Sluggishness in second gear

[opus]

Hey,
I now have put a whopping 57 miles on my 5 but I have started to notice a distinct sluggishness when entering second gear. It takes off nicely in first, but the instant I hit second it just pigs out till it hits about 3500 rpm and then it starts to come alive. I don't want to push it hard before it breaks in but it is awfully frustrating. It feels as though some sort of traction control override is kicking in and retarding the spark or something like that. Is there a way to attempt to diable the traction control on the 5? Please let me know if you have a similar issue.
Thanks (help)

 

[irloyal]

Hey,
I now have put a whopping 57 miles on my 5 but I have started to notice a distinct sluggishness when entering second gear. It takes off nicely in first, but the instant I hit second it just pigs out till it hits about 3500 rpm and then it starts to come alive. I don't want to push it hard before it breaks in but it is awfully frustrating. It feels as though some sort of traction control override is kicking in and retarding the spark or something like that. Is there a way to attempt to diable the traction control on the 5? Please let me know if you have a similar issue.
Thanks (help)

Could it be something to do with the electronic throttle?

 

[jmcglynn]

Well, for starters, is it a manual or an automatic?

I've got a manual, and I can get a good chirp from the tires shifting into 2nd if I want. I could see where an automatic might get sluggish, but not from any kind of traction control system... the 5 doesn't have one. I have noticed some sluggishness excelerating in higher gears - esp 4th and 5th... but that's a basic power-to-weight ratio problem... nothing you can do there.

Also, does this happen all the time? Have you noticed any difference with the A/C on or off? Let us know so we can noodle this one some more.

 

[opus]

Well, for starters, is it a manual or an automatic?

I've got a manual, and I can get a good chirp from the tires shifting into 2nd if I want. I could see where an automatic might get sluggish, but not from any kind of traction control system... the 5 doesn't have one. I have noticed some sluggishness excelerating in higher gears - esp 4th and 5th... but that's a basic power-to-weight ratio problem... nothing you can do there.

Also, does this happen all the time? Have you noticed any difference with the A/C on or off? Let us know so we can noodle this one some more.

It is a 5spd manual, it does happen irregardless of AC. The electronic throttle idea has promise, but I would think it would do it in all gears, not just a specific gear, unless it is programmed based upon speed and not rpms. Any ideas will be appreciated and used when I get in touch with the dealer.
Thanks.

 

[was98strat]

Well, for starters, is it a manual or an automatic?

I've got a manual, and I can get a good chirp from the tires shifting into 2nd if I want. I could see where an automatic might get sluggish, but not from any kind of traction control system... the 5 doesn't have one. I have noticed some sluggishness excelerating in higher gears - esp 4th and 5th... but that's a basic power-to-weight ratio problem... nothing you can do there.

Also, does this happen all the time? Have you noticed any difference with the A/C on or off? Let us know so we can noodle this one some more.

Well there is one way to fix the power to weight problem. It's here http://www.hiboost.com/TURBOKIT.htm

Now Someone just has to try to fit it to a 5 (wrc)

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Keep an eye on it could be syncros but dought it.

I have same feeling but only until engine runs a bit.. I squeel wheels in 3 gears when I want too (drive2)

 

[irloyal]

...snip...irregardless of AC...snip...

Irregardless is not a word. Use Irrespective or regardless.

End of English lesson for today

 

[ladygrey]

thread hijack

Irregardless is not a word. Use Irrespective or regardless.

End of English lesson for today

At least he didn't say disirregardlessly.

Now, I hate a double negative as much as the next girl, and it may well be bad grammar, but it is indeed a word - look you wrote it right up there. I am a grammar junkie, but I have learned in my nearly 15 years of online life that being the grammar police on a public space is useless and often rude. Not everyone on a board has the same grammar values as me, and it's not my job to educate the world. Plus, if I had to write a rough draft and edit every post I make I would have given up years ago.

Just for fun... here's what The American Heritage Book of English Usage has to say about it.

Irregardless is a word that many people mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. The word was coined in the United States in the early 20th century, probably from a blend of irrespective and regardless. Perhaps this is why some critics insist that there is no such word as irregardless, a charge they would not think of leveling at a nonstandard word with a longer history, such as aint. Since people use irregardless, it is undoubtedly a word.(bold mine) But it has never been accepted in Standard English and is usually changed by editors to regardless before getting into print.

The American Heritage Book of English Usage. Copyright 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

/thread hijack

 

[perfecto]

/hijack over

 

[jandree22]

Dealership + Busted 5 + Warranty Coverage = Results

So long as you think a technician can replicate the problem on a test drive, they should be able to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair your problem a lot better than the group of us forum monkeys rambling about proper grammer. (lol2)

 

[dommo_g]

Why don't you try breaking the engine in properly first? Put some miles on it. There are things changing, settling and seating. Just like any brand new car. Chill out and see what happens after a thousand or so miles.

Oh, and "/hijack over" makes no sense, because the "/" designates "over", so the word "over" isn't necessary. Look at ladygrey's post for the proper way to humorously emulate HTML coding in a post.

