Shifting into 3rd getting tough!

Hello All, I have a 2003 Murcielago stick shift. It has a newer clutch with less then 3k miles on it and has had some issues in the past getting it to easily shift into 3rd and sometimes 1st and reverse. Eventually it would not shift, so bad the gear shift knob broke off in my hand once while driving it. I had it towed into the dealer and was charged a fortune to replace a number of things including a cylinder? Not sure if I remember if they said master or slave. But I do remember they said it was a pressure problem?

 

Well after that it shifted very smooth. But not for long...

 

Now only a few hundred miles later. I am having a shifting issue again. Hard to get into 1st and 3rd and some times grinds into 3rd.

 

Any ideas? Feedback? Advice?

 

Or any mechanics in the Orange County California area that need some side work? My dealer is OUT OF BUSINESS.

 

I also have some other slight issues that need resolving on the same pass: Airbag coil spring to be replaced or plug checked for proper connection, rear wing light on, but working fine, front lifts go up and drops, need new battery.

 

Thanks!

jefflambo is a member here and could help you.

 

Hello All, I have a 2003 Murcielago stick shift. It has a newer clutch with less then 3k miles on it and has had some issues in the past getting it to easily shift into 3rd and sometimes 1st and reverse. Eventually it would not shift, so bad the gear shift knob broke off in my hand once while driving it. I had it towed into the dealer and was charged a fortune to replace a number of things including a cylinder? Not sure if I remember if they said master or slave. But I do remember they said it was a pressure problem?

 

Well after that it shifted very smooth. But not for long...

 

Now only a few hundred miles later. I am having a shifting issue again. Hard to get into 1st and 3rd and some times grinds into 3rd.

 

Any ideas? Feedback? Advice?

 

Or any mechanics in the Orange County California area that need some side work? My dealer is OUT OF BUSINESS.

 

I also have some other slight issues that need resolving on the same pass: Airbag coil spring to be replaced or plug checked for proper connection, rear wing light on, but working fine, front lifts go up and drops, need new battery.

 

Thanks!

 

Yes me and Grant are doing some side work here in the OC untill the new dealer opens then we both are going back to work there. We are doing the work to keep customers cars on the road during the transition. Please PM for more info.

Yes me and Grant are doing some side work here in the OC untill the new dealer opens then we both are going back to work there. We are doing the work to keep customers cars on the road during the transition. Please PM for more info.

 

 

Well? If this is the same Jeff and Grant from the original Lamborghini Orange County, then you are the guys that I paid to fix it already and it is happening again just a few hundred miles later. So why would I pay again for something that did not stick the first time around???

 

Can anyone out there advise...

Well? If this is the same Jeff and Grant from the original Lamborghini Orange County, then you are the guys that I paid to fix it already and it is happening again just a few hundred miles later. So why would I pay again for something that did not stick the first time around???

 

Can anyone out there advise...

 

At the timeof the repair we told you we would start with the cheaper of the items that may cause this problem, after bleeding clutch multy times the next step was the master cylinder rather then starting with the more costly items that can cause this issue. Not all repairs are black and white some

times you must eliminate possibilitys so its best to start with the cheep ones. Shame on us for trying to save you money. But feel free you can take the car any place you want for the repairs. Good luck and have a good day.

 

At the timeof the repair we told you we would start with the cheaper of the items that may cause this problem, after bleeding clutch multy times the next step was the master cylinder rather then starting with the more costly items that can cause this issue. Not all repairs are black and white some

times you must eliminate possibilitys so its best to start with the cheep ones. Shame on us for trying to save you money. But feel free you can take the car any place you want for the repairs. Good luck and have a good day.

 

that is just so wrong

if he was your customer you would need to get to the bottom of his problem not throw him under a bus and tell him see ya later.

that is just so wrong

if he was your customer you would need to get to the bottom of his problem not throw him under a bus and tell him see ya later.

 

We would have been more then happy to look at his car again for him but he would not even call or give us chance. We told him that was the first step in the repair that was about a year ago. If there was any thing we should have did different we would not have charged any thing. We did not build the largest service department by not giving the best in customer care.

We did not build the largest service department by not giving the best in customer care.

 

Jeff....you are a technical genius. You are the only person I trust to service my cars. You and Grant are second to none....period.

 

Pietro Frigerio stated that you are the best Lamborghini tech in the country but I already knew that.

 

Wait until I get the Diablo GT. You will install the Platinum exhaust and the secret BLACK BOX.

