3rd Gear...anyone else notice this?

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

I have a manual trans, but I'm interested to see if autos feel this way too. Anyone elses 3rd gear feel really weak to them? I only really notice this if I'm gunning it to get on a highway or of course at the drag strip. First and second gear feel great when it's floored, plenty of power. Then I shift into 3rd and it's painful just watching it creep up through the rpms. Now I know obviously the higher the gear, the slower the rpms are going to go up, but it just really feels like I'm losing some power when I hit 3rd gear. Maybe it has to do with when I'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I've been shifting between 5 and 6k. Any input is welcome.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

and just to clarify, this is only when I'm "racing" the car. Everyday driving 3rd gear feels fine.

bleedingvayneAD · Apr 19, 2005

When I take mine to highway 100, I get the same thing. It does kinda suck having the car run like hell then all of a sudden drop down.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

bleedingvayneAD said:
When I take mine to highway 100, I get the same thing. It does kinda suck having the car run like hell then all of a sudden drop down.

Yeah, definately. I was playing with an SVT Lightning that pulled up next to me. I jumped ahead from the start, kept my lead (small one, but a lead none the less ) through 2nd gear, then shift to 3rd and whaddaya know, he started passing me .

Oh well, at least I'm not the only one with this problem. Is there anything that would at least taper down this drop in power in 3rd?

hurdlinmasta · Apr 19, 2005

umm... 3rd gear is the strongest gear in my car. I pass every car in 3rd gear (the ones that can stick til 3rd) STis, Evos, camaros, you name them. They all get smoked at 3rd. Its also the fact that 3rd gear redlines at 80-85. And it can go from 40. While other cars have to shift alot more.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

hurdlinmasta said:
umm... 3rd gear is the strongest gear in my car. I pass every car in 3rd gear (the ones that can stick til 3rd) STis, Evos, camaros, you name them. They all get smoked at 3rd. Its also the fact that 3rd gear redlines at 80-85. And it can go from 40. While other cars have to shift alot more.

Well I'd really like to know what you're doing differently. I hang really well, even with cars that I know can beat me in 1st and 2nd. Then 3rd gear comes along and I pretty much just have to wave "bye-bye" to them. Granted I knew I'd lose, and they may have even been creeping up or be slightly ahead in 1st and 2nd, that severe drop in power just seals the deal for me.

sacha · Apr 19, 2005

hurdlinmasta said:
umm... 3rd gear is the strongest gear in my car. I pass every car in 3rd gear (the ones that can stick til 3rd) STis, Evos, camaros, you name them. They all get smoked at 3rd. Its also the fact that 3rd gear redlines at 80-85. And it can go from 40. While other cars have to shift alot more.

I really don't have a frame of reference since I haven't raced anyone or driven another stang, but I'm also finding 3rd gear to have lots of power - particularly when merging onto the highway.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

sacha said:
I really don't have a frame of reference since I haven't raced anyone or driven another stang, but I'm also finding 3rd gear to have lots of power - particularly when merging onto the highway.

Well are you just quickly merging onto the highway or are you putting the petal to the metal all the way through 3rd gear? Like I said, the gear is fine when I'm everyday driving, including fast everyday driving. It's when I'm really gunning it that I feel reduced power in 3rd. And again, it may have to do with when I'm shifting.

ZenGirl35 · Apr 19, 2005

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! My 04 GT shags ass in 3rd so I guess I will have to wait and see how my 05 acts when she is delivered.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

ZenGirl35 said:
I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! My 04 GT shags ass in 3rd so I guess I will have to wait and see how my 05 acts when she is delivered.

I really wouldn't worry about it. I can still smoke anything that I should be able to smoke and numbers don't lie, these cars are fast. It just feels like 3rd holds back a bit to me.

