Just looking through this forum I see people talking about shifting without using the clutch. Seems to me like a disaster in the making, but whatever. Most more learned people than myself seem to agree. My question: Is it OK to put the car in neutral when coasting to a stop without using the clutch without damage? I've done that on all my manual cars over the years and I've never had transmission problems. Just curious more than anything.
Putting MT into neutral?
- Thread starter wingnut
- Start date
$ub$onic
The Sticker Guy
You still use the clutch when " no lift shifting". You do not let off the throttle. I do not think the stock tune supports this though
I almost always pop it on neutral when coming to a stop. I also do not like holding the clutch in for more then a couple sec, but that's just me. I drop gears when stoping down hills.
No harm should come of it.
I almost always pop it on neutral when coming to a stop. I also do not like holding the clutch in for more then a couple sec, but that's just me. I drop gears when stoping down hills.
No harm should come of it.
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Foxbox
New member
What?
You're still using the clutch when performing a NLS, you're just not lifting off the accelerator pedal.
$ub$onic
The Sticker Guy
Hahaha, wow. How did I mess that one up.I knew that! This is what I get for browsing the forum early in the morning
Scot
Athletic Supporter
And this confuses the ECU because it estimates gear position by diving RPM / vehicle speed. pull it out of gear without the clutch and it had no idea you're out of gear and goes to a default speed / torque reserve. I do it all the time unknowingly - and I hate it, only because it wastes fuel.
Chrish051873
senior member
And this confuses the ECU because it estimates gear position by diving RPM / vehicle speed. pull it out of gear without the clutch and it had no idea you're out of gear and goes to a default speed / torque reserve. I do it all the time unknowingly - and I hate it, only because it wastes fuel.
i do this all the time, i had no idea it does this.
guess i need to use the clutch more huh
opcorn:
Stew
Sedans Rule!
Another thing that can happen when you do this is let's say the cruise control is engaged and you are leisurely coasting down a gentle grade enjoying the newly blossoming foliage on a warm spring morning, and you gently nudge it into neutral.
The downhill grade eventually levels out as you are thinking how lovely the morning air smells and all of a sudden you are ripped out of your serene zen like state by the RPM limiter desperately battling the cruise control which is trying to explode your engine since it doesn't know you put it in neutral.
You only do that kind of thing once, and fortunately it wasn't in my Sonic.
The downhill grade eventually levels out as you are thinking how lovely the morning air smells and all of a sudden you are ripped out of your serene zen like state by the RPM limiter desperately battling the cruise control which is trying to explode your engine since it doesn't know you put it in neutral.
You only do that kind of thing once, and fortunately it wasn't in my Sonic.
I'm pretty sure the Sonic notices as soon as you slip it out of gear and it won't redline the car. It will disable cruise though.
SouthFLSonic
Active member
With cruise on it will auto shut off when pulled from gear no matter what gear. If you set cruise in third gear and need to shift to fourth because RPM is too high then it will shut off cruise the second you push the clutch in.
sx sonic
New member
I frequently drop to neutral without touching the clutch.
I've tried no clutch shifting but often found it hard to get into gear... I take that as a sign the input and output shaft aren't speed matched and would be increasing the load on the syncros and associated components.
My motocross bikes were a different story. The only time I clutched to shift was during races so I could keep the throttle pegged during the shift.
Otherwise I just chopped the throttle and grabbed a gear or clicked the next gear while midair. Never had issues (except grenading a clutch) but the shifter design is another animal and everythings setup for the rigors of racing.
I've tried no clutch shifting but often found it hard to get into gear... I take that as a sign the input and output shaft aren't speed matched and would be increasing the load on the syncros and associated components.
My motocross bikes were a different story. The only time I clutched to shift was during races so I could keep the throttle pegged during the shift.
Otherwise I just chopped the throttle and grabbed a gear or clicked the next gear while midair. Never had issues (except grenading a clutch) but the shifter design is another animal and everythings setup for the rigors of racing.
sx sonic
New member
I frequently drop to neutral without touching the clutch.
I've tried no clutch shifting but often found it hard to get into gear... I take that as a sign the input and output shaft aren't speed matched and would be increasing the load on the syncros and associated components.
My motocross bikes were a different story. The only time I clutched to shift was during races so I could keep the throttle pegged during the shift.
Otherwise I just chopped the throttle and grabbed a gear or clicked the next gear while midair. Never had issues (except grenading a clutch) but the shifter design is another animal and everythings setup for the rigors of racing.
I've tried no clutch shifting but often found it hard to get into gear... I take that as a sign the input and output shaft aren't speed matched and would be increasing the load on the syncros and associated components.
My motocross bikes were a different story. The only time I clutched to shift was during races so I could keep the throttle pegged during the shift.
Otherwise I just chopped the throttle and grabbed a gear or clicked the next gear while midair. Never had issues (except grenading a clutch) but the shifter design is another animal and everythings setup for the rigors of racing.
Stew
Sedans Rule!
Yeah, the car that that happened in was not a Sonic. It startled me enough that I won't soon forget it though, lol.
Blue hedgehog
New member
The synchros are under a load. Either you are going too slow (the engine is trying to keep the car moving) or too fast (the engine is trying to slow the car) for the gear you are in, at the speed you are trying to shift into neutral at. If you force it into neutral, you risk damaging the synchros.
While slowing down, try putting slight pressure on the stick towards neutral and hold it. You will notice that without adding any extra force, it will slide into neutral. When it slides into neutral that is when the load is off of the synchros.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MXsRfbOiBhE
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