Did we ever figure out that low rpm, 6th gear stutter?

Good thing I'm not the only one having this type of issue. When I'm accelerating or passing on 6th gear at around 2k rpm's, there will always be a stutter. It actually happens not just on 6th gear, it happened to me on 5th several times on at about 1750-2250 rpm's and once in 4th gear at around 2k rpm's.

My solution, don't accelerate on those gears at those rpm's. Never had the stutter anymore.

That's basically been my solution as well, though I've had the stutter in 3rd gear as well as 5th and 6th. It always seems related to low rpms and heavy throttle applications, so I drive to avoid that.....but it's tough knowing you've got 280ft lbs to lug that chassis around with at low rpms and it does it SO well save for the occasional stutter.

I was just reading that flogging the engine ... doing wot runs etc below 3000 rpm's is really bad for a turbo engine (this one in particular) ... it can result in pre-detonation (engine knock) ... reduce engine life and so on ... I have heard this comment about flogging so many times by so many different members ... I accept it now as "true" ...when passing I will go into 5th gear and bring up the RPM's to higher levels ... 6th gear is for "soft peddel engagement" only ... the suggestion is that flogging is "hard on the internals" ... I have to admit I was NOT aware of this until reading the forum ... I NEVER pass in 6th gear ... I have a 2008 and have no such hesitation ... I was thinking that there was a TSB for this ... Fuel Pump???

It only happens to me if it's around 2k rpm's and below. Above that it's fine. If I drive in the city, I don't rev it that much, pretty much stay between 1750 and 2500. On the highway, I always stay above 2250. Passing really hard, I have to downshift where it'll stay close to 3k.

Many feel that this was attributable to a drop in pressure at the fuel rail which I believe (it was awhile ago) was attributable to a voltage issue at the fuel pump. Mazda issued a TSB on this. I had my pump replaced under warranty after numerous attempts to fix this. The problem went away. It has been about 18k miles since and no stutter after getting it on a regular basis.

You can also do non oem pump upgrades. Some of the vendors here have the high pressure pumps. But if you have a responsible dealer you can ferret out the TSB and explain that you would like it fixed.

Of course leaks pre or post turbo could contribute to this as well.

Shouldn't be accelerating in 6th at 2k anyway. Where did you learn to drive stick?

[quote author=Ryz link=topic=134316.msg3012954#msg3012954 date=1237859628]
Shouldn't be accelerating in 6th at 2k anyway. Where did you learn to drive stick?
[/quote]

Hahaha very true.

[quote author=Ryz link=topic=134316.msg3012954#msg3012954 date=1237859628]
Shouldn't be accelerating in 6th at 2k anyway. Where did you learn to drive stick?
[/quote]
+1
Solution is to downshift. I won't even ride in 6th unless I'm at 2500 or better.

With this car's power you can pass or accelerate at around 2K rpm's. I did it on previous cars and the car is not stuttering.

I'm not advising it nor I do it a lot but ever since I got this car, you shouldn't pass hard with 2K rpm's.

By the way, I learned to drive in a manual when I was 13. Only driven an auto (personal car) for about 5 years and driven manuals all my driving life.

What is TSB, like a recall or something? I'm a noob to this new car thing hahaha I just bought an 09 MS3 and I noticed that right off the bat.

Yup, my point is the stutter shouldn't happen, even at 2K rpm's. But I guess, it's just the character of this car.

yeah, ditto here every other car I have driven that had decent power and gearing, accelerating in top gear is not an issue at low rpm. this car has a schizo ecu. You can run a vette all the way to 180mph, starting off in 6th gear with no problems. I run 94 and the stutter seems to happen less. anyone's guess as to why is as good as mine. I downshift to 5th for the most part, unless I am at a min of 2500 in 6th,...but you shouldn't have to

I had this stutter happen a couple weeks ago, and now my vacuum levels are jumping all over the place. Before I would never move from like -20.67 until I step on it a bit, but now it seems like i'm almost going into boost while under low throttle. When I get a chance i'm gonna go to the dealer. Just have to take my intake off first, so that they don't try and say that's the issue.

[quote author=dirtychoncho link=topic=134316.msg3075062#msg3075062 date=1240356585]
I had this stutter happen a couple weeks ago, and now my vacuum levels are jumping all over the place. Before I would never move from like -20.67 until I step on it a bit, but now it seems like i'm almost going into boost while under low throttle. When I get a chance i'm gonna go to the dealer. Just have to take my intake off first, so that they don't try and say that's the issue.
[/quote]

Ever check all your clamps? pre and post? No cels I take it?

[quote author=zzoomp09 link=topic=134316.msg3071516#msg3071516 date=1240244239]
Yup, my point is the stutter shouldn't happen, even at 2K rpm's. But I guess, it's just the character of this car.
[/quote]

Any car I've owned with less than a v8 will do it, not sure what you've been driving. You shouldn't have any car or truck in it's highest gear below it's powerband, it's common stick sense.

your lugging the motor, try reading up on it
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=sQw&q=lugging+engine&btnG=Search

[quote author=Ryz link=topic=134316.msg3076011#msg3076011 date=1240401634]
[quote author=zzoomp09 link=topic=134316.msg3071516#msg3071516 date=1240244239]
Yup, my point is the stutter shouldn't happen, even at 2K rpm's. But I guess, it's just the character of this car.
[/quote]

Any car I've owned with less than a v8 will do it, not sure what you've been driving. You shouldn't have any car or truck in it's highest gear below it's powerband, it's common stick sense.
[/quote]

Yes, I agree. But the stutter we're talking about is not the stutter you're talking about. I can probably call the "common stick sense" for gear powerband range you're saying as "engine jerking". Yes, engine will jerk if the highest gear is out of its powerband. But for this car's 6th gear, at 2K rpm's car won't stutter, only when you try to accelerate. And it doesn't happen as soon as you hit the gas pedal, it happens after you've increased speed a bit. Let's say, about 3-5 mph.

6th gear at 2K rpm's is still within the powerband for that gear. I could understand that it's bad if you go below 2K though, as you really feel it from the engine

I have no CEL, dashhawk is what alerted me to the boost/vacuum level change immediately after the stutter occured. I tried resetting the ecu, but it still happens. So i'm taking it in next week.

my 30 year old datsun has never studdered like this under load at low rpm. but then again, strangely enough, tripple webbers seem to be easier to tune than this car.