2012 Mazda 3 Manual - Jerky starts from standstill

[please2]

Hello, I just got a brand new Mazda 3 i Tourting (Skyactiv) stick shift 3 days ago. It is my first manual car and I'm not sure if I'm just not experienced enough or there's something wrong with the car.

I'm able to get smooth shifts from all gears except starting from standstill. It always jumps no matter how fast or slow or smoothly I release the clutch pedal. It even does this when I get moving without using throttle.

It connects the gear, the car starts rolling, and as I finish releasing the clutch the RPMs will drop and go back up, causing a jerky motion...

Most likely I'm at fault here by not having any experience but as I mentioned earlier, I am able to shift smoothly from all others gears (well, most of the time, but when not I know for sure it was my timing), but I don't think I've managed to get even one smooth start from a standstill since getting the car 3 days ago.

Is anyone else expericing this issue? Perhaps it needs to be broken in?

edit: also something else I noticed, that only happens when starting from standstill, is that sometimes the RPMs will drop briefly before rising as mentioned abve, and other times my RPMs will shoot up to ~2k and I would get a super quick start and relatively smooth start. Again, not much experience but I'm pretty certain it isn't because I accidentally pressed the throttle too hard (not sure though because it hasn't happened too many times)

[Frnchplayr15]

With the jumping sounds like your letting go of the clutch too early or not giving enough gas. Im just going off with what I picture in my head. And with the second part with the RPM's that's unexplainable since I have one of the 09.5 MZ3 and it does that sometimes

[mazdaspeedmyk]

Sounds like you're just learning stick. My MS3 is my first stick car too and it took me a couple weeks to be smooth in first. One if the things I did was to just slowly let the clutch out and see where gear engages, without giving it gas. This helped me know when to give it the gas. Keep at it and it should get better.

[jmaister]

takes awhile to feel the engage point.

I've learnt to only let the clutch in so that it grabs, until the car has gain enough speed then I let go slowl.

[black_itouring]

Hello all. I have had my MT Mazda 3 itouring for a week and am still adjusting to its shifting, despite coming from a scion with 5 speed and 30 years MT experience (VW, Saturn, Scion). Not smooth yet but I'll get there and so will you. First gear I think requires more increasing RPMs while releasing the clutch than I am used to. Still enjoying it though!

Sent from my MOTWX435KT using AutoGuide.Com Free App

[bbbwood]

I've found on the MZ3 that when you feel the clutch begin to engage, if you give it more gas, it smooths it out...

I, too, have many years of driving manual cars, and the MZ3 is a little odd when it comes to 1st gear...

[3i2011]

I learned on a Porsche 944S so when I test drove the MZ3, I was expecting a clutch like the Porsche had. WRONG! It's no where near as stiff but I still found the Porsche easier to drive. It has a gutted exhaust so its easy to hear what you're doing and I go by sound. I still cant really get the 1st gear start where I want it in the summer in my MZ3. I do better when its colder and the a/c is off. I'm also really good at it when I am in a drive through with the window down because the engine echos off the wall and into the car very nicely so I can hear exactly when it's engaging. I also like it when clutches have a very short engagement. I drove my neighbors Datsun 280Z which had a stiff clutch like the Porsche but an engagement like the MZ3. I also drove his Ford Ranger which had the longest engagement ever. Every car is different. You'll get there. I think we just have to let it out slower than we want or give it more gas than we want.

[please2]

lalalalala

[wingzero_]

I still jerk mine once and a while, so don't feel bad. I just blame my motor mount for it as it amplifies any vibration or jerk you can create.

[please2]

OK I found the problem. I was doing nothing wrong, the AC is messing with the transmission somehow!

If the A/C is turned on, I get VERY slow acceleration (especially from standstill. It's not only slow but begs to be upshifted to second before I even finish releasing the clutch pedal, and extremely jerky), the gears need to be shifted at least 1k RPM earlier than without AC, and jerky (non-smooth) gear shifts.

With A/C off it's a total night and day difference. It's just like what I imagined driving stick would be. Incredibly fun, total control, very fast acceleration, very SMOOTH acceleration and shifting!! even from standstill, and I can pump up the RPMs WAYYYYY higher before it needs to be upshifted. For example 1st it wants to be upshifted at about 2-2.5k with AC on (3-3.5k max, otherwise I can hear the engine is way overloading), with off it can easily go to 5k comfortably and takes off like a rocket.

Another problem with this is that if the AC is on, I have to let go of the clutch pedal much much slower, so it's a lot harder on the clutch as well

I did extensive searching online on jerky gear shifting on the Mazda 3, figuring I couldn't be the only one. I may be new to manual but I 'knew' I got the hang of it quickly and was doing everything right. I did come across just ONE person mentioning the AC issue (he said it's as if his car has two profiles, one with AC and one without) and today I decided to try it out. He was totally right. But now I can't find the post.

I scheduled an appointment with the dealer tomorrow to get the car looked at but I have a feeling they're going to shrug it off or say it's normal. I really don't know what can be done anyway.. sucks, because it's such an amazing difference. I feel like a race driver with AC off and immediately turn into a grandma that hasn't driven in 2 years with AC on..