[firemedic2714]

Is break-in period for a new manual a thing? I’ve been saying and thinking my MT glad feels too *new* and needs to be loosened up, but have been told something along the lines of “modern vehicles don’t have break in periods....”
Despite that, I feel like mine is getting easier and better every day

I don't think it's "breaking in". You're probably just slowly learning it's intricacies.

 

[Dr Kel]

IDK about anyone else, but I've been too fast for the auto start/stop a few times (i.e. when you pull up to a red light and just before your completely stopped it turns green, but the engine has already shut down and now your letting the clutch out on a non-running Jeep) and it just sits there. It just reinforces the act of shutting that off as soon as I start it up.

Yeah. I too have done it. In Germany, their traffic lights do this beautiful thing where the yellow light comes on with the red light just before the it goes green. Been missing that. Anyhow, I just pay better attention to the light cycle, and I’ve come to love my auto start/stop. It’s an art.

 

[MotoBrad]

Why would it be necessary to turn off traction control for 99% of daily driving?

No reason...
Let's just say I'm not a fan of the "fun police". It is a good habit for me.

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