Throttle issue on new 6-speed Willys

[GraniteWilly]

Hi folks, I just purchased a 2025 Willys 2-door with manual transmission. I didn't know about the heavy debate between manual and auto transmission on the JL until just now signing up for the forum. I chose the manual for the typical reasons (driving engagement, fun, nostalgia). So I was a little worried after reading all the bad press here on the 6-speed. The clutch definitely seemed a little mushy in the beginning, but I quickly got used to it and it seems fine now. I'm having a blast driving it. One thing that bothers me a little bit: if I punch the throttle pretty quickly while holding the clutch in, it doesn't respond well. It responds fine if I push down on the throttle a little more slowly, but when I blip it, it doesn't sound right. Is this normal? I come from mostly driving sports sedans where you can punch the throttle and get an immediate response.

Thanks!

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[Steve104]

If you blip the throttle while in neutral without holding the clutch in, does the engine then rev as your would expect?

 

[GraniteWilly]

If you blip the throttle while in neutral without holding the clutch in, does the engine then rev as your would expect?

No, even in neutral it does the same thing. I'm attaching a video. It's hard to tell just by the audio, but if you turn your volume up you can hear it. I did one slower rev in the middle just to differentiate a good throttle response from the bad ones.

 

[AK66]

That's a "drive-by-wire" thing. The electronic throttle control's brain is too slow to react, as opposed to the traditional cable control. Mine does the same and it was one of the JL manual transmission's schticks that took some time to adjust to.

 

[JL 2D]

No, even in neutral it does the same thing. I'm attaching a video. It's hard to tell just by the audio, but if you turn your volume up you can hear it. I did one slower rev in the middle just to differentiate a good throttle response from the bad ones.

Exactly what mine sounds like, it’s a ‘24. Thank all the emission laws and electronics. My 2020 with the same drivetrain didn’t have the same delay and weird throttle response.

 

[GraniteWilly]

Thanks guys. That's disappointing, but I guess I'll get used to it. I'm loving the driving experience nonetheless. It's so great to be back in a manual again. I feel like i'm DRIVING.

 

[gpassida]

@GraniteWilly We just took delivery of our 2025 2-Door Willy's 6-speed a few days ago. I noticed exactly that and was going to post about it too.

I had my wife stab the throttle while I listened in the engine compartment. That sound is a giant inrush of air drawn through the air intake.

It's doesn't seem to impact the actual driving experience. Or at least we're not going to stab the throttle that hard taking off...

After adapting to the soft clutch feel, she (and I) are loving the driving experience. She was driving a 95 YJ, a 97 TJ before that and I have an 82 CJ-8 Scrambler with a 350 TBI V8 swapped in. All manuals. I would hate this delay if it was on my Scrambler as the V8 with a Magnaflow exhaust is amazing sounding. The 3.6 V6 - not going to show off that exhaust sound...

 

[GraniteWilly]

@GraniteWilly We just took delivery of our 2025 2-Door Willy's 6-speed a few days ago. I noticed exactly that and was going to post about it too.

I had my wife stab the throttle while I listened in the engine compartment. That sound is a giant inrush of air drawn through the air intake.

It's doesn't seem to impact the actual driving experience. Or at least we're not going to stab the throttle that hard taking off...

After adapting to the soft clutch feel, she (and I) are loving the driving experience. She was driving a 95 YJ, a 97 TJ before that and I have an 82 CJ-8 Scrambler with a 350 TBI V8 swapped in. All manuals. I would hate this delay if it was on my Scrambler as the V8 with a Magnaflow exhaust is amazing sounding. The 3.6 V6 - not going to show off that exhaust sound...

Ha, you're absolutely right, not showing off the V6 sound or stabbing the throttle on take-off. That makes sense about the rush of air into the intake being the sound I'm hearing.

I'm glad you guys are loving your Willys. It's such a perfect middle ground between utilitarian and FUN. I had a 2023 Bronco 2-dr with Sasquatch package previously. I worried I was stepping down with the Willys, but there's a magic there that the Bronco didn't have. Don't get me wrong, the Bronco could walk over anything, but my involvement in the process was negligible. I also just love the classic look of the Willys 2-dr.

 

[m3reno]

I purchased the Pedal monster from Banks and it made the pedal reaction more normal. I tried other brands but the Pedal monster seems more natural.

 

[MegaZoso]

I replaced my exhaust on my manual 2 door willys to a borla . Sounds like a sports car. Zero drone. More peppy

 

[GabeBoyTheGreat]

Based on my personal experience, the sound is caused by the throttle body going from almost completely closed to wide open back to almost completely closed, so you get a short gust of air being pulled through the intake. My Camaro does the same thing.

As others have stated, there is a delay in the throttle due to the drive by wire system. My best guess is the system is trying to compensate for the delay by making large, sudden adjustments in the throttle body, and that's how you end up with the throttle body opening/closing suddenly.

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