Car is jumpy and boggs in first/second

[arthur92710]

When in first or second, in the driveway or parking lot, if I take my foot off the gas it gets jumpy. In other gears at higher speeds this does not happen.
For example I got into a parking lot today, second gear about 15-20 mph, foot lightly on the gas as I went in, had enough rpms to keep it going smoothly. Then going down a light slope I took my foot off, clutch still engaged, and it started jumping. I put it in neutral and it rolled smooth. Then put it in first to go around a corner, smooth with gas. Then I found a space, took my foot off the gas to roll in and it was jumpy. Its almost like abs just at a slower rate.

Anyone have this before?

[mb3000]

My sohc does this, usually it means that you are going too fast to just take your foot off the gas. Kind of like engine breaking in little spurts?

[arthur92710]

Exactly! So should I be in one higher gear then normal? Im new to driving manual transmissions. I have used engine breaking a few times. Going down hill I was in 4th at 40mph, my turn was coming up(left and up a small hill) so I pressed in the clutch shift to second (clutch still in) applied brakes to 30mph and released the clutch. It was a failed attempt. Car jerked. I think I took too long, rpms went down to idle, and I let the clutch out too fast. Need to learn to rev match for DS.

[mb3000]

If you drive a n/a than a good rule is anything below 40 a downshift into 2nd would give you optimal gearing, and anything above that into 3rd gear. As you drive your car more you will learn how fast each gear will take you, and then you can adjust when downshifting by adding gas when you let off the clutch.

[arthur92710]

VR4 here.

[arthur92710]

Important to fix? Hard to fix?

[mb3000]

Yes it is important, I have never done it so I don't know. And disregard the above because I don't know the vr4's gearing ratio.

[arthur92710]

Stock, solid or 3sx poly? I know the stock it good, lasted almost 20 years. I want to see this car go another 20. Will the solid end up ripping the car up. How long will the 3SX poly mounts last?

[arthur92710]

I'm guessing that's how I also got the exhaust leak.

[mb3000]

I'm guessing that's how I also got the exhaust leak.

Most likely.

[arthur92710]

That will be the next thing to fix. Hows the quality of 3sx poly mounts. Will they last 10 years?

[mb3000]

That will be the next thing to fix. Hows the quality of 3sx poly mounts. Will they last 10 years?

You could call or email 3sx about it and i'm sure they would give you an honest answer.

[Mean Green]

You should know that nothing on a car should last 10 years...unless it's babied.

[futurevr4man]

^^ i disagree. poly motor mounts are very capable of lasting 10 years if they are built of quality. i mean, i guess i understand what you are saying though, if you thrash the piss out of your engine 24/7 then no, nothing will last 10 years, but for normal driving with some fun thrown in, i dont see why they wouldnt last...

the motor mounts being bad sounds reasonable, but i would check and make sure before you just start throwing money at the car. manual transmissions are jerky at lower rpm's in general. i wouldnt say its a violent jerkyness, but its enough to spill a coke if you have it sitting in the cup holder (on a vehicle that has cup holders lol)

[mb3000]

^^ i disagree. poly motor mounts are very capable of lasting 10 years if they are built of quality. i mean, i guess i understand what you are saying though, if you thrash the piss out of your engine 24/7 then no, nothing will last 10 years, but for normal driving with some fun thrown in, i dont see why they wouldnt last...

the motor mounts being bad sounds reasonable, but i would check and make sure before you just start throwing money at the car. manual transmissions are jerky at lower rpm's in general. i wouldnt say its a violent jerkyness, but its enough to spill a coke if you have it sitting in the cup holder (on a vehicle that has cup holders lol)

:lol: I refer to them as can holders, which I feel is more appropriate.

[Mean Green]

I'd never expect something that takes constant abuse to last 10 years...man, that works in so many different ways

[arthur92710]

i would check and make sure before you just start throwing money at the car.
Ill have a look at them tomorrow, send an email to 3sx, drive the car around and look for some funds.

The original mounts have been on the car for 18 years, so I think they must have worked for at least 10.

[futurevr4man]

I'd never expect something that takes constant abuse to last 10 years...man, that works in so many different ways

HAHAHA nice.
but i still say if things are not thrashed they can last. my 93 wrangler has plenty of things on it that fall under this category, and i have even beat the piss out of it for the past 5 years

[arthur92710]

I looked at the one in the engine bay. It looks good. Is there a better test then looking at it? I could not get to the other 2 because I could not get under the car.