Mossberg · Apr 19, 2005

Get Gears!

sacha · Apr 19, 2005

ShadowBok said:
Well are you just quickly merging onto the highway or are you putting the petal to the metal all the way through 3rd gear? Like I said, the gear is fine when I'm everyday driving, including fast everyday driving. It's when I'm really gunning it that I feel reduced power in 3rd. And again, it may have to do with when I'm shifting.

I actually gun it onto the highway - it's one of the few times I really lay the pedal down.

Mark05GTVert · Apr 19, 2005

On my auto - 3rd is my BEST gear... it's the "oh yeah baby" gear... right up into the red at 90mph before she shifts. Maybe my computer has learned good habits... anyway, 3rd is where I really feel the pull... in 1st, I wonder "where are all the balls this thing is supposed to have"... in 3rd I say "there they are".

hurdlinmasta · Apr 19, 2005

Well, from what i have done, when ive raced, it was, 1st gear i go up to 5k RPM, shift to 2nd, go up to 5k RPM, shift to 3rd, and then thats when you just smoke them. Its always pedal to the metal with 3rd gear. I dont usually redline gears cause i feel like its just wasting time and your only going to go so much faster. When i shift into 3rd its usually at around 3k-3.5k RPM so you know thats gonna get some power.

ShadowBok · Apr 19, 2005

hurdlinmasta said:
Well, from what i have done, when ive raced, it was, 1st gear i go up to 5k RPM, shift to 2nd, go up to 5k RPM, shift to 3rd, and then thats when you just smoke them. Its always pedal to the metal with 3rd gear. I dont usually redline gears cause i feel like its just wasting time and your only going to go so much faster. When i shift into 3rd its usually at around 3k-3.5k RPM so you know thats gonna get some power.

I'll try shifting a little bit earlier. Maybe that's my problem. It just still feels like 2nd is pulling up to 5.2 or so, but maybe I've gone too far past the peak.

nbk13nw · Apr 19, 2005

ShadowBok said:
I have a manual trans, but I'm interested to see if autos feel this way too. Anyone elses 3rd gear feel really weak to them? I only really notice this if I'm gunning it to get on a highway or of course at the drag strip. First and second gear feel great when it's floored, plenty of power. Then I shift into 3rd and it's painful just watching it creep up through the rpms. Now I know obviously the higher the gear, the slower the rpms are going to go up, but it just really feels like I'm losing some power when I hit 3rd gear. Maybe it has to do with when I'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I've been shifting between 5 and 6k. Any input is welcome.

Mine pulls great in 3rd! WOT and just solid and consistant power throughout the entire gear.

zinn · Apr 19, 2005

i think third gear would be better if it was not so tall but a gear change can fix that. shifting earlier like 5k is not going to help because you have a gear ratio atvantage in the lower gear. if you have ever rode a ten speed bike just think of what happens when you select a gear that is too tall for for the speed you are doing. if you wait till just before redline to shift you take atvantage of the extra leverage the lower gear can give your acceleration.

vacooley · Apr 22, 2005

I noticed that if you bump the rev limiter (easy to do in 2nd) it will not recover quickly to make any power in 3rd. Even if you start your shift before redline you could be just touching the limit causing the 'brain' to shut thngs down.

I agree with trying to shift a little earlier. Let us know how it goes.

ShadowBok · Apr 22, 2005

vacooley said:
I noticed that if you bump the rev limiter (easy to do in 2nd) it will not recover quickly to make any power in 3rd. Even if you start your shift before redline you could be just touching the limit causing the 'brain' to shut thngs down.

I agree with trying to shift a little earlier. Let us know how it goes.

I bet that's exactly what's happening because it literally feels like a drastic drop in power. I was playing around with 3rd just getting onto the highway and whatnot (nothing crazy) and it felt nice and strong. I'll pay attention to when I'm shifting next time at the track.

Thanks for the responses

brownbrosperf · Apr 23, 2005

Get a programmer, it is probably the PCM closing the thottle plates, for "safe" operation

3rd Gear...anyone else notice this?

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