Something very strange happened with my stook this morning. A couple seconds after starting it, I was going to get out and scrap some ice off the windshield (and let her warm up). So, I started to let the clutch out, and the engine started to sputter and cough (it went below 1k RPM), so I quickly pushed the clutch back in-- and the RPM went back up to around 2k. At this point I was calling myself a dumbass for forgetting to take it out of gear-- but when I looked at the gearshift, I was plainly in neutral. I wiggled the shifter a little, then slowly let the clutch out again-- everything was OK this time. It got pretty cold last night (mid 20's?). She only has about 4k miles on her.

Any ideas?

 

Was the last gear the car in really disengaged? Could it have stuck in gear even though the shifter was in neutral?

 

Hey Luder94

I guess that is a good part of my question. Even though the shifter was in neutral, it is possible to still be in gear? After the engine sputtered, I only moved the shifter a little to the left and right (not into any gear) just to make sure that I was not in gear. I'm absolutely positive that the shifter was in neutral. If it makes any difference, I always park (and shut off) the car in neutral also.

 

This happens on my Teg all the time in the cold as well as the S2000 when I do happen to start it (in storage). I believe that this is the "load" that the trans puts on the engine when letting the clutch out. I usually leave the clutch in for a few seconds until the rpms get up to their "normal" start-up revs and then let the clutch out to let the car warm further.

Hope that helps.

 

Hey, thanks meat. I've just never had that happen and it sort of scared me.

Thanks.

 

Meat,

You are exactly right. Even though the car isn't in gear, there is a small load on the engine when you let the clutch out. It is not a big worry.