Been doing some autocross with a bone stock C4S. Seems a lot of 2nd and 3rd gear turns in the way they set up the course. After a while my gear lever is popping out of 2nd. I'm getting 7000-7300 rpms when the gear lever pops out, since I'm still on the gas. Can these high rpms do permanent damage to the engine even though it is not in a wrong gear, as if one misses a gear downshifting.

Thanks in advance.

 

Since your lever is popping out from 2nd gear, this might be your more immediate problem. Potentially dangerous mid corner losing grip, hence losing car. High rpms generally do not hurt porches, although redlining in gear could be catastrophic. Around the track rev matching the engine speed to the transmission speed is common. When lever comes out you should notice immediately high engine revs, since there is no load. My advice, if lever pops out, clutch in, shift to 3rd to bring engine rpm down, clutch in shift down to 2nd away you go.

Happy racing.

 

Tanman, what year is your C4S? Is this problem restricted only to Auto-X driving, and not day-to-day? Beyond the RPM question, I'm wondering if your 2nd-gear popout issue is a symptom of transmission problems.

 

Thank you both for your advice.
Kirk
My C4S is an 04, with only 8500 miles. The 2nd gear popout shouldn't be a tranny issue because of the low miles. What I found doing auto X is that sometimes in haste , I don't get the shifter all the way in gear, that is why it pops out of gear. I'm stumped because the gear is engaged even though the shifter is only half way it's throw. I might try a short shifter, to see if my shifting gets better.

Rock
You must be a racer, great advice. I tried what you advised and it works very well. Hardly loss any speed.

 

Does the C4S have the same second gear pop out issue as the Turbos?