Question about thump/kickback in 6th gear

**Doobydarby** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 11:23 AM

Hopefully, I am asking this question in the correct category. I am not sure if it belongs here or in the Techical category.

I received my CS 2 days ago and have already driven over 200 miles, going no place in particular. Thus far the car exceeds my high expectations. It is simply a wonderful car- looks, handling, steering, braking, shifting, engine,....

I do have one question/concern about the car (other than the whistling roof rack). In driving the car in 6th gear, I feel a thump/kickback feeling (may even hear it) when I take my foot off the gas pedal. I do not notice it in any other gear. I have been on the highway a lot and have been varying my gear and rpm per the break-in period- using 4th, 5th, and 6th. If I take my foot off the gas pedal at around, say, 3000 rpm in 6th gear, the thump/kickback is very noticeable. Is that normal or an indicator of a possible problem? It does not occur in any other gear.

Thanks!

Doobydarby

**Gator Bite** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 01:02 PM

Hmmmmm........ I didn't notice anything like that while driving mine. If it's easy to reproduce, I would take it down to your dealership and take a Service Associate for a ride and show them.

However, there might be a difference between our driving styles. I have a serious obsessive compulsive pet peeve about un-smooth driving of a manual shift car. Really, it's quite bazaar, and now it's rubbing off on my girlfriend (we'll get out of someone else's car and Ina will be like, "Oh my god. Did you see how rough he was shifting? Where the heck did he learn do drive."). My shifts, downshifts, accelerations and decelerations are all done with laser precise smoothness, in most case smoother than any automatic shift transmission can deliver. In fact, the first few days of driving my car, my primary focus was to develop the familiarity with the Cayman needed to achieve this. So I may be the wrong person to respond. Are you coming off the accelerator very abruptly?

**Gator Bite** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 01:24 PM

Doobydarby,

I was just reading your other thread, very exciting by the way, and I saw that you are really enjoying the 'Sport Chrono' feature. This kind of supports my suspiscion that you might just be coming off the throttle too fast. I noticed with my car that with Sport Chrono on, it's difficult not to be abrupt with the throttle, at least not until you spend some serious seat time behind it. This thump, is it happening in both SC modes? That might rule out my suspicion, or confirm it. Give it a try.

**Doobydarby** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator Bite

Doobydarby,

I was just reading your other thread, very exciting by the way, and I saw that you are really enjoying the 'Sport Chrono' feature. This kind of supports my suspiscion that you might just be coming off the throttle too fast. I noticed with my car that with Sport Chrono on, it's difficult not to be abrupt with the throttle, at least not until you spend some serious seat time behind it. This thump, is it happening in both SC modes? That might rule out my suspicion, or confirm it. Give it a try.

Thanks for your 2 responses. I try to be smooth in shifting etc. I think that the thump is independent of whether I am using the sport chrono or not, Besides, it never happens in 5th or 4th gears, only on 6th. I think that I progressively let up on the gas pedal, not too abruptly. I placed a call to the service department and they will return the call soon, hopefully.

The car is awesome! Engine even more responsive than I anticipated and I haven't even gotten into the heart of it, not exceeding 4200 rpm yet.

DoobyDarby

**Doobydarby** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 02:55 PM

I was called back by the service manager. He said that the thump was normal, being a function of gear ratios. 6th gear is less than one, and the others, per the service manager, are all more than one- actually I see that fifth gear is just about 1. He said if it was a transmission problem, it would occur in all the gears. So, I am no longer concerned, although I have no genuine understanding of what he said.

Thanks for you help and interest. I appreciate it.

Doobydarby

balboa · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 05:44 PM

Doobydarby,

My .02. The engine kickback feeling may also be a symptom of a new engine. I found the engine and gearbox extremely tight during the 1500 miles. Decending hills (6-7% grade) in 5th gear, my car would lose speed due to engine braking.

old dude · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 05:49 PM

Gator Bite,
Gee,I thought that I was the only "stick shifter" who drove like this & noticed other people's shifting faults. It's not easy being perfect!

**Doobydarby** · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balboa

Doobydarby,

My .02. The engine kickback feeling may also be a symptom of a new engine. I found the engine and gearbox extremely tight during the 1500 miles. Decending hills (6-7% grade) in 5th gear, my car would lose speed due to engine braking.

Thanks for the response. I have had the car for 2 days. The first day I found it a little hard to easily find and shift into 4th gear. The second day it was easier. The shifting seemed smoother and easier in just 2 days (it was fine from the start). Of course, I am getting used to the gear box and 6 gears- My BMW only has 5 gears. Also I found out yesterday that I am suppose to depress the clutch before I shift. Oh, by the way, I was just kidding about the clutch!!

Delighted DoobyDarby

**Gator Bite** · #9 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doobydarby

Thanks for the response. I have had the car for 2 days. The first day I found it a little hard to easily find and shift into 4th gear. The second day it was easier. The shifting seemed smoother and easier in just 2 days (it was fine from the start). Of course, I am getting used to the gear box and 6 gears- My BMW only has 5 gears. Also I found out yesterday that I am suppose to depress the clutch before I shift. Oh, by the way, I was just kidding about the clutch!!

Delighted DoobyDarby

The 6 speed is cool, isn't it? I love it.

When Ina (my girlfriend, pronounced 'Eena' ) was driving in Germany, on at least 4 or 5 occasions she ran the car through the gears and stopped shifting once she reached 5th. Then I would tell her, "Ina, did you forget something?". She would look at me with this puzzled look, then I would tell her, "Your hurting 6th gear's feelings ignoring him like that......". After about the 2nd time I reminded her she started getting annoyed with me and herself. She was also getting annoyed with my constant reminders that she vary the speed, but she'll forgive me.....

When I got back home, something scary happened. I was driving Ina's Miata. We jumped on the highway for a 20 minute drive to my parent's place. I shifted through the gears, and then for a micro second I caught myself preparing to shift to 6th. The Miata doesn't have 6 gears. It has a capital 'R' where the 6th gear would be in the Cayman. Same with my Passat. Oh man, I hope to god I don't subconsciously try that.

I also found myself trying to force my Passat shifter one more gate to the left looking for reverse. That wasn't working.....

old dude · #10 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 06:23 PM

I just passed 3500 miles & the gear box is real nice now.

**urbo73** · #11 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doobydarby

I was called back by the service manager. He said that the thump was normal, being a function of gear ratios. 6th gear is less than one, and the others, per the service manager, are all more than one- actually I see that fifth gear is just about 1. He said if it was a transmission problem, it would occur in all the gears. So, I am no longer concerned, although I have no genuine understanding of what he said.

Thanks for you help and interest. I appreciate it.

Doobydarby

I don't see how it would be normal if it is indeed an issue and not something normal that may seem new to you. I don't have this issue on my 3 week old Cayman S, and what your service manager said makes no sense. Engine braking will be less pronounced in 6th gear, so lifting should not jerk the car unless you are at 150+ or something like this. I would take it in for a look. Doesn't sound good...Just my 2 pennies.