Okay, this is what i would recommend, i haven't driven a KJ stick yet, mainly because i can't find one to drive, But every other manual tranny car, i've driven, i've been able to start it without giving it gas. So find yourself a parking lot and just try starting it a few times without using the gas, you'll be sure to find the friction point this way. i've taught lots of people how to drive a stick this way, they hated me but it works) Then since everyone says 1st gear is so low, try the same thing in Second gear. My personal Best is a 4th gear start


ABout rev matching, what you say you are having trouble with jerkyness, etc, you are either taking too long to shift or shifting way faster than necessary. since you basically have 2 spinning discs, the flywheel and the clutch, you want their speeds to be pretty close when you release the clutch. If you notice when you pop in the clutch and take your foot off the gas your rpms fall at a certain rate you'll want to release the clutch around a certain point. you know how in second gear at 20 mph you are at 3500 rpms (or whatever) then in third gear at that same speed its 2600 (or something), when you have your 2-3 shift you'll want to be done shifting by the time the rpms are around that 2600 number. THis is pretty hard to concentrate on doing, but if you don't think about it you'll end up doing it without realizing it.

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

Chrysler made too many of them, and they are getting near the end of their run, you can lease one really really cheap right now with the chrysler discount, $66/month for 24 mos.

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

Not to get off topic but I got my '02 limited for $17,000 brand new(only 3 miles on her).I love driving sticks but sadly in early '02 the only sticks avaiable where in 4-cylinder models,I like the auto better for the rockclimbing though,more control I think.The way I learned to drive a stick was my father took my 20 miles from anybody and the left me out there alone with his stick shift F-150 and said drive home!Like others have said try test driving another stick,it may be your KJ at fault not you.

I find a 2-4-6 3spd manual is just fine in the libby if you aren't trying to merge into bid city traffic. Even then, you may want to start in second. The only time you need first is when your on a hill....

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My opinions & advice are taken at your own risk.
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2002 Patriot Blue KJ - Coming soon!
2006 Black LJ (Wrangler Unlimited), auto, custom skids, 3.5" Rubicon Express, Aussie D30, Rocker Guards & Cooper AT3 235x85r16
2009 Patriot Blue D2500, 5.7L Hemi, 4x4, Quad Cab
1967 Alberg 37' Masthead rigged Sloop

i agree.. my 06 6 speed is often times a lot happier starting off in 2nd. All the jolts your talking about.. mine has none of. Def. drive another one like everyone is telling you.. if you have experience driving a stick you should love the liberty! it doesnt even shift like a truck.. much more.. car like if you ask me (except the real low 1st gear)

I agree with a big parking lot and practice, I learned how to drive a stick out in hay fields in two ton trucks when I was 12 years old, so it all seems natural to me plus have over a million miles in Peterbilts. Try just letting it idle and then slowly let out on the clutch with no gas and then go from there, sounds like you may be trying to take off too hard/fast. You should on level lots be able to take off and shift to second without giving it any gas. Second try starting in 2 nd gear the same way. 1st is really too low most of the time unless you have a load on or pulling a trailer. If you are trying to push it too hard it will shake shutter and jump around. Take your time. As far as slowing down and shifting that is something that unless someone rides with you and knows what to do its hard to explain. You just have to judge engine speed and wheel speed and match them. Dont try shifting without the clutch yet, you need more time. I never use a clutch after 1st gear but like I said I am old and have a bunch of miles under my *ss You can do it relax and enjoy the ride

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

MacAttack,
Considering all of your posts here, I think you ought to just take the bath and trade her in on an auto.....
Once the '08 Liberty's come out, I think the '07's will be very reasonable. Perhaps you could sell your current manual in the paper. But like said earlier, resale is much tougher for a manual these days(kids these days are spoiled I tell you, spoiled! Just kidding)
Good luck, take the bath and enjoy a beautiful Liberty in an auto...
Btw, my libby was 17,300 (+ 400 dealer prep) brand spankin new. The manuals really are a bargain
Steve

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'06 3.7 sport 6 speed (long live manual tranny's)
tinted windows, cruise, midnight blue
Mopar roof rack
Royal Purple Synchromax in tranny
Royal Purple Maxgear in pumpkins
Full mopar skids, front diff collar
Future mods: Rock rails, B.F. Goodrich all terains. (In my dreams: Frankenlift)

I'm not going to comment on the price that I paid for my liberty... But regardless, I love it


As far as driving a stick - you just need to be patient with it. Jerkyness is always a sign of someone trying to rush a shift. Slow down man, it's a Jeep not a Corvette (or Mustang in my case)

Don't worry about stalling because it happens to everyone in a stick. Even very seasoned Long-Haul truckers do it once in a while.

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

if he was closer i'd consider a possible trade, even after a year i still manage to shut it off in "D" every now and then.


