1st gear shift question

20civic07 · 05-29-2007, 04:25 AM

Okay well I know that the car wont let you into first gear if you're going at certain speeds, but mine is kinda weird. Sometimes being in second gear downshifting to 1st gear ( to slowly accelerate over a dip ) it wont let me into 1st gear, but sometimes at a higher rpm in second gear it will have no problem letting me into 1st gear... is this a problem or is this completely normal? it feels like a block that wont let me into 1st gear, which i know is normal, but the letting me into 1st gear at higher rpms i didn't know if thats normal or not. I am asking because i was going into vtec and redlined in second gear up to 8k rpms and shifted and it hit 1st gear on accident and i immediately pressed the clutch pedal and shifted it into third gear. so would this have done any engine harm? i think it probably hit like 8600 rpms or so maybe a little higher up to 9 k rpms, it didnt bounce the 9k mark though...

***GalaxyGreySi*** · 05-29-2007, 05:36 AM

Normally it should be difficult to get into 1st gear when you are at a high speed in any other gear. It depends on what speed you are travelling at when you try to put it into a particular gear, not what RPM you are at. The synchros have to spin the mainshaft up to the particular RPM - For example, if you are travelling at 80mph down the freeway, it'd be pretty darn difficult for you to get it into first gear, because the synchros would have to spin up the mainshaft to the equivalent RPM that you would be pushing in order to get the car up to 80mph in 1st gear

If for some reason you managed to get it into first gear, and you then let out the clutch, either the clutch would simply explode, or you'd break something internally inside the engine. Sorry if this was more than you wanted to know - to answer your question, what are you doing putting the car into first gear while at a high RPM in 2nd gear anyway??? Trying to break something? I almost never try to get into 1st gear unless I'm travelling at less than 5mph.

Tastycakes · 05-29-2007, 07:09 AM

About the sticky problem i get it sometimes sitting at a light. Pop it into 1st, bring it to 2nd for the hell of it (habit i need to break) and put it back to 1st and it wont go in, so i ram it, still wont go in, back to 2nd a couple of times finally goes in. In the mean time the SUV behind me is wonder why i'm raming my shifter back and forth lol. Ah i miss my T-56

dorkiedoode · 05-29-2007, 09:38 PM

For some reason if i put it in 1st gear even at 5mph it doesn't engage smoothly i would hear like a clunk sound. is that normal?

radiocontrolhead · 05-29-2007, 09:52 PM

You're rpms are higher up so it's likely your transmission is reving higher as well. It's easier for the syncros to work at higher rpms with first gear in this situation. It all depends.

dorkiedoode · 05-29-2007, 10:50 PM

but im only at 5mph that like pretty low RPMs i think it just my tranny. imma try to put AMSOIL in it soon.

LoverOfCivics · 05-30-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20civic07

Okay well I know that the car wont let you into first gear if you're going at certain speeds, but mine is kinda weird. Sometimes being in second gear downshifting to 1st gear ( to slowly accelerate over a dip ) it wont let me into 1st gear, but sometimes at a higher rpm in second gear it will have no problem letting me into 1st gear... is this a problem or is this completely normal? it feels like a block that wont let me into 1st gear, which i know is normal, but the letting me into 1st gear at higher rpms i didn't know if thats normal or not. I am asking because i was going into vtec and redlined in second gear up to 8k rpms and shifted and it hit 1st gear on accident and i immediately pressed the clutch pedal and shifted it into third gear. so would this have done any engine harm? i think it probably hit like 8600 rpms or so maybe a little higher up to 9 k rpms, it didnt bounce the 9k mark though...

Simple Lack Of Practice and/or Not used to The car.

05-29-2007, 04:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
20civic07 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,733 iTrader: 18 / 100%	1st gear shift question Okay well I know that the car wont let you into first gear if you're going at certain speeds, but mine is kinda weird. Sometimes being in second gear downshifting to 1st gear ( to slowly accelerate over a dip ) it wont let me into 1st gear, but sometimes at a higher rpm in second gear it will have no problem letting me into 1st gear... is this a problem or is this completely normal? it feels like a block that wont let me into 1st gear, which i know is normal, but the letting me into 1st gear at higher rpms i didn't know if thats normal or not. I am asking because i was going into vtec and redlined in second gear up to 8k rpms and shifted and it hit 1st gear on accident and i immediately pressed the clutch pedal and shifted it into third gear. so would this have done any engine harm? i think it probably hit like 8600 rpms or so maybe a little higher up to 9 k rpms, it didnt bounce the 9k mark though... Last edited by 20civic07; 05-29-2007 at 04:38 AM.

05-29-2007, 05:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
*GalaxyGreySi* 280whp, 219tq, GReddy FTW Join Date: May 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 24 Posts: 4,238 Phil iTrader: 1 / 100%	Normally it should be difficult to get into 1st gear when you are at a high speed in any other gear. It depends on what speed you are travelling at when you try to put it into a particular gear, not what RPM you are at. The synchros have to spin the mainshaft up to the particular RPM - For example, if you are travelling at 80mph down the freeway, it'd be pretty darn difficult for you to get it into first gear, because the synchros would have to spin up the mainshaft to the equivalent RPM that you would be pushing in order to get the car up to 80mph in 1st gear If for some reason you managed to get it into first gear, and you then let out the clutch, either the clutch would simply explode, or you'd break something internally inside the engine. Sorry if this was more than you wanted to know - to answer your question, what are you doing putting the car into first gear while at a high RPM in 2nd gear anyway??? Trying to break something? I almost never try to get into 1st gear unless I'm travelling at less than 5mph. __________________ If you must whine about my Avatar, do it in this thread: http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35167

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
question on A/T shift knob?	wolfxkc	Civic Coupe And Sedan	8	05-28-2008 02:00 AM
Feb Shift Knob Sale From TWM!	TWM Performance	TWM Performance Short Shifters	4	02-21-2007 05:31 PM
5 Speed Shift Problem, gear don't "pop"	Way2Short	Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat	12	02-03-2007 07:37 PM
07 Problems	todsulli	Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat	33	01-29-2007 11:38 AM
Auto Sport Shift Question	Etrain	Civic Coupe And Sedan	4	12-30-2005 09:21 AM

05-29-2007, 07:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tastycakes Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Suburbs of Chicago Age: 25 Posts: 2,644 Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	About the sticky problem i get it sometimes sitting at a light. Pop it into 1st, bring it to 2nd for the hell of it (habit i need to break) and put it back to 1st and it wont go in, so i ram it, still wont go in, back to 2nd a couple of times finally goes in. In the mean time the SUV behind me is wonder why i'm raming my shifter back and forth lol. Ah i miss my T-56

05-29-2007, 09:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
dorkiedoode Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,388 Kevin iTrader: 6 / 100%	For some reason if i put it in 1st gear even at 5mph it doesn't engage smoothly i would hear like a clunk sound. is that normal?

05-29-2007, 09:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
radiocontrolhead Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, ca Age: 21 Posts: 2,927 Danny iTrader: 0 / 0%	You're rpms are higher up so it's likely your transmission is reving higher as well. It's easier for the syncros to work at higher rpms with first gear in this situation. It all depends.

05-29-2007, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
dorkiedoode Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,388 Kevin iTrader: 6 / 100%	but im only at 5mph that like pretty low RPMs i think it just my tranny. imma try to put AMSOIL in it soon.