manual gearshift moves slightly when accelerating
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
manual gearshift moves slightly when accelerating
I have a 2001 A6 2.7T with the six-speed manual. In some gears, when I accelerate the gearshift moves forward very slightly. It seems most pronounced in fourth gear, also happens in third and fifth. The car seems to accelerate fine (no hesitation), but I'm curious if anyone else knows if this is a problem. I have never felt it on any other car I've driven. Thanks.
- adam
P.S. Yes I know you're not supposed to rest your hand on the shifter while driving.
- adam
P.S. Yes I know you're not supposed to rest your hand on the shifter while driving.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 0
Cars are not yet totally computerized, there are SOME mechanical bits left
There's all kinds of stuff spinning and whirring in your tranny, which your shifter is connected to. So some physical movement is to be expected.
Every car I've had has done this.
Every car I've had has done this.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,272
Likes: 0
Re: manual gearshift moves slightly when accelerating
It may be the normal engine torque twisting the drivetrain. Depending on the tranny mount points in relation to the shifter, it may translate the side-to-side twist into more of a front-to-back motion.
Elder Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 39,901
Likes: 1
only had a FWD car before?
FWD cars have their shifters on cables and so don't move. But before the rise of FWD, all cars (even puny torque-free Chevettes) had shifters that moved around as you drove the car.
In those days at least, if you removed the shifter boot from your stick, you'd have a great view of the tranny and the rods connecting it to the shift ****.
In those days at least, if you removed the shifter boot from your stick, you'd have a great view of the tranny and the rods connecting it to the shift ****.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Re: only had a FWD car before?
My previous car was a 1997 A4 quattro, 5-speed. I don't recall the shifter moving like this (actually I sold the car to my sister-in-law so I could check if I wanted to).
Previous cars I've driven have certainly transmitted vibrations through the shifter. I learned on a 1970 Volvo and the shifter (which was about four feet long as I recall) threatened to knock out any passenger who leaned down to tie their shoes.
But this is a more specific thing, a single small motion just when you accelerate. It does feel like the whole transmission is just "tightening up" as everything engages. But I've just never felt it before.
Anyway from other comments it sounds normal so I won't worry. Thanks!
- adam
Previous cars I've driven have certainly transmitted vibrations through the shifter. I learned on a 1970 Volvo and the shifter (which was about four feet long as I recall) threatened to knock out any passenger who leaned down to tie their shoes.
But this is a more specific thing, a single small motion just when you accelerate. It does feel like the whole transmission is just "tightening up" as everything engages. But I've just never felt it before.
Anyway from other comments it sounds normal so I won't worry. Thanks!
- adam
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
just compared 97 A4q to 01 A6q
I drove both them around the block. Not the place to do any hard acceleration, but the A4 exhibited a bit of the same behaviour. I noticed it more as the shifter moving *back* when I lifted off the gas in 3rd and 5th...it did move forward when I accelerated, just not in one quick jerk. I guess you notice motion while accelerating more since your hand is still in the vicinity of the shifter at that point.
The most amazing thing though was the difference in how the shifters felt while shifting! Maybe Consumer Reports was right to call the A6 manual "clunky". The A4 (admittedly a 4+ year old car) felt like you were sliding through honey. The A6 was more like a "clunk-clunk-clunk" as you went in to each gear.
- adam
The most amazing thing though was the difference in how the shifters felt while shifting! Maybe Consumer Reports was right to call the A6 manual "clunky". The A4 (admittedly a 4+ year old car) felt like you were sliding through honey. The A6 was more like a "clunk-clunk-clunk" as you went in to each gear.
- adam
AudiWorld Expert
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 25,178
Likes: 0
I was in the passanger seat of a 1970 Charger R/T 440...
With the big z-shaped shifter when the trans mount failed and the right side of the Hurst T-bar shift handle wacked me in the side of the leg - ouch!!!