I keep missing 3rd. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

RobTX · 03-03-2014, 09:14 AM

As the title says... It has happened twice now.
Yesterday a new Shelby mustang rolled up next to me at a stop light and started revving his engine. We were in a neighborhood so I didn't launch hard and no laws were broken but... when I tried to hit third, the shifter felt like it just wouldn't go into gear and my hand slipped off and I bounced off the rev limiter. Scared the sh@@ out of me.
It almost felt like when the transmission doesn't let you go into a lower gear because you are going to fast. Next time do I need to SLAM it up there? Is this common? What am I doing wrong?

24ZZZZZ · 03-03-2014, 09:46 AM

REVED TOO HI! IMO

TheHorse13 · 03-03-2014, 01:33 PM

Known issue. Read around the various sub forums and you'll see that others have the same, "hit a brick wall" feeling when trying to get into 3rd at around 5k RPM. No fix from GM, btw.

If you want it fixed, be ready to drop around 3-4k out of pocket to a trans shop that specializes in the TR6060.

Merc · 03-03-2014, 02:00 PM

You maybe trying to guide it in. Use ur palm and let the shifter do the work.

jvoisel · 03-03-2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merc

You maybe trying to guide it in. Use ur palm and let the shifter do the work.

This!

Hannibal · 03-04-2014, 08:07 AM

I have this condition with my 2011 SS. If the OP is describing the same issue, it happens randomly. You can shift at 6 grand one day and then the next, POW, locked out of 3rd. It also seems to happen at the worst possible moments as described by the OP.

I have been told several things are the likely cause. The first is that the syncros can't keep up with the speed of the shift. Next, I have been told that tolerances vary during the production process of the TR6060. Finally, and still my personal favorite, is that it's designed to work this way. lol.

I've gone in circles with GM over this with nothing to show for it. I've gone to several specialty shops and all of them charge around 3 thousand dollars to, "make it right".

RobTX · 03-04-2014, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibal

You can shift at 6 grand one day and then the next, POW, locked out of 3rd. It also seems to happen at the worst possible moments as described by the OP.

Hannibal, great description of the issue. Please keep me informed if you find out any more information about this.

Hannibal · 03-04-2014, 09:16 AM

I've given up on GM. They have done nothing for me. I have accepted the reality that if I want this random failure fixed, I have to spend thousands out of pocket.

As a side note, I've been driving manual transmissions for almost half a century. I know it's not my shifts that are causing the problems.

Steve@SNL/Monster Clutch · 03-04-2014, 10:21 AM

Does the clutch feel "spongy" when you're not getting in third?

jim's2ssrs · 03-04-2014, 12:32 PM

This has happened a couple of times to me as well. It's as if the third gear gate is closed. Couldn't even feel where it should have been. It goes into fourth just fine. I didn't notice anything different about the clutch feel but I wasn't concentrating on it much either.

Steve@SNL/Monster Clutch · 03-04-2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim's2ssrs

This has happened a couple of times to me as well. It's as if the third gear gate is closed. Couldn't even feel where it should have been. It goes into fourth just fine. I didn't notice anything different about the clutch feel but I wasn't concentrating on it much either.

Try it again and pay attention to the clutch pedal feel. If it gets soft or goes to the floor then it's a clutch release/slippage issue. If it's consistent and fine then the trans internals need to be upgraded. You can go to GM, but, in the end an upgrade is in order, not a replacement of OE components.

The guys at RPM have done a ton of these transmissions and are the guys I'd recommend. No need to go anywhere else.

Hannibal · 03-04-2014, 12:38 PM

I can tell you that my clutch is consistent and "fine" and this still happens. I have always had a hunch that the master cylinder may not be feeding enough hydraulic pressure to the clutch. I may try out the Ideal master cylinder/reservoir kit to see if that helps. I cannot bring myself to drop 4 grand on something that shouldn't be broken to begin with. Not yet anyway.

Steve@SNL/Monster Clutch · 03-04-2014, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibal

I can tell you that my clutch is consistent and "fine" and this still happens. I have always had a hunch that the master cylinder may not be feeding enough hydraulic pressure to the clutch. I may try out the Ideal master cylinder/reservoir kit to see if that helps. I cannot bring myself to drop 4 grand on something that shouldn't be broken to begin with. Not yet anyway.

Valid point.

The only deal is, at that rpm/usage, if the clutch wasn't fully disengaging the pedal would get soft as the clutch would still be dragging and the heat would transfer to the diaphragm spring.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Hannibal · 03-04-2014, 12:49 PM

It does make sense.

