Accidental downshift new car

Whu557

Hi all not been on here for a while.

Got a new car 9 months ago and stupidly a few weeks ago went to shift from 2nd to 3rd and got first gear by accident. Also while doing this I let the clutch out quickly. The revs hit about 5500 and my redline is 6500 so hopefully the engine is all OK but I heard a bang sounded like it came from underneath the car. No warnings have come up on the dash and have done about 1000km since it happened and the car is running fine like the day I bought it just wondering if any damage could of occurred.

Was thinking it could be the clutch plate hitting the flywheel as I let it out quickly or maybe the gearbox mount under the car or perhaps the exhaust bracket hitting off under the car

Any help apprichated thanks

YbFocus

The bang could have been your wheel locking up from the braking force of the engine.
No harm in the engine but the synchros in the gearbox wouldn't like that me thinks

Whu557

YbFocus wrote: »

The bang could have been your wheel locking up from the braking force of the engine.
No harm in the engine but the synchros in the gearbox wouldn't like that me thinks

I didn't feel any skidding while it happened car didn't slide. As for the gearbox the car still changes gears perfect still as smooth as before are they designed to withstand it once in a while or should I be seeing problems down the line. Many thanks

YbFocus

Oh I've no doubt you'll be fine, i wouldn't worry

Whu557

YbFocus wrote: »

Oh I've no doubt you'll be fine, i wouldn't worry

Thanks puts my mind at rest if the severe engine braking didn't put me through the windscreen the shock at nearly hurting my new car nearly finished me off

I have to be honest and say I didn't think you could do that (go into 1st when at speed). I find the gearbox on my car/s always seem to kind of 'lock you out' of 1st gear? I've often tried (once i noticed this) out of curiousity, to go into 1st when driving at 50/60km/h and i noticed the stick wouldn't actually go fully into gear (I'd always have the clutch fully depressed, as I obviously had no intention of actually going into gear).

Learn something new every day

Whu557

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I have to be honest and say I didn't think you could do that (go into 1st when at speed). I find the gearbox on my car/s always seem to kind of 'lock you out' of 1st gear? I've often tried (once i noticed this) out of curiousity, to go into 1st when driving at 50/60km/h and i noticed the stick wouldn't actually go fully into gear (I'd always have the clutch fully depressed, as I obviously had no intention of actually going into gear).

Learn something new every day

Nope never locked me out did find it was a bit notchy to get into the 1st but thought nothing of it until I was in the gear I was doing about 35 to 40kph some severe engine braking and the bang but car is still running perfect

YbFocus

Deleted User wrote: »

I have to be honest and say I didn't think you could do that (go into 1st when at speed). I find the gearbox on my car/s always seem to kind of 'lock you out' of 1st gear? I've often tried (once i noticed this) out of curiousity, to go into 1st when driving at 50/60km/h and i noticed the stick wouldn't actually go fully into gear (I'd always have the clutch fully depressed, as I obviