Seems to stall easy

[houser]

Hi
I have a new 1.4l Turbo sonic. ( just 1600 miles )This is not my first manual shift car. I am 50 years old and have always driven stick. The car runs and drives great but is sure easy to stall on take off. or when hitting 2nd at to low of a speed. It doesnt lug it just stall. and has to be restarted with the key. No second chance bump start. Is that normal for these little engines. Do I just need to stay on top of the RPMs. Or do I have a mechanical issue. opcorn:
I hate taking carrs to the dealership for anything I can fix myself any ideas welcome
THanks
Mike Palmer,Ak

 

[dvn]

That's strange. I had no problem with stalling or even 2nd gear starts on the one I test drove.

 

[laborsmith]

Having experienced the same issue, I have determined the engine is lugging but dies before you feel it. The drivetrain is so quiet you do not hear it unless you are listening for it AND have the audio turned off. After about 1500 miles I seem to have adjusted as it seems to occur when making a left turn from a center turn lane and the driver ahead is hesitating. Rather than downshift, I just push in the clutch and rev the engine, by that time the driver in front of me has figured out what they want to do and everything is smooth once again.

Others may not feel this car is too quiet but I do, probably because I am used to shifting based on the sound of the engine. Once I change the exhaust I will post if it makes a difference.


Laborsmith

No problem here with second gear starts, it is moving from first to second then not being able to keep the revs up. At least for me. -- Laborsmith

 

[wingman]

Its just the car. It happens to me once in a while, just the other day in front my friends from the norcal355 crew.

 

[houser]

Thanks

Thanks For the feed back. Sounds like it might just be my old ears and size 12 boots causing the problem.

Mike Palmer, Ak

 

[oldertech]

I've got the 1.4 with manual, and I've not seen it. In fact, I've seen a phenomenon I've nicknamed called "lug protect." When I pull into my driveway, there is a slight hill. If I'm in second gear, and by all respects, should be lugging the engine with my foot off the accelerator Instead, I feel the "drive by wire" adding gas to make me go faster so it won't lug. I've confirmed this with the UltraGauge showing an opening up the relative throttle position. I figured it was a "nanny" programming in action.

OH, and I'm 51yrs old

 

[wingman]

I've got the 1.4 with manual, and I've not seen it. In fact, I've seen a phenomenon I've nicknamed called "lug protect." When I pull into my driveway, there is a slight hill. If I'm in second gear, and by all respects, should be lugging the engine with my foot off the accelerator Instead, I feel the "drive by wire" adding gas to make me go faster so it won't lug. I've confirmed this with the UltraGauge showing an opening up the relative throttle position. I figured it was a "nanny" programming in action.

OH, and I'm 51yrs old

Is that with TC and/or SC enabled?

 

[Sugardaddy2885]

I actually stalled twice in this car in the last 1500 miles and not once in the 80K in my Tiburon. I just figured I'm not used to driving a turbocharged car.

 

[oldertech]

Is that with TC and/or SC enabled?

Everything set at default. No lights come up on the dash indicating TC is doing anything through.

 

[AndrewGS]

Welcome!

I find that the car has no real feel through the pedals and it's easy to make mistakes, but I've only stalled it like 3 times.

 

[theenico]

I had a couple of those low speed stalls during the first few weeks i had my Sonic. There's not a lot of the normal noise and feedback warnings that my old VWs give. My $600 daily Scirocco had no radio and pretty bad engine mounts. The Sonic is unbelievably quiet and smooth compared to that car.

 

[Papasonic]

Yes, I have stalled mine 3 or 4 times in 1300 miles, but was too embarrased to mention it. I don't feel so bad now, knowing I'm not the only one this has happened to. Because our foot isn't directly connected to the throttle, the engine being so quiet, the low torque at idle speeds, all contribute to this issue.

I just attributed my stalling the Sonic, to being used to driving my GTO. It is very forgiving, and doesn't really care what gear it is in. About the only way to stall the GTO is turn off the key.

I will eventually adapt to the Sonic, and I don't think there is a problem with the vehicle; It just demands more from its operator than I am used to giving.

Papasonic

 

[Danny5]

7-8mph, thats the magic number. Shift into 2nd below 7-8mph and BAM. Dead motor. The old adage of if you're rolling, then 2nd gear, does not apply with this car.

 

[Timesgodjillion]

I have the 1.8 manual, which I've heard is a bit louder, and haven't stalled it once in 1575 miles. And that's coming from a '90 Eclipse turbo with an extremely tough clutch and a very low point where the clutch engages from the floor.

 

[rodslinger]

7-8mph, thats the magic number. Shift into 2nd below 7-8mph and BAM. Dead motor. The old adage of if you're rolling, then 2nd gear, does not apply with this car.

That's exactly what I did on a test drive. Stalled it in the dealer parking lot also just pulling out of a space. My daily driver is an 06 Sentra Spec-V and was used to having that low end torque to just go. Usually drive 1st, 3rd to 6th gear in light traffic. Couldn't get away with that on the Sonic. Loved the car though. Eyeing it closely for my next replacement.

 

[Gimpster]

I've stalled my car a couple times at really weird times too.... like honestly I think its a PCM programming issue. I say that because I pressed the clutch in at say 900 RPM and it went ahead and just (no sputtering or anything) "floated" to 0 RPM.

I've driven manuals my entire driving life and never stall my other vehicles.

 

[houser]

Not the only one

Well looks like Im not the only one to have this problem. The car is a bit to quiet for a manual shift. Ill try and get used to it some more before I take it to the dealership. Might need an aftermarket intake to make a little more engine noise.

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

Having a louder intake/exhaust will definitely help you catch it starting to stall before its to late. I have driven a handful of manual cars in my short life so far and none of them have been a bigger PITA than my bros 05 Cobalt SS. I've been driving his car for almost 9 months now since i sold my supercharged Grand Prix and up until recently i would stall it regularly(every other day). This is the only car i have ever had issues like that with since it has a hydrolic clutch with no feel and grabs kinda high. Like you guys have described when it starts stalling it drops fast and silently then you need to be alert to put the clutch in quickly. After that though the RPM's bounce up and down for a second or two and you will end up surging and bouncing the car off the clutch springs if your not carefull. To defend myself a bit i have been driving a manual car for about 8 years now and i know how to drive well. These small 4 cyl engines with small clutches and lighter flywheels stall much faster and with less warning than the old V8's, but all can be learned with time. My 78 Camaro Z is the easiest manual ever to drive, that car will never stall.

 

[laborsmith]

I said I would come back to this thread after the new exhaust was installed.

Put the DDMWorks cat back with resonator on this morning, drove it around for an hour, do not think I need worry about stalling any more, very good deep and throaty sound especially at low rpm. After I have driven a few hundred miles I will probably put a review up.


Laborsmith

 

[Thaifight-R]

7-8mph, thats the magic number. Shift into 2nd below 7-8mph and BAM. Dead motor. The old adage of if you're rolling, then 2nd gear, does not apply with this car.

I take it you guys are releasing the clutch completely at this speed?

I noticed that without adding gas (So only using the clutch), the car can roll 1-5mph in first gear, and then 6-10 mph on second gear.
About 6-7mph, I'll let off the clutch slowly.

Yeah, I've stalled my Sonic plenty of times. XD
Sometimes, I don't even realize that I've stalled the car since it is so quiet.
LOL