[Cleviloff]

Hey y'all. I have a 2001 Ford Mustang GT Premium (Not modded but tech mods soon to come!) with 121000 miles. I was cleaning my car today and i was looking at the break disks when i saw rust along the rims. I dont know if this is the reason, but my car has a faint clunking noise when i drive and shifting is slightly difficult. I dont know too much about cars, but perhaps this is because of my lack of skills with reversing (How do you reverse a stick correctly) and my lack of knowledge as when to shift (What rpm). If anyone has any advice, please help me!

[tommy93]

first off. i doubt the rust on your rims has anything to do with your shifts.
second, when you reverse, normally you dont need to travel great distances, so you basically just play with the clutch to get get the distance you need (or at least thats what i do) only on rare occasions have i ever fully released the clutch pedal when i use reverse.
and if im just cruising throughout town i shift at 2000-2500, i only shift past 3000 if im trying to really get on it

oh and about that faint clucnking noise, maybe swap your transmission oil with some new stuff

[Cleviloff]

Originally Posted by tommy93 first off. i doubt the rust on your rims has anything to do with your shifts. second, when you reverse, normally you dont need to travel great distances, so you basically just play with the clutch to get get the distance you need (or at least thats what i do) only on rare occasions have i ever fully released the clutch pedal when i use reverse. and if im just cruising throughout town i shift at 2000-2500, i only shift past 3000 if im trying to really get on it oh and about that faint clucnking noise, maybe swap your transmission oil with some new stuff

Well about the rust, the brakes are sometimes slow and squeaky. I know the springs in the back are rusty and need replacement but i am too young to afford that! I need someone to come look at my car and help me out

[NO4NTOY]

i have a 2002 GT I shift between 1500-2000 RPMs. If you want to drive it like a granny to save gas (which i do all the time) you can shift at 1300-1500 RPMs. And of course shift at higher RPMs when you want to get down on it. Reversing like said above you dont really get completely off the clutch before throwing in first and taking off.

[Cleviloff]

What is the correct way to shift as not to get weird noises/bumping? I just learned stick and i feel like i am pretty good at it (I can go from 1st to 3rd and 0-60 in 6 seconds) but i am a newbie (Im just a teenager) so i got to get this down

[blueAsmurf]

shifting below 4 grand is for sissys

[Fluffy The Rhino]

Reverse with these transmissions tend to be a bitch from time to time. Don't know why.

[Cleviloff]

Ya i know what you mean! Also going VERY slow is difficult sometimes

[Thumbie]

You'll get the hang of it eventually, to the point where you'll hardly ever look at your dashboard. And you will get a feel for it. At least your transmission doesn't have a safety stop over the reverse. Mine is supposed to have an electronically activated gate prevent accidental shifts...but that was never hooked up so I have to muscle it past.

[Cleviloff]

Wait...i do have the safety thingy...i cant go from 5th into reverse so thats a plus...i think

[Cleviloff]

You know what, i have come to the conclusion that my car is just a beast and sometimes the beast will get a little worn out. The strange stuff went away now

[NO4NTOY]

Where were you hearing the strange noise from? If your shifting at low RPMs these cars will shake and raddle but that should be the only strange noise or stuff that comes out of shifting.

[Thumbie]

Originally Posted by Cleviloff Wait...i do have the safety thingy...i cant go from 5th into reverse so thats a plus...i think

Well theres that. But what I was talking about is since I have a 6-speed, there is a safety to prevent shifting from 4th to reverse instead of 5th. reverse is right and up for me, next to 5th. Most cars with a 6th speed you have to pull up or push down on the shifter in order to go into reverse, mine you were supposed to press a electronic button but it was never installed

[Cleviloff]

The noise is from what seems like under the center console/engine but im not positive. Its a very faint clunking noise that sounds as if something is swinging and hitting something else