 

Jeff....you are a technical genius. You are the only person I trust to service my cars. You and Grant are second to none....period.

 

Perhaps the best customer service in the country. Although I must say Richard Schuman at Lambo Houston is up there with you.

Just thought I would update this thread.

 

So I had a guy that worked for the dealer that went out of business (Lamborghini OC) fix the car. Not only is it running better then it ever did, I found some very interesting things.

 

When I bought the car it had trouble shifting and did this revving thing where at a stand still the car would rev up to 5k RPM then fall to below 500, then rev, then dip causing it to stall at nearly every light. I had to learn to hold my foot on both the brake and the gas pedal at the same time in neutral at every stand still. HUGE PAIN in the ass.

 

When I asked Jeff and Grant about it, they told me this was a common problem with 03's and there was nothing I could do. His exact words were, "its a Wednesday car." as each one is different being that they are hand made.

 

Well David contacted me from this forum (if anyone needs his number, let me know as he was great!). He took the car. He told me the revving could be a dirty throttle bodies. I told him I paid Grants guys $600 to clean them with the big oil change they do. So when he took them apart he found at one time someone had dropped one throttle body taking a huge chunk out of it. He also found them to be so dirty they looked as if they had not been cleaned in years. He also found that the oil filter was dated before I even bought the car!

 

Next he found that my clutch fluid was so dirty and had air in it looking as if it had never been replaced back when I did the master cylinder repair. if in fact they even replaced it in the first place?

 

I had told Grant about a wing light error that kept coming on and they told me no issues were found. However David found the mounts were not aligned and even worse it was missing bolts.

 

The lifting system NEVER worked from the day I bought it. Grant told me they could replace the valves for $1500 but they still may not work. SO I never did it. David found it was a simple leak in the power steering that was causing it as they share some systems. Not only did he find the issue, but instead of ordering a very expensive hose, he is saving me some money by having one custom made.

 

So after all this, the car has never ran better. It shifts perfect, never revs on its own nor stalls out and more. Lamborghini OC must have not only closed down due to investment fraud but also billing for repairs that were never done!

 

All said and done, I am so glad David responded to this thread as the car has NEVER ran this good and I trust him 120% with my car! Thanks David.

VERY interesting thread. Both sides seem reasonable however there are big discrepancies here.

 

Moving this to General Discussion for more input.

Just thought I would update this thread.

 

So I had a guy that worked for the dealer that went out of business (Lamborghini OC) fix the car. Not only is it running better then it ever did, I found some very interesting things.

 

When I bought the car it had trouble shifting and did this revving thing where at a stand still the car would rev up to 5k RPM then fall to below 500, then rev, then dip causing it to stall at nearly every light. I had to learn to hold my foot on both the brake and the gas pedal at the same time in neutral at every stand still. HUGE PAIN in the ass.

 

When I asked Jeff and Grant about it, they told me this was a common problem with 03's and there was nothing I could do. His exact words were, "its a Wednesday car." as each one is different being that they are hand made.

 

Well David contacted me from this forum (if anyone needs his number, let me know as he was great!). He took the car. He told me the revving could be a dirty throttle bodies. I told him I paid Grants guys $600 to clean them with the big oil change they do. So when he took them apart he found at one time someone had dropped one throttle body taking a huge chunk out of it. He also found them to be so dirty they looked as if they had not been cleaned in years. He also found that the oil filter was dated before I even bought the car!

 

Next he found that my clutch fluid was so dirty and had air in it looking as if it had never been replaced back when I did the master cylinder repair. if in fact they even replaced it in the first place?

 

I had told Grant about a wing light error that kept coming on and they told me no issues were found. However David found the mounts were not aligned and even worse it was missing bolts.

 

The lifting system NEVER worked from the day I bought it. Grant told me they could replace the valves for $1500 but they still may not work. SO I never did it. David found it was a simple leak in the power steering that was causing it as they share some systems. Not only did he find the issue, but instead of ordering a very expensive hose, he is saving me some money by having one custom made.

 

So after all this, the car has never ran better. It shifts perfect, never revs on its own nor stalls out and more. Lamborghini OC must have not only closed down due to investment fraud but also billing for repairs that were never done!

 

All said and done, I am so glad David responded to this thread as the car has NEVER ran this good and I trust him 120% with my car! Thanks David.

 

Very happy to hear that your car is running like a top. There is no better feeling.

