I’m still new to driving a stickshift. I can not put it back in 1st gear due to the car being at 5mph, was slowing down for the red then changed to green.
I been told I can grind the synchronizer if shifted into 1st from 5mph.
So I lug 2nd gear up at 2,000rpm and it has some shuddering/shake. Is this normal?
Your vehicle shouldn’t be shaking at 2000rpm, as that’s still a normal range for operation.
In my experience with manual cars that are in good shape, they don’t struggle until they reach around 900rpm. They may not run optimally at 1200rpm, but they still operate smoothly, albeit slowly.
At 2000rpm, I typically shift up around 1600rpm.
If you rev match by blipping the throttle when shifting into first gear, it shouldn’t cause any issues. However, since you’re new to driving manual transmissions, I recommend practicing more before trying it.
If you’re not familiar with the technique of throttle blipping, there are plenty of resources available on it, including information in this subreddit and on YouTube.
I’m also fairly new to driving manual, but in my BRZ, it doesn’t start to shudder until just under 1,000 RPM in second gear, around 7 mph. It seems like 2,000 RPM is a bit high for the car to get unsettled. When I’m going 1-6 mph, I can easily shift back into first if needed.
That said, I’m still learning, so if I’m mistaken, feel free to correct me!
For your situation with the Ford, I suggest practicing how to downshift smoothly from second to first gear. The process is similar to any other downshift, but you need to match the RPMs accurately to ensure a smooth transition back to first without any jerking. Don’t worry; this won’t damage your car as long as you do it only when necessary. It’s especially useful when you’re trying to accelerate from second gear at 1,000 RPM or less, particularly on an incline.
I use this technique frequently in my ‘14 Ford Focus 5-speed.
Just be gentle with the gas pedal and gradually increase pressure if you need to accelerate. It won’t lug if you’re light on the gas until the RPMs rise back up to around 2,000.
This sounds like a torque mount(mount that secures the transmission to the subframe.) It sounds like it may be on its way out. I had this same issue with my 5 speed focus, and the fiesta has the same manual transmission as my vehicle does.