2022 Si, jerky in first gear?

[skywardatlas]

Hey everyone,

My 2022 Si, which I took delivery of in May of 2022, is the first manual I've owned. Since then, I believe I've gotten fairly adept at driving a manual and I love every aspect of this car.

There's one issue that's been present since the beginning though and as this is my first manual car, I wanted to see if this was a relatively normal issue with manual transmissions. In first gear, after I've already set off and the clutch is fully engaged (clutch pedal up), the car is extremely jerky around 5-7 MPH. It doesn't matter if I'm coasting (gas pedal fully lifted up) or if I'm applying very slight throttle to keep the car at a consistent 5 or 6 MPH; the car will pretty violently jerk back and forth. Disengaging the clutch obviously smooths the car out. Accelerating normally from a stop up the gears doesn't result in the same issue, it's only when staying in that 5-7 MPH range.

I find that the car is only smooth in first gear when coasting at 4 MPH. Anything between 5-10 MPH is very jerky, and I haven't really tested 10+ MPH because at that point I shift into second gear anyway.

This leads to it being very annoying and difficult to drive or coast slowly in parking lots, or in stop and go traffic. I will usually either have to coast in neutral or keep the clutch pressed, or shift to second gear quite low in its usable range and be forced to disengage the clutch/go into neutral/go back into first quite often when I need to slow down.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Sponsored

 

[chopsuey34]

I think I know what you're describing. In my beater Scion xB 5MT, 1st gear is always sensitive to off-throttle applications, so much so that in most low speed situations (parking lots, drive way), I start and stay in 2nd because its less touchy. I have to slip the clutch a bit more, but I do it gently so no problems. I only use 1st when taking off from a stop to get up to speed. Once I'm out of 1st, I never downshift into it.

I'm pretty sure this is a common thing amongst manual transmissions. Do a quick burst of speed in 1st and coast or use 2nd gear to start.

 

[BallisticSquid]

This is the nature of first gear in a manual. I will say that my 2023 Si is the least jerky in first gear which left an impression with me. From 1986 to 2007, all of my cars were manuals. In 2020 I took up driving manual again.

First gear is basically to get the car moving. My approach is that if I'm in first gear and I need to let off the gas, I quickly disengage the clutch (clutch to the floor) and let the momentum of the car keep it rolling or I start applying brake to slow down. This smooths that out. Engine breaking in first gear isn't really necessary since you are going so slow anyway. If I'm backing up or pulling into my garage, I feather the clutch maybe halfway engaged to inch forward and then quickly let off the gas and disengage the clutch. This may be necessary in stop and go traffic.

Hard to describe in writing.

 

[skywardatlas]

Thanks @chopsuey34 and @BallisticSquid! Good to know my car isn't defective!

 

[NoelPR]

Normal.
1st is so sensitive and strong that a slight touch to the gas pedal will make your whole car shake including the foot on top of the gas pedal. Making things even worse if you aren't aware.

A tune or a device that can remap the throttle map will help.
But to be honest, just learn to live with it.

 

[DmoneyDeckwa]

my girlfriend hates 1st gear in traffic lmaooo its like a shitty amusement park ride ?

 

[Bpebler]

Lol you’ll get it. Best advice I was given decades ago was watch your RPM gauge while you’re letting out the clutch & pushing on the accelerator. Find the RPM’s that it lets out smoothly since each car is different. Then practice & perfect on that while working on smoothing out the right ankle movements & you’ll be golden. My 91 Integra was around 1200-1500 RPM’s if I remember correctly. Good chance I don’t. Lol I mean it’s almost been 20 years.

Some good YouTube videos out there with folks better than me explaining this stuff too so check that out.

 

[TypeRD]

In first gear, just feather the throttle and clutch in traffic and from a dead stop. You’ll get a feel for it with practice.

And as others have said, unless you’re trying to race, first gear is really just to get the car moving from a dead stop. Keep it in 2nd if you’re driving at low speeds (on neighborhood roads and such), like 20-30 mph.

 

[drkskeleton]

I have to agree also. I didn’t expect first gear to be so jerky but every response here is correct. It’s just to get the car moving then move to 2nd gear. If it is stop and go traffic you do have to live with it but it’s no big deal! Enjoy the car!!

Sponsored