 

Sorry to hear about your problems with the other guys, hopefully something good can come of this for both parties as I'm sure this is on the edge of exploding into some ugly three headed monster.

 

Most of the issues are going to be he said/he said situations however the one thing that sticks out is the oil filter dated back to the previous owner in spite of an oil change being paid for by Micah

Most of the issues are going to be he said/he said situations however the one thing that sticks out is the oil filter dated back to the previous owner in spite of an oil change being paid for by Micah

 

It sounds like a closed loop oil change system or something. where its hooked up to the machine that pumps out the old and pumps in the new oil, ala Jiffy Lube.

It sounds like a closed loop oil change system or something. where its hooked up to the machine that pumps out the old and pumps in the new oil, ala Jiffy Lube.

people do this to Lambos?

 

 

Besides the he said/he said there must be more to this story. You don't need to be a genius to figure out why a manual transmission is not shifting well and one of the first things i would do is bleed the clutch to rule out air in the line. Replacing the clutch fluid is cool but not knowing the mileage on the car it is tough to say if it was necessary and it isn't that expensive anyway so it sounds like a good idea.

If the problem still perists, there could be weak synchros but again not being around the car or being exposed to the problem it is really tough to diagnose on a discussion forum.

 

Not to doubt your word Micah, but i really find it hard to believe a reputable repair shop would be completely oblivious to a relatively simple problem.

Micah,

 

First I want to say that I am glad you feel that your car is now fixed, being it has only been a week since you had it repaired and the shifting problem used to take over a month to rear its ugly head every time we bled the system. But I am glad you are happy.

 

Now regarding your accusations of my service department that Jeff and myself ran diligently earning us the highest praise from both customers and the factory greatly upsets me. Never have we mislead a customer or tried to defraud anyone. Your accusing us of lying and cheating is unfounded and completely miss guided.

 

I am glad that David was supposedly able to fix your car this time. Since he was the technician who Jeff assigned to work on your car last time it was in when we replaced the clutch master. So he, saying that the fluid was never changed is ironic since he was assigned to do the repair. Regarding the oil change and throttle bodies, first off I don’t remember if you had an oil change performed since you bought the car so I can’t say that you did unless you can show me some paper work showing you did as I did thousands of oil changes and I can’t remember every car. If you did then the date on that invoice is the date that would be on that filter. The throttle bodies have always been an issue on 02-03 Murcielago’s. We would clean them for customers regularly to resolve the idle and stalling issues, so to say that I don’t know what I am talking about is outlandish on that issue. As for the lifting system, I would never tell someone that’s the way it is, and “it’s a Wednesday car”. Lifting systems in the early Murcielago’s are a problem. We worked on hundreds of them and replacing the pressure switches is the popular repair. Now this repair not always lasted and sometimes would only last for a few months and the system would require more fine tuning of those pressure switches. Replacing the hose that David did is also another common problem of early Murcielago’s. The hose itself will not fix the lifting system unless it was completely burst and leaking fluid everywhere. The hose is known to “weep” oil and start dripping over time. I can say that we replaced tons of hoses on Murcielago’s for oil leaking, but not for lifting system failure. My guess is David spent time playing with the adjustments on the high and low pressure switches and got it to function correctly at this time. We would do the same many times to cars to just have them return in a month or so with the same issue. Our bottom line was to replace the pressure switches with new factory set ones that came with a warranty in case of failure. But once again I am glad it is fixed, I hope it lasts.

 

Now let me address the issue about David, as David was a former technician that worked for us. I am sure David made a big list for you to through back at us to push Jeff and I under the bus in the blame game. Bottom line is David was laid off by me, so for sure he would like to make up whatever he can to disgrace myself and Jeff as he did not like either one of us and resented being let go. David was a good technician and I would have hoped that he would not have made up ridiculous accusations regarding repairs on your vehicle, but it sounds like he has. That’s all I have to say about him.

 

Let me just say that several of my former technicians from both OC and Calabasas have found themselves new homes and claim to be “Lamborghini Experts”. Truth be told that without Jeff or myself there to back them up they are merely technicians. In fact most of them to this day continue to call Jeff to solve their problems, yet they deny to acknowledge our existence when one of our former customers asks about us.

