Odd 'hesitation' in 2nd gear

[Andrew]

I've gotta 2001 V6 with a 5-speed. No problems, but something odd I've noticed.

When I'm in 2nd gear doing about 30 MPH (~3000-3200 RPM), if I pop my foot off the accelerator the car will do a kind of stutter -- it's as if I was touching the pedal then releasing it over and over. Almost like pumping the brakes, but with the accelerator.

It also happens when I accelerate, but only in 2nd gear. It feels as if I'm gently pumping the gas rather than accelerating smoothly.

It's not bad; it's very gentle but noticable, and it lasts only a second or two, as if the computer is 'stuttering' the fuel flow.

I don't know a better way to describe it. There's no sound, no grinding, just this weird 'stutter.'

Any ideas? Maybe this is just normal....

Thanks!

[frohboy33]

This is probably way off, but just something that I've heard on some other vehicles that have Automatic Trans maybe its the case with manuals as well. But it could be that the valve that controls the amount of transmission fluid transfered into the case is allowing to much in, and this causes the stuttering. Overtime I guess the valve may get faulty depending on how the car was driven. Like I said probably way off, but maybe something you could research.

[Andrew]

No no no. You were supposed to say, "Oh, that's a minor thing you can fix by doing such-and-such." You're not supposed to make me think there's a real Problem.

[Turbosolara]

i dont think it is a problem .... i think it just that your clutch and gas didnt engage at right ratio. In my 240sx with the 1st gear, the on and off acceleration is so hard that i almost hit my head on my steering wheel.

[SC V6]

first if u have a manual, then it wouldn't be a auto tranny problem, at most it could be teh clutch slipping

[DatSRBoi]

I was told its just the engagement of the clutch and all. Its not tight and when you release the pedal the throttle closes causing a decress in power. Well your car is going at the speed when you had it pressed in. So when you depress you pedal the motor decress/jerks down along and just jerks at the clutch. Thats the feeling you get and its just that the clutch isnt holding on as tight....Thats what my friend had in his car along with a few other people and I feel it on cold days. You wont die from it but it gets annoying and yeah it means clutch is getting worn out...Correct me if Im wrong.

[Mandarinsolara]

This is probably way off, but just something that I've heard on some other vehicles that have Automatic Trans maybe its the case with manuals as well. But it could be that the valve that controls the amount of transmission fluid transfered into the case is allowing to much in, and this causes the stuttering. Overtime I guess the valve may get faulty depending on how the car was driven. Like I said probably way off, but maybe something you could research.

i know exactly what you are talking about. i get it sometimes in slow slow traffic. its like you let off the gas and it almost goes into a neutral mode like it is looking for the next gear and then coasting. i dunno about your 5 speed though. if its only in 2nd gear then it might just be a drastic change in resistance from the motor

[Andrew]

So is this just something the car does, or is it a problem I should have looked at? It's not like I'm slamming my head against the wheel or anything -- it's just strange to let off the gas and have that stutter.

I was trying it the other day and it *almost* feels like a suspension thing, as if someone is rocking the car a bit. But it only happens in 2nd. (And yep, it's a 5-spd.)

[DatSRBoi]

Its just your car getting older and older. And as you get older you get loose haha. Nothing bad but over time it gets annoying and sooner or later its replacement time.

[jazzlara]

my automatic feels like it 'jumps' in slow traffic going from first to second. very very annoying in traffic jams.

Also, if you dont come to a complete stop at a light or whatever, and just roll through it, it seems like its in neutral when re-accelerating. Like dude was saying, then it kinda' 'pops' into gear.

[Mole]

this is comming from left field, but have you checked your brakes?

[Andrew]

Nope, didn't think it was the brakes 'cause it only happens in 2nd gear.

[Keg-Of-Iron]

hey andrew, I think we are in the same boat here. When I depress the gas too far w/o the car being warmed up for a while or if I just floor it instead of easing into it......the car will slow down drastically. Almost like the brakes were put on. Ive talked with some mechanics at toyota and they say it could be that with the S/c the car doesnt get the fuel fast enough. The fix for me would be a fuel pressure regulator. This kind of sounds what ur talking about but i dont kno if ur charged or not...

[bronzemaxell]

Nope, didn't think it was the brakes 'cause it only happens in 2nd gear.

this might be interesting,
a friend of mine change to clutchmaster stage 2, and light weight 8 or 10lb flywheel, along with redline transmission fluid. it is very smooth, from any gear, like from 60-70 mph 5th gear to 3rd gear, only rpm goes up, the car very smooth.

all my older stick shift cars does the same thing as you describe. with one exception, i have 03 SE i4 5sp, drive by wire throttle body, it just feel funny, let go of the gas pedal, and the rpm take about 1/2 second to react.

[Mandarinsolara]

hey andrew, I think we are in the same boat here. When I depress the gas too far w/o the car being warmed up for a while or if I just floor it instead of easing into it......the car will slow down drastically...

on some of the colder winter days, when i wouldnt have time to warm up the car before heading to school. i would pull out of the neighborhood in low and hold it a little longer to get the heater going. but i noticed that drastic deceleration upon letting off the gas in gear when the motor isnt warm. (also in auto the car shifts as low as 4000 rpm even at WOT when the motor is not warm)