I Can't stand my auto

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

You DIDN'T just compare a Corvette and a Mustang ...I know that you didn't. Damnit, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight .


Anyway, MacAttack.
Try starting with no gas.

Heel and Toe shifting (matching engine RPM with the tranny) is actually quite simple...sorta. The objective is to keep the engine RPM almost even with the RPMs when you depressed the clutch. Say that you were downshifting from 3->2. You're approaching the corner at 2500RPM in 3rd. When you depress the clutch, you're also taking your foot off the gas-a good thing-and you will see your Tach start slowing down while the speed remains constant. BUT, what you want to practice doing is "blipping" the throttle so that your Tach speed doesn't slow THAT much, infact, since you are downshifting, what you want to do is INCREASE your engine RPM. So-approaching a 2nd gear corner in 3rd gear @2500rpm. Foot off the gas depress the clutch, apply the brakes, HIT THE GAS (foot still on the clutch) so that your engine speed increases to about 3100rpm or so. Let the clutch out, slow the vehicle to the desired speed, move through the corner. If you were closer I would be more than happy to take you out for a ride to show you what to do, maybe there is a local Auto Enthusiast club that you could hook up with and someone there could teach you to drive a stick again? There's a VERY good article on Edmunds regarding the technique I described above, I'll see if I can find it for you.

I've been trying to do this rev-matching thing, but it's not too easy yet.
Downshifting to 2nd gear, no matter what speed I'm going, almost always results in a thunk.
I tried letting up in 1st with no gas last night and this morning, and I'm getting a better feel for the clutch now.

I think I would lose $3,000 on the trade in.
(If I anticipate a clutch replacement on my current Jeep that probably costs $1,500. The current rebate is increased $500 since I purchased mine). So if I look at it that way I only lose $1,000.

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2007 Liberty Sport
6-Speed Manual
Stock

You're not going to need a clutch replacement for years. Stop spazzing. You're used to an anemic GMC with an UBER worn clutch. Go on google and do a search for "how to drive a manual transmission", and take the advice that they give there. When I bought my 9-3 Aero, I was coming out of a 1990 Saab 9000 with about 170k on the clutch. It took some getting used to to adjust to the sport clutch in the Aero, but I got it and now I actually know how to drive a stick. You'll get it eventually, just hang in there. The $3000 you'd lose on the trade could be MUCH better spent on better tires, a lift, and some lockers.

does it stall when you do the no gas thing?

I'd master that then worry about the rev matching.

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

The 6-speed takes some getting used to but I really dig mine. You can analyze all you want about technique, rev matching, etc., but the main goal is to “drive” the thing and take command of it. There’s nothing wrong with the design of the transmission; maybe the ESP and other engine electronics are throwing you off, I don’t know. Instead of trying to rev-match all the time, just downshift, let the clutch out slowly (don’t “pop” it), and use engine braking to slow you down into a turn. Then, accelerate out of it, bring the RPM up to around 3,000 (or wherever you’re most comfortable), and drive it into the next gear. Starting in first can be fun as well. Sure the thing zips up to redline at 20-25 MPH, but that doesn’t mean you have to wind the thing out under full throttle. Drive it and get a feel for it. I can make mine clunk too; most people that try to drive it do. After 30,000 miles, I can make it do, pretty much whatever I want it to do. Don't pop the clutch and don't leave your foot on the pedal.

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'05 Liberty Renegade, 6-speed
'99 TJ Sport

Man, it looks complicated when put in writing, but I can picture how I used to do this in my old four-banger Honda. I'd just let it coast through the corner and eat up the speed and momentum without necessarily touching the break. Loved to take hard cornering and accelerating on the way out ...

Hey MacAttack, wanna trade with an '05 with some mods?

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

I have a 2004 columbia edition with a 5 speed manual tranny. I have driven the 6 speed and you should not have to use 1st gear only on a hill to start. Is this your first stick shift? You will find that a stick is better on the trails good luck!

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04 COLUMBIA EDITION
FULL FACTORY SKIDS
5 SPEED 3.7
148000 MILES
RUSTY'S 2.5 SPACER LIFT

I actually have owned a stick for the last 14 years, but it was not like this one.
I'm getting more used to it every day. The past 2 days I haven't really had any problems. I think the old stick is so ingrained in my brain, that I need a lobotomy to get it out. Anyway it's getting much better.

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2007 Liberty Sport
6-Speed Manual
Stock

I give you two more days

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

until he likes it, or says something else about it?

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+
My opinions & advice are taken at your own risk.
+
2002 Patriot Blue KJ - Coming soon!
2006 Black LJ (Wrangler Unlimited), auto, custom skids, 3.5" Rubicon Express, Aussie D30, Rocker Guards & Cooper AT3 235x85r16
2009 Patriot Blue D2500, 5.7L Hemi, 4x4, Quad Cab
1967 Alberg 37' Masthead rigged Sloop

Yep

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking