I almost always start in 2nd gear in my X-Fire but only because the transmission pops out of first gear at least every other time. But that's kind of normal, right?

 

Its normal, but should be fixed. You can't really start off on a steep hill in 2nd without out heating up the clutch real nice and putting a big load on the entire driveline.

 

Not normal on my car, stays in first no problem, sometimes its hard to get into first but thats another story.

 

well its a normal problem, not something that happens to every car.

from: https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...data-tsbs.html
TSB: 9-Mar-04 - 21-002-04 - Manual Trans - First Gear Disengages During Normal Acceleration

 

when your gear pops out of gear every other time, it is not notmal. Get it checked. It may be a common "PROBLEM" but definitely not normal.

 

its hard on the flywheel, clutch and pressure plate.

the flywheel is dual mass, and when you put a big load on it like starting in 2nd from a dead stop it stresses the springs more.

you have to slip the clutch alot to keep the motor from bogging so it ultimately heat scores the flywheel and pressure plate, in addition to heating up, wearing away, and glazing the clutch disc

and if your transmission pops out of gear that is in no way normal. get it fixed, learn to drive a manual or buy an automatic

 

I need some elaboration here from some people. I am hearing that 2nd gear starts are not hard on the car, and I am hearing that it has to work harder, therefor it is bad.

I am not doubting the simply mechanics behind the process, starting in second puts a little more load on the car. I am doubting whether or not it will actually do any damage. The gearing is such that when I start in second, I never have an issue with slippage and I never have any of the typical burnt clutch smell.

While I wanted to elicit responses from everyone, I was more looking for some technical answer to whether or not it is actually 'bad' for the car.

Woody? Franc? Bueller?

 

Look! 1st gear is really friggin low. If it's a rolling stop, go ahead and use 2nd. If you're stopped, take an extra 1 second and shift from 1-2.
If you want to hear from "Woody", send him a PM.

 

That must be an issue with the 04s......my 07 has never popped out of 1st...

 

Hey Boiler.... Whats up man. Did you **** in "The Beeps" wheaties this morning? LOL

 

John likes doing that to people...... but what do you expect from a young guy who went to Purdue!


You know I'm just messin' with ya John...... us big 10 guys have to stick together.

 

It makes me laugh, because not only did he not answer my question, he sounded quite preturbed as well. If I wanted to PM woody and ask him, I would, but I was more looking for intelligent discussion on the topic so everyone could benefit.

I am not trying to step on anyone's toes with this thread, I just want all the best info I can find.

Fair enough, after the way PU played their last game, I am almost ashamed to claim them LOL.

With people that I know/have met or at least interact more with on the forum, some friendly jabs are expected

 

 

My money is on the Jayhawks!!!! James Naismith[1] Naismith invented the sport of basketball in 1891. He coached and was the first coach for the Kansas Jayhawks mens basketball team. Naismith wrote the original basketball rulebook, & founded the University of Kansas basketball program.

 

Unless I've got my understanding wrong the auto in winter mode always starts in second gear.
Crosers

 

Let us say you start in first and the engine has to get to 1,000 rpm so that it can just run without effort and the speed is 5mph.
Next you start in second, if 1,000 rpm was the engine speed in first at which the car could just run because of the load, then second gear will mean that the revs will have to be be higher because the load is higher, so lets say that the revs have to reach 1,500 before the engine will just run with out effort. The speed will be higher than 5mph, lets say 10mph.
This means that the clutch will have to be slipping for a longer time as you will not reach 10mph in second faster than you can 5mph in first.
Slipping the clutch to 1,500rpm will take longer than slipping it to 1,000rpm even if you manage to keep the load on the clutch the same.
For a real example of the loads involved try and start from a standstill in 3rd. This is really tough but shows how much the load has increased from first and the revs will be much higher again, you may very well smell the clutch now especially after a few attempts.
Slipping the clutch leads to wear plain and simple, and loading the clutch leads to more wear. Just because you cannot smell the clutch does not mean its not working harder.
On decent down hills I do start in second, but the car requires less effort to get moving and the clutch is engaged at a lower rpm because the engine will not be stressed as on the flat.
You have to make your own decisions as it is your car.

 

On a flat surface (or even a slight incline) you can literally start out in 1st or 2nd in the Crossfire without depressing the gas pedal at all. Just at idle.....you don't have to rev it at all......there is no slip...

The net effect is ...lower RPMs when you start out...you save a little gas & get a less jerky start.. you never do this when you want accelerate briskly though.

 

You guys can drive the Crossfire 6 speed any way you want, myself, I start out from a stop in 1st gear, and 1st gear only. If it is okay to start in 2nd, why do you think 1st is in the shift pattern? Should it be a 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th? Im sorry if you put that much strain on a clutch, eventually it will need repair, but, what am I, im just a 800 lb Gorilla in the room

 

All these "no slip" comments have me wondering what the clutch does. Have I been so wrong for 50 odd years, lets face it if we had no slip we would not need a clutch.

 

clutches slip, its what they do.
its un-noticeable to you, but they do slip, more so in a 2nd gear start than first.

and the reason you can idle off without throttle input is due to torque.

but yes, the clutch does slip