First - When the car is turned off, and I DO NOT HAVE THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN, should I be able to push the shifter all the way into each gear? Mine does this. And it seems strange that I can do it without the clutch in.

Second - I was on the highway, driving along in 6th, and accidentally pushed the shifter out of 6th into it's standard 'neutral' position, WITHOUT THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. Then to test it, I did the same thing... put it in fourth, then without the clutch pushed in I was able to pop it out of 4th into the 'neutral' position again. It was just as easy as if the clutch was in. IS THIS NORMAL?

I'm worried that something might be strange with my x-mission, I am new to manuals though - but the ones I've driven havent done EITHER of these two things.

I'm afraid to try to put it in gear without the clutch pushed in or some other crazyness, I like my car... and want to keep it in one piece, for at least 10k miles =)

P.S. - THanks guys, I see that I have three topic posts on this forum already, lol - and you guys rock...

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-2002 Red Camaro SS
Chesapeake, Virginia
http://www.HeadRushPerformance.Com

 

My car does those things also. I don't think its anything to worry about.

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1999 Camaro Z28=== http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/blkls1z28
•MODS
18" Z06 Corvette Wheels w/275/35/18s, Eibach Pro Kit Springs Clear Corners, Wings West W-Type Ground Effects, Slp Bowtie Grill , Whisper Induction Lid, Corvette Fuel Rail Covers, Star Stage 3 Carbon Clutch, Tinted Windows, Rk Sport Carbon Fiber Nose Emblem, Zaino...

 

It's normal to be able to put the tranny into gear without the car running. No parts are moving.

As for the ability to pop it out of gear when driving ... no biggie. I can do this all the time. Actually, once I start off in first, I can run through all the gears without ever touching the clutch. I can do it back down as well. I doubt that it's actually good for the tranny, however, and I have only done it a few times just to see if I still had "the touch"

If you match RPMs with the motor and tranny, you can shift in or out of gear without the clutch.

Start off slowly in first and keep light pressure on the shifter. Let off the gas and coast ... you'll feel the shifter wanting to slide into neutral. Slip it into neutral and let the rev's drop a bit and it will slide right into 2nd. Give it some gas, bring everything up to speed, and you'll feel the shifter wanting to slide out of 2nd ... let off the gas and slide it into neutral. When the revs drop a little, you'll feel it wanting to slide into 3rd. Just give it a nudge and you're in. Same thing goes all the way up to 6th.

Now, downshifting is a bit trickier as you have to increase the revs when you get it into neutral. Slide out of gear and into neutral, bump the revs up to match RPM and then you can slide into the next lower gear.

It's a "touchy feely" thing ... you can't explain exactly what RPM to shift ... you just have to feel it.

So, to answer your questions .. yeah, it's all normal.



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2001 TransAm WS6, M6 3.42
HPP, TBB, 160* t-stat, MTI Lid, Holley PowerShot, Flowmaster 80, Port/Polish MAF

www.BlackWS6.com

2001 Z28
-- R.I.P. - 06/25/02

 

RNCOTTON is correct in his explanation - you can shift a car all the way through the gears without a clutch, and when the car is shut off, you don't need the clutch either because the motor isn't turning, so you don't need to separate it from the transmission to shift through all the gears.

HOWEVER, DO NOT make a habit of shifting without the clutch. It's something you might want to try once or twice, but otherwise you should not do it because it will damage the synchros. The synchros (synchronizers) help the transmission line up all of the gears when you go to shift so that it doesn't matter what RPM the motor is at - the transmission will go into any gear you want easily. If you shift without the clutch, you will put a lot of wear on the synchros, and eventually it will become difficult (even when using the clutch) to shift through the gears.

Just thought I'd acknowledge that incase anyone thinks "hey, I'm just gonna shift without the clutch from now on - just because". Don't shift without the clutch (unless a spring in your clutch breaks and jambs the clutch so that you can't push the pedal down, then it's good to know how to shift without it so you can get your car home! ).

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2002 Z28 - A4, 2.73's, Blk/blk, leather, T-tops, sport appearance package - just bought on June 26, 2002! - Pics

1981 Z28 - 383, TH350 trans., 3.42 posi - sold August, 2000 - Pics

1973 Camaro - Dad's & my project in the works - to be built: 355 Chevy, 11.5:1 pop-ups, "camel hump" heads (w/2.02 valves), solid cam, 4-speed.....it should be quick! - Pics