Shifting Down

Scotty Mak · 12-09-2005, 09:19 PM

Hey guys...this may be a dumb question but my Civic is the first Manual Tranny I've ever driven so I have to ask.

I find that when I'm slowing down to come to a stop light, it's usually hard to shift down from second to first..is this normal? And I don't mean that it's a hard task and my brain can't do it..but that It's physically hard to do and the car almost won't let me.

Could it be doing that because it's still new..?

honda93 · 12-09-2005, 11:43 PM

The ratio spread from second to first is great enough that unless you blip the throttle to match revs, yes, it will be difficult and if you literally force the issue, you would be doing bad things to your transmission... Besides, it isn't a semi you're driving and you don't need the engine braking that badly. So STOP THAT!

As an aside, the car has the ability to pull (though not terribly strongly) from about 8-10mph in second and it will go to about 60 in that gear. So second is very versatile and all but eliminates the need to go to first while the car is moving.

BrettStah · 12-09-2005, 11:46 PM

If you're going faster than 5 MPH, don't downshift from 2nd to 1st. Once your speed drops to about 5 MPH, you'll find shifting to 1st suddenly becomes easier.

***Jrfish007*** · 12-10-2005, 03:57 PM

Down shifting eats your clutch, your brakes eat your brake pads. Pads are far cheaper than a new clutch.

Scotty Mak · 12-13-2005, 09:10 PM

Boy Don't I feel Dumb...thanks for the advice guys!

r3dlin3 · 12-19-2005, 09:17 AM

Um...yeah. So Scotty, what I usually do when coming to a stop is downshift from 2nd to neutral, step on the brake to stop. Or you can downshift into first while holding the clutch...but, I don't think anyone really does that.

Yeah, so downshift to neutral and stop. Just wanted to mention that because no one really told you what you should do.

***Jrfish007*** · 12-19-2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty Mak

Boy Don't I feel Dumb...thanks for the advice guys!

I used to down shift all the time too, until a mechanic told me that.

aznchzexr · 12-22-2005, 06:56 PM

never downshift into 1st!!

..has a lockout anyways...

i usually only downshift from 3rd - 2nd , depending on the situation .....more traffic just pop it into neutral and brake

Alphi · 12-22-2005, 10:38 PM

Yes, never downshift into first. It is possible but not safe. The only reason why you would need to downshift into first is when your at a complete stop. Some cars aren't synchronized in first, so be careful to not force it in.

caexmt · 12-24-2005, 12:30 PM

What's so dangerous about downshifting into first? There's another thread talking about the first gear lockout but I'm still a little skeptical as to whether it exists. I commonly shift down to first when I'm under ~12 mph if traffic slows to that speed and then speeds up without coming to a stop. To test the first gear lockout, I shifted into first while going 65 mph on the freeway. Of course, I did not release the clutch; I just wanted to see if I was locked out but I was able to shift into first easily at 65 mph.

***Jrfish007*** · 12-27-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caexmt

What's so dangerous about downshifting into first? There's another thread talking about the first gear lockout but I'm still a little skeptical as to whether it exists. I commonly shift down to first when I'm under ~12 mph if traffic slows to that speed and then speeds up without coming to a stop. To test the first gear lockout, I shifted into first while going 65 mph on the freeway. Of course, I did not release the clutch; I just wanted to see if I was locked out but I was able to shift into first easily at 65 mph.

I have seen a civic I can easily shift in to 1st at 65 MPH yet

skittleslegend · 12-27-2005, 02:02 PM

k, so I'm late as usual. But I shift into neutral when coming to a stop. Unless it's winter...then I'll shift from 2nd, brake slowly until I'm under 5 mph, and shift to 1st. Some resistance from the lower gears is helpful when it's snowy/icy.

12-09-2005, 09:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scotty Mak Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Age: 26 Posts: 37 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Shifting Down Hey guys...this may be a dumb question but my Civic is the first Manual Tranny I've ever driven so I have to ask. I find that when I'm slowing down to come to a stop light, it's usually hard to shift down from second to first..is this normal? And I don't mean that it's a hard task and my brain can't do it..but that It's physically hard to do and the car almost won't let me. Could it be doing that because it's still new..?

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12-09-2005, 11:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
honda93 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Property Tax Hell... NJ Age: 34 Posts: 1,011 iTrader: 2 / 100%	The ratio spread from second to first is great enough that unless you blip the throttle to match revs, yes, it will be difficult and if you literally force the issue, you would be doing bad things to your transmission... Besides, it isn't a semi you're driving and you don't need the engine braking that badly. So STOP THAT! As an aside, the car has the ability to pull (though not terribly strongly) from about 8-10mph in second and it will go to about 60 in that gear. So second is very versatile and all but eliminates the need to go to first while the car is moving.

12-09-2005, 11:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
BrettStah Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 14 iTrader: 0 / 0%	If you're going faster than 5 MPH, don't downshift from 2nd to 1st. Once your speed drops to about 5 MPH, you'll find shifting to 1st suddenly becomes easier.

12-10-2005, 03:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Jrfish007* STIG: a tamed race driver Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 1,631 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Down shifting eats your clutch, your brakes eat your brake pads. Pads are far cheaper than a new clutch.

12-13-2005, 09:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scotty Mak Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Age: 26 Posts: 37 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Boy Don't I feel Dumb...thanks for the advice guys!

12-19-2005, 09:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
r3dlin3 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bay Area California Posts: 187 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Um...yeah. So Scotty, what I usually do when coming to a stop is downshift from 2nd to neutral, step on the brake to stop. Or you can downshift into first while holding the clutch...but, I don't think anyone really does that. Yeah, so downshift to neutral and stop. Just wanted to mention that because no one really told you what you should do.

12-22-2005, 06:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
aznchzexr Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brampton, ON Age: 24 Posts: 2,784 Chester iTrader: 0 / 0%	never downshift into 1st!! ..has a lockout anyways... i usually only downshift from 3rd - 2nd , depending on the situation .....more traffic just pop it into neutral and brake

12-22-2005, 10:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Alphi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 162 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yes, never downshift into first. It is possible but not safe. The only reason why you would need to downshift into first is when your at a complete stop. Some cars aren't synchronized in first, so be careful to not force it in.

12-24-2005, 12:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
caexmt Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 45 Posts: 32 iTrader: 0 / 0%	What's so dangerous about downshifting into first? There's another thread talking about the first gear lockout but I'm still a little skeptical as to whether it exists. I commonly shift down to first when I'm under ~12 mph if traffic slows to that speed and then speeds up without coming to a stop. To test the first gear lockout, I shifted into first while going 65 mph on the freeway. Of course, I did not release the clutch; I just wanted to see if I was locked out but I was able to shift into first easily at 65 mph.

12-27-2005, 02:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
skittleslegend Senior Member Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stowe, Vermont Age: 23 Posts: 7,825 iTrader: 1 / 100%	k, so I'm late as usual. But I shift into neutral when coming to a stop. Unless it's winter...then I'll shift from 2nd, brake slowly until I'm under 5 mph, and shift to 1st. Some resistance from the lower gears is helpful when it's snowy/icy.