Mine only does this at high RPMs and only with 3rd. Anything higher than 4,800 RPM and I brace myself for the possibility that third may brick wall my shift. I have found no consistency at all. Hot, cold, night, day, it doesn't matter. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn't. Truly the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced with a car. GM has been absolutely no help. I'm not even going to try anymore with them.

Note that my ZL1 shifts like butter through every gear at any RPM. *sigh*

Sorry to thread jack, OP. We share the same issue only I've been dealing with mine for 3 years now. I'm a tad bitter.

03-03-2014, 09:14 AM	#1
RobTX Drives: Stock Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 28	I keep missing 3rd. As the title says... It has happened twice now. Yesterday a new Shelby mustang rolled up next to me at a stop light and started revving his engine. We were in a neighborhood so I didn't launch hard and no laws were broken but... when I tried to hit third, the shifter felt like it just wouldn't go into gear and my hand slipped off and I bounced off the rev limiter. Scared the sh@@ out of me. It almost felt like when the transmission doesn't let you go into a lower gear because you are going to fast. Next time do I need to SLAM it up there? Is this common? What am I doing wrong?

03-03-2014, 02:00 PM	#4
Merc In The Circle Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS IOM M6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Abbotsford BC Canada Posts: 11,310	You maybe trying to guide it in. Use ur palm and let the shifter do the work. __________________ My Build Thread

03-03-2014, 09:46 AM	#2
24ZZZZZ Account Suspended Drives: 2013 2SS/RS BLACK M6 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: H-town,Texas Posts: 54 View My Garage	REVED TOO HI! IMO

03-03-2014, 01:33 PM	#3
TheHorse13 Drives: 2011 Black SS M6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 1,116	Known issue. Read around the various sub forums and you'll see that others have the same, "hit a brick wall" feeling when trying to get into 3rd at around 5k RPM. No fix from GM, btw. If you want it fixed, be ready to drop around 3-4k out of pocket to a trans shop that specializes in the TR6060.

03-04-2014, 08:07 AM	#6
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	I have this condition with my 2011 SS. If the OP is describing the same issue, it happens randomly. You can shift at 6 grand one day and then the next, POW, locked out of 3rd. It also seems to happen at the worst possible moments as described by the OP. I have been told several things are the likely cause. The first is that the syncros can't keep up with the speed of the shift. Next, I have been told that tolerances vary during the production process of the TR6060. Finally, and still my personal favorite, is that it's designed to work this way. lol. I've gone in circles with GM over this with nothing to show for it. I've gone to several specialty shops and all of them charge around 3 thousand dollars to, "make it right".

03-04-2014, 09:16 AM	#8
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	I've given up on GM. They have done nothing for me. I have accepted the reality that if I want this random failure fixed, I have to spend thousands out of pocket. As a side note, I've been driving manual transmissions for almost half a century. I know it's not my shifts that are causing the problems.

03-04-2014, 10:21 AM	#9
Steve@SNL/Monster Clutch Account Suspended Drives: 2014 SS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Haslet, TX Posts: 744	Does the clutch feel "spongy" when you're not getting in third?

03-04-2014, 12:32 PM	#10
jim's2ssrs Drives: 2011 2SS RS LS3 Rally Yellow Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ottawa, KS Posts: 32	This has happened a couple of times to me as well. It's as if the third gear gate is closed. Couldn't even feel where it should have been. It goes into fourth just fine. I didn't notice anything different about the clutch feel but I wasn't concentrating on it much either.

03-04-2014, 12:38 PM	#12
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	I can tell you that my clutch is consistent and "fine" and this still happens. I have always had a hunch that the master cylinder may not be feeding enough hydraulic pressure to the clutch. I may try out the Ideal master cylinder/reservoir kit to see if that helps. I cannot bring myself to drop 4 grand on something that shouldn't be broken to begin with. Not yet anyway.

03-04-2014, 12:49 PM	#14
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	It does make sense. Mine only does this at high RPMs and only with 3rd. Anything higher than 4,800 RPM and I brace myself for the possibility that third may brick wall my shift. I have found no consistency at all. Hot, cold, night, day, it doesn't matter. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn't. Truly the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced with a car. GM has been absolutely no help. I'm not even going to try anymore with them. Note that my ZL1 shifts like butter through every gear at any RPM. sigh Sorry to thread jack, OP. We share the same issue only I've been dealing with mine for 3 years now. I'm a tad bitter.