1st and 2nd gear issues

[JJ_2018]

Hi all,

This may be down to my poor driving ability but...does anyone else have issue getting a smooth acceleration from first and second in a manual? It only happens in the first couple of gears but can seem to get use to the clutch.

 

[Ron240]

The first to second change with any manual gearbox is always the trickiest one to accomplish smoothly. It doesn't matter how experienced you are as a driver because there are differences between all cars and clutches.
Practice and familiarisation with your car should enable you to get it right.

 

[Invicta]

As Ron said, it's how all cars are. With my previous car, a little 1.0 litre Corsa, I swear you needed a PhD in Automotive Engineering to smoothly go through first and second. My A3 is far better but I understand how you feel still. Problems with having a manual I'm afraid. Especially annoying when you're in traffic and it does stupid sh*t like judder if you taking your foot of the throttle ever so slightly at very slow speeds or judder when you're going about 10ish and dip the clutch..

 

[Leevr]

Try taking the clutch pedal spring off. Get a more positive engagement.

 

[Damo S]

Having driven an 3.2 quattro with a totally knackered dual mass flywheel I can assure you that driving a manual S3 is a like a dream. But yeah it's not that easy to get it smooth, just requires a bit more clutch slippage, and it does lurch a little coming on / off the throttle in traffic in 1st especially. If it genuinely is really bad and incredibly lurchy that may indicate a failing / failed dual mass flywheel. I'd take it to a specialist and get them just to check it over as hoepfully they will know how the car is supposed to feel.
I wouldnt bother taking it to Audi though. I asked them to look at my old 3.2 to see if the dual mass flywheel was shot and they just said "possible dual mass flywheel fault £1800 to investigate and fix" amongst about another 2 grands worth of suggested repairs, none of which needed doing in the next 5 years of ownership.

 

[gregpot2000]

I have the same issue with my 2016 A4, noticed it since I bought it with only 16k on it. Very hard to change gear without a clunk as you release the clutch, giving the car a jolt.

Audi want 500quid just to have a look

 

[Damo S]

If you crawl along in 1st gear and gently come on / ease off the accelerator repeatedly (like you would in bad traffic), does it make a clunk and lurch every time it begins to speed up / slow down respectively? Like there is something with some play in the drive train? If so then that does suggest it could be a knackered DMF

 

[JJ_2018]

I dunno maybe I’m making it sound worse than it is, there’s no clunking sound of any kind. I just feel when I switch to second from first it jolts a little. And setting off from a standing start isn’t smooth unless I hold the revs and the clutch - easing out very slowly for about 100 yards.

 

[Invicta]

I dunno maybe I’m making it sound worse than it is, there’s no clunking sound of any kind. I just feel when I switch to second from first it jolts a little. And setting off from a standing start isn’t smooth unless I hold the revs and the clutch - easing out very slowly for about 100 yards.

Are you applying the throttle whilst engaging the clutch/lifting your foot up to the bite?

I think for nearly everyone, people just learn to ignore it over time. Due to my profession, I get the opportunity to drive a lot of different vehicles and there are some out there that have absolutely atrocious clutches and would be borderline suicidal to drive in traffic but my Audi's is one of the best. One thing I would say is get the car going in first but drive along at about 6mph and see how many revs you are doing and then match or even exceed it slightly when you're starting off in first next time whilst engaging the clutch to the transmission; then do the same with second.

 

[selleym]

Redline change Redline change
Find it much easier to get a smooth 1st to second if I drive like a granny and change at low revs. I find the clutch in the S3 pretty hard to predict. From what I can remember the clutch is dampened making it harder to get used to how it will react.