 

In conclusion, I am glad that you feel your car is now repaired. That’s great and I hope that it lasts and does not continue to malfunction again in several weeks, time to be tested. If in fact David did find the “smoking gun” on your shifting problem then great. I am sorry for the way that you feel about Jeff and myself, but truth be told that we never defrauded you in anyway nor made those ridiculous comments you are claiming. Like I said before Jeff and myself have worked very hard over the past twelve years to build the Lamborghini service reputation that we have. I don’t think we would be so highly regarded by the factory and customers if we acted in the way you are claiming.

 

For all the other Lamborghini customers out there, thank you for your continued support in these tough times. Jeff and I continue to work diligently to take care of your service needs in this time of transition and look forward to seeing all of you again real soon when the new Lamborghini dealer opens in OC real soon……

 

Hi Grant,

 

First let me say hello. I always thought you were a great guy and I surely do not wish to hurt anyone's ego's here!

 

I am quit positive if you actually TOUCHED my car with your own two hands, it just may also have run better then it ever had before!

 

What I am sure of, is the "DEALER" that is now closed due to the theft of millions of dollars. Appears to have also frauded it's customers as well. Even if they did not know this...

 

Now it is also clear why David (as well as many others) would be laid off, when a business owner knows it is about to be closed, as they owe a large sum of money and can't come up with it. Then gets put in jail. They lay people off. As anyone about to get caught, knows it's coming!

 

I also want to clear up another thing. DAVID NEVER BAD MOUTHED YOU OR ANYONE ELSE THERE. He (as ANY GOOD MECHANIC WOULD DO) clearly showed me the source of all my issues. Took detailed photos. Explained things in great detail and then fixed things as they needed to be fixed at an excellent rate. Of which I understand would be less then any dealer as he would not have the same insurance, labor costs, building, etc.

 

He also did tell me when we first spoke he remembered my car as he was the guy that put the shifter rod back on, when it snapped off due to it not allowing it to go into gear. It would be hard to forget a lambo with NO SHIFTER!

 

The proof is in the car. It NEVER ran this good! NEVER shifted this good! NEVER stayed running at a stand still 100%. The check engine light, airbag lights, wing light, where all on since I bought it. The list of issues goes on and on... (PS: to answer another post, it had 9,000 miles on it.)

 

Fact is, you did "say what you said" when I explained my problems at each weekly visit.

 

Fact is, when I bought the car, for 3 weeks it spent more time at your shop, then it did in my garage.

 

Fact is the belt shredded 3 times until your team got it right.

 

Fact is, it is hard to forget paying a bill for a $600 oil change, no matter how much money you make. I clearly asked if the oil was made of gold and was told, it is because a lot more is done over just changing the oil. Like cleaning the throttle bodies, changing the filter, etc. (It still revved and stalled at every stand still.) And yes, I was told it was because it was a "Wednesday car", not my expression, but yours...

 

I trust if you actually ever touched my car, it would have been fixed properly. but I understand that was not your job.

 

My assumption is, as ANY BUSINESS OWNER faces, when you deligate things that need to be done, not always are they done right, if at all. I am sure you are awair of this.

 

Now again, I think you are a great guy! I don't remember if I ever met Jeff. But I am sure he is too and knows his lambos. So I wish you the best and am very glad to have David for any futher issues. As it is now the first time I really enjoy driving my car and do not feel like I paid $250,000 for the bigest piece of crap any longer!

 

PS: If this post answers any mechanical questions about why an issues is happening and helps anyone fix the issue, this is the only reason I put it up in the first place. thanks!

 

M

 

Micah,

 

First I want to say that I am glad you feel that your car is now fixed, being it has only been a week since you had it repaired and the shifting problem used to take over a month to rear its ugly head every time we bled the system. But I am glad you are happy.

 

Now regarding your accusations of my service department that Jeff and myself ran diligently earning us the highest praise from both customers and the factory greatly upsets me. Never have we mislead a customer or tried to defraud anyone. Your accusing us of lying and cheating is unfounded and completely miss guided.

 

I am glad that David was supposedly able to fix your car this time. Since he was the technician who Jeff assigned to work on your car last time it was in when we replaced the clutch master. So he, saying that the fluid was never changed is ironic since he was assigned to do the repair. Regarding the oil change and throttle bodies, first off I don’t remember if you had an oil change performed since you bought the car so I can’t say that you did unless you can show me some paper work showing you did as I did thousands of oil changes and I can’t remember every car. If you did then the date on that invoice is the date that would be on that filter. The throttle bodies have always been an issue on 02-03 Murcielago’s. We would clean them for customers regularly to resolve the idle and stalling issues, so to say that I don’t know what I am talking about is outlandish on that issue. As for the lifting system, I would never tell someone that’s the way it is, and “it’s a Wednesday car”. Lifting systems in the early Murcielago’s are a problem. We worked on hundreds of them and replacing the pressure switches is the popular repair. Now this repair not always lasted and sometimes would only last for a few months and the system would require more fine tuning of those pressure switches. Replacing the hose that David did is also another common problem of early Murcielago’s. The hose itself will not fix the lifting system unless it was completely burst and leaking fluid everywhere. The hose is known to “weep” oil and start dripping over time. I can say that we replaced tons of hoses on Murcielago’s for oil leaking, but not for lifting system failure. My guess is David spent time playing with the adjustments on the high and low pressure switches and got it to function correctly at this time. We would do the same many times to cars to just have them return in a month or so with the same issue. Our bottom line was to replace the pressure switches with new factory set ones that came with a warranty in case of failure. But once again I am glad it is fixed, I hope it lasts.

 

Now let me address the issue about David, as David was a former technician that worked for us. I am sure David made a big list for you to through back at us to push Jeff and I under the bus in the blame game. Bottom line is David was laid off by me, so for sure he would like to make up whatever he can to disgrace myself and Jeff as he did not like either one of us and resented being let go. David was a good technician and I would have hoped that he would not have made up ridiculous accusations regarding repairs on your vehicle, but it sounds like he has. That’s all I have to say about him.

 

Let me just say that several of my former technicians from both OC and Calabasas have found themselves new homes and claim to be “Lamborghini Experts”. Truth be told that without Jeff or myself there to back them up they are merely technicians. In fact most of them to this day continue to call Jeff to solve their problems, yet they deny to acknowledge our existence when one of our former customers asks about us.

 

In conclusion, I am glad that you feel your car is now repaired. That’s great and I hope that it lasts and does not continue to malfunction again in several weeks, time to be tested. If in fact David did find the “smoking gun” on your shifting problem then great. I am sorry for the way that you feel about Jeff and myself, but truth be told that we never defrauded you in anyway nor made those ridiculous comments you are claiming. Like I said before Jeff and myself have worked very hard over the past twelve years to build the Lamborghini service reputation that we have. I don’t think we would be so highly regarded by the factory and customers if we acted in the way you are claiming.

 

For all the other Lamborghini customers out there, thank you for your continued support in these tough times. Jeff and I continue to work diligently to take care of your service needs in this time of transition and look forward to seeing all of you again real soon when the new Lamborghini dealer opens in OC real soon……

 

 

Very well put!

Oh yeah, thought this would be interesting to add. When I bought the car all the guys at the dealer told me they were the original sellers of the car when it was NEW, sold locally to ONE owner in Orange County and they did ALL the service since it was NEW.

 

Then months later I was driving and a small black box fell out from under the dash. It was a NEW YORK TOLL ROADS TRANSPONDER...

 

Hmmm...

lambo dealers arent exactly a dime a dozen, it could have been sold by them and sent to new york. But it wouldnt make much sense for them to do all the service now.....

I first would like to thank Micah for his kind words. I am also glade that I was able to help him out with his car.

 

As far as comments that were made about me attacking people and making false accusations of work that was needed on Micah’s car is untrue. My ethics and high standards that I try to hold myself to would not allow for me to do such things. I also provided to Micah photos with explanations of the photos and issues I found with his car.

 

In no way do I claim or consider myself to be an expert on Lamborghinis or any other car for this matter. I am constantly learning in all areas in my life and hope that I never get to a point where I feel I cannot learn any more.

 

My back ground before I came to Lamborghini O.C. was with BMW and Ferrari. With my back ground coming into the dealership I was used to focused on Gallardo. Of course I also worked on other cars as well and learned many ins and outs of other Lamborghinis.

 

I have over the years met many technicians and service managers that I have been able to learn from. I hope that the people I have worked with were able to learn from me as well.

 

I hold no resentment towards Grant or Jeff. In fact, I have talked to Jeff on the phone a few months back about how he is doing. I have no need to bad mouth anyone on this forum. I am currently working for a manufacture full time and the work that I do on cars for people is on my time. I have a skill that people may want to use and when I can, I try to help others out.

 

I hope that if you have a problem with your car that you have someone that can provide you with top rate service. If not and I am in your area feel free to contact me and I will do what I can to solve issues you may be having with your car.

 

David