I'm noticing that the '04 s2k is really notchy when it comes to shifting. Is this a common thing or is something off on my car?

 

My '02 is very notchy when cold. It's most noticeable when upshifting into 2nd gear. It gets a lot better once it warms up. Does yours get better when warm?

 

Well Texan, we can surely rule out cold. How many miles? Give it some time to wear in a little, a few thousand, before questioning if you've got issues. Good luck with the new ride...

 

Lubed,

Yes, the syncros in my 04 are very notchy. As has been said, especially when cold. And I've found it takes quite a fair amount of driving to really warm them up too (up to 8-10 miles or so if it's very cold out). I'm hoping (and thinking) the carbon fiber syncros and the linkage will wear in a bit and become smoother after a few thousand miles. As it is now, it really diminishes the *stellar* reputation the gearbox/shifter has IMO. Sure, it's light, but it's far from being smooth. I would go so far as to say that when it's cold, it's one of the notchyest, crunchyest unit's I've ever used...

ron

 

When the temperature dropped I was suprised by the extent that the shifting feel changed. But I've been driving it today with very, very cold temperatures. It's light and precise. I haven't driven an 03 in months, so maybe the old shifter is smoother, but I don't think it's as precise. At any rate, this is still the best shifting transmission I've driven. I don't think the transmission's reputation should be diminished.

 

I have the same issue with my 04.

Very notchy when upshifting from 1st to 2nd, regardless of the outside temperature. At first I thought the clutch needed adjustment, however it "smooths out (?)" after driving 5 to 10 minutes.

I drove another 04 and it had the same issue.

 

With MY 04 I just pull it into second quickly and sternly and all notchyness is eliminated! I also let mine warm up before driving it! It's really not an issue with mine!

 

My 2004 is anything but notchy, although the 1-2 shift felt a bit imprecise at first, and I wasn't sure I had even engaged it properly. It has gotten much better, and with only 400 miles on it, I expect it will get better still. Compared to everything out there, it is a great box, and lives up to its reputation as one of the best out there.

If you want to feel a tough box, try the T-56 in the SVT Cobra sometime. It takes a real man to wrestle that one, and in first it sounds like an old Muncie "rock crusher".

 

I don't know if this is really an issue or just newness that will wear away in time.

My '04 does this in 1st and 2nd- and the other gears are smooth as silk at the 500 mile mark. The recent cold snap has definitely seemed to aggrivate the problem and the car seems to get better the more it is driven.

 

When i first got mine i had a little notchy in the 1st to 2nd shift when it was cold. 2000 miles later it is gone. Give it some time. I also let my car warm up before driving in the cold.