 

[jandree22]

...Oh, and "/hijack over" makes no sense, because the "/" designates "over", so the word "over" isn't necessary. Look at ladygrey's post for the proper way to humorously emulate HTML coding in a post.

Guys, seriously... go easy with the thread hijacking thing... Chuck Norris appears to be becoming quite agitated!!! (ughdance)

 

[opus]

Well my face is red. I have always felt that my posts reflect a fairly firm grasp of the English language. I guess I should be glad that I teach Kindergarten and not English Composition at the collegiate level. I will wait a while and put a few more miles on the 5 before I take it to the dealer. I was just hoping that one of the members of this forum may have encountered a similar problem and been able to share the method used to resolve the issue. I did get a good chuckle out of this, and so did my wife. (rlaugh)

P.S. I never would have been able to enjoy this experience had I remained at LS1GTO.com.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Hey,
I now have put a whopping 57 miles on my 5 but I have started to notice a distinct sluggishness when entering second gear. It takes off nicely in first, but the instant I hit second it just pigs out till it hits about 3500 rpm and then it starts to come alive. I don't want to push it hard before it breaks in but it is awfully frustrating. It feels as though some sort of traction control override is kicking in and retarding the spark or something like that. Is there a way to attempt to diable the traction control on the 5? Please let me know if you have a similar issue.
Thanks (help)

Opus - I've got the same problem and have had it since day 1 which is now 348 days ago and 15000km (9300mi). It shows up mostly when the car is cold (and I mean engine cold) once the engine heats up and the temp gauge is in the normal position the problem is gone.

Do you notice this as well or is yours always there?

Check out the thread I started last November.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123617427

The technicians could not replicate the problem because, IMO, they would not let the car sit long enough to cool down. So... it appears I'm stuck with the problem. I do mention it every time I go in for service though, so its on record.

Let me know if you have any success.


PS What is 'true' silver? Mine is Platinum and the other is Stellar...

 

[7red7]

I have the same issue with my Auto 5...When the car is cold, it can take a few minutes (or miles) to get the juices flowing so to speak...Once it's warmed up, I don't get the hesitation in 2nd at all, and in fact, I get a lot of power in 2nd gear after that...

Also take into consideration that our cars are equiped with variable valve timing, and that the engine will literally adapt to your way of driving in terms of throttle response and shifting...Basically, what this means is, if you let someone else drive the car or share it with your spouse etc., you may notice some drag in certain gears or at certain RPM's; And this is the same for both manual and automatic transmissions...The car's computer will reset and adjust to your driving habits within 15 minutes or so after you start it up and drive continuously

Trust me, this is absolutely nothing to worry about, and is a small glitch that auto manufacturers will more than likely be working on as variable valve timing becomes standard practice in engines...

HAPPY DRIVING!!!

DAN

 

[opus]

Opus - I've got the same problem and have had it since day 1 which is now 348 days ago and 15000km (9300mi). It shows up mostly when the car is cold (and I mean engine cold) once the engine heats up and the temp gauge is in the normal position the problem is gone.

Do you notice this as well or is yours always there?

Check out the thread I started last November.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123617427

The technicians could not replicate the problem because, IMO, they would not let the car sit long enough to cool down. So... it appears I'm stuck with the problem. I do mention it every time I go in for service though, so its on record.

Let me know if you have any success.


PS What is 'true' silver? Mine is Platinum and the other is Stellar...

I have a pretty good relationship with the guys at my service department so I will just drop it off the night before and have them drive it the next day. True Silver is the new Platinum Silver. My dealership said they shifted the color about a month ago. It still says Platinum on the website, but it says "True Silver" on the window sticker, so that is what I put on my ID.

 

[jandree22]

I'd normally call BS on the "True Silver" thing because A) I've never heard of manufacturers swapping paint colors mid-model year (unless they denote it as late availability) and B) Galaxy Gray and Dark Plum Mica are the new colors for 2007MY. BUT, assuming the window sticker is from MazdaUSA and not the dealer, I guess it doesn't lie?!

Let me ask you this... does the paint have any hint of gold'ish to it in the sunlight or is it a pure silver? I don't mean to accuse you of lying, but it's just intriguing... that's all.

 

[opus]

True Silver Metalic is direct from the window sticker, the one with the mpg, options etc.... It is goldish in the sun, a very grey silver in the shade. I have four "silver" cars and it falls in between my 99 silver saturn and my 04 "quicksilver" GTO. My build month is 05/06. The guy at the dealer said it is actually a little more gold than the platinum was, but he said you would have to put them side by side to tell the difference. The true silver is a complete misnomer, my quicksilver is a "true" silver.

 

[jandree22]

Huh. Very interesting, indeed.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

"True Silver" on the window sticker, so that is what I put on my ID.

At least its not that butt-ugly silver they call 'Stellar' - More like Stella (pukey) . JMO.

Keep me posted about the sluggish 2nd gear, I always like to have some ammo when going into the service centre.