Exige S2 Gearbox
Discussion
Does anyone here find 2nd to 3rd upshift a bit "crashy"?
Try as I may unless I'm travelling at pedestrian speed I don't seem to get a "clean" change I'm thinking syncro problem but the car has only done 2500 miles and the problem is minor at present, I'm just fishing to find out if there is a history of this happening.
All other shifts snick in an any RPM just 2nd to 3rd causing me to wonder especially at higher RPM.
F.C.
Try as I may unless I'm travelling at pedestrian speed I don't seem to get a "clean" change I'm thinking syncro problem but the car has only done 2500 miles and the problem is minor at present, I'm just fishing to find out if there is a history of this happening.
All other shifts snick in an any RPM just 2nd to 3rd causing me to wonder especially at higher RPM.
F.C.
If you are on SELOC, have a look at this thread:
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=153765&... others have complianed of similar problems.
Some have had rebuilds on the box, others have mentioned that their was a dodgy batch of selector cables.
No problems with mine other than it's a little stiff when it's cold
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=153765&... others have complianed of similar problems.
Some have had rebuilds on the box, others have mentioned that their was a dodgy batch of selector cables.
No problems with mine other than it's a little stiff when it's cold
Big thread on SELOC Technical forum about it a few months ago.
A lot of cars have it. I don't think its a synchro issue because the "crunchy" type sound and feeling comes from the lever itself. Whereas if it was at the gearbox end (behind) you'd definately know about it.
Mine is like this:
1st - hard to get unless stopped or crawling very slowly
2nd - hard to get when car is cold in the morning but after that it is generally fine
3rd - never hard to get as such but almost always seems to be a unpleasant feeling when shifting into it. can reduce the bad feeling by shifting into it very slowly and positively
4th - not noticed any significant problem
5th - sometimes can have a bad feeling about it like 3rd but no where near as bad
6th - not noticed any significant problem. sometimes it is actually TOO easy to get into and makes it feel like a toy.
Reverse - PITA to get in the morning. generally about a 70% success rate. helps to cycle round the box first to "wake the cables up" and then go try for reverse.
A lot of cars have it. I don't think its a synchro issue because the "crunchy" type sound and feeling comes from the lever itself. Whereas if it was at the gearbox end (behind) you'd definately know about it.
Mine is like this:
1st - hard to get unless stopped or crawling very slowly
2nd - hard to get when car is cold in the morning but after that it is generally fine
3rd - never hard to get as such but almost always seems to be a unpleasant feeling when shifting into it. can reduce the bad feeling by shifting into it very slowly and positively
4th - not noticed any significant problem
5th - sometimes can have a bad feeling about it like 3rd but no where near as bad
6th - not noticed any significant problem. sometimes it is actually TOO easy to get into and makes it feel like a toy.
Reverse - PITA to get in the morning. generally about a 70% success rate. helps to cycle round the box first to "wake the cables up" and then go try for reverse.
Edited by NathanE on Wednesday 3rd December 14:33
Cable shifts with mid engined cars can often be a bit dodgy, and never as 'snicky' as a mechanical connection or, even better, a direct lever into the box itself.
My S2 Exige gearbox feels OK so far - not as positive as the VXT's box (I did shorten the gear stick on that car, which may have contributed to the quality of the change), but much more accurate than the S1 Elise and infinitely better than the Noble's (which was abysmal). Many issues can be resolved by adjustment of the cables.
I've only had the Exige for a week so still getting used to the 'box (still thinking I'm in my old VXT and getting sixth when going for reverse, doh) but other than the expected imperfect shift, due to cable operation to an engine behind me, certainly nothing I'd describe as 'broken', 'faulty' or in need of warranty rebuild...
My car's only done 5000 miles and I'm doing a 400 mile trip on Saturday so will give the gearbox good exercise and report back...
My S2 Exige gearbox feels OK so far - not as positive as the VXT's box (I did shorten the gear stick on that car, which may have contributed to the quality of the change), but much more accurate than the S1 Elise and infinitely better than the Noble's (which was abysmal). Many issues can be resolved by adjustment of the cables.
I've only had the Exige for a week so still getting used to the 'box (still thinking I'm in my old VXT and getting sixth when going for reverse, doh) but other than the expected imperfect shift, due to cable operation to an engine behind me, certainly nothing I'd describe as 'broken', 'faulty' or in need of warranty rebuild...
My car's only done 5000 miles and I'm doing a 400 mile trip on Saturday so will give the gearbox good exercise and report back...
It might not affect every yota engined car but it certainly isnt uncommon. Mine does it when cold, but as the oil in the box warms up it gets imperceptible. Odd thing is, though, that there is no crunch going from 4th to 3rd just from 2nd to 3rd. Which is what makes me think it isnt synchro - if it were, then the matching required of the synchro is significantly more from 4th to 3rd and there should be a far worse crunch.
Having said that it does feel like gear crunch and having been brought up on gearboxes with no synchro or only on top 3 gears - its something I know the feel of.
I reckon its a linkage issue. But its certainly nothing much to worry about.
Having said that it does feel like gear crunch and having been brought up on gearboxes with no synchro or only on top 3 gears - its something I know the feel of.
I reckon its a linkage issue. But its certainly nothing much to worry about.
My Exige S2 shift is perfect - 10,500 miles, 56 plate. Certainly no "expected imperfect shift, due to cable operation to an engine behind me" - the cables work excellently and are extremely precise. I had a slight problem finding 3rd for about the first 500 miles of driving, now I get every gear, every time. 1st can be a little bit difficult when cold but after a mile or so, no problems.
Some cars had the bad box but the Exige S2 shift is inherently excellent.
Some cars had the bad box but the Exige S2 shift is inherently excellent.
shangani said:
cyberface said:
better than the S1 and early S2 K-series engined Elises IME.
That's not hard. 
In standard form with the standard linkage, the PG1 shift is a bit like stirring porridge. A lot better with the uprated linkage though. Still nowhere near as good as the yota shift can be.
Which always confused me about the sprint Elises, the VHPDs and sport 160s - high revving fast-twitch b
ds of engines which thrive on keeping on cam... with the PG1 box? I haven't driven a Sport 190, surely the gearbox would be a right weak point in an otherwise razor-sharp set of controls, no?? 
So far through my limited experience of sports cars, the Exige S2 wins the mid-engined shift quality award
What would interest me is how the mk3 MR2 feels... same gearbox, Toyota engineered linkage. It's even stupendously light for a modern mainstream 'sports' car, isn't it under 1000kg? Obviously nowhere near Lotus light but Lotus define themselves by lightness and to hell with the compromises. Just funny that in a world of 1300 kg supermini hatchbacks and MX-5s, Toyota (who already provide engines for the definitive lightweight 'midengined runabout' itself, the Elise) build the third generation of their MR2 smaller and ultra-light weight (compared to the mk2, which was bigger and heavier).... ooops swerving off topic, it's been a very stressful day.... cyberface said:
shangani said:
cyberface said:
better than the S1 and early S2 K-series engined Elises IME.
In standard form with the standard linkage, the PG1 shift is a bit like stirring porridge. A lot better with the uprated linkage though. Still nowhere near as good as the yota shift can be. They sorted it on the M400
F.C. said:
cyberface said:
shangani said:
cyberface said:
better than the S1 and early S2 K-series engined Elises IME.
In standard form with the standard linkage, the PG1 shift is a bit like stirring porridge. A lot better with the uprated linkage though. Still nowhere near as good as the yota shift can be. They sorted it on the M400
The Noble was a bit too wide to really hoon around B roads - there was no margin for little slides here and there, or dodging potholes, cyclists, etc. cyberface said:
F.C. said:
cyberface said:
shangani said:
cyberface said:
better than the S1 and early S2 K-series engined Elises IME.
In standard form with the standard linkage, the PG1 shift is a bit like stirring porridge. A lot better with the uprated linkage though. Still nowhere near as good as the yota shift can be. They sorted it on the M400
The Noble was a bit too wide to really hoon around B roads - there was no margin for little slides here and there, or dodging potholes, cyclists, etc. The Noble was a bit of a handful compared to the Exige and was far easier to "get into trouble" with I found myself facing the wrong direction on a couple of occasions
Now that does surprise me - the Noble always felt a much bigger car all round... front end wasn't as planted as any of the Lotus varieties but I never found it a handful. If anything the extra torque made it easier to do small slides, though momentum oversteer was a nightmare, you had to be ridiculously quick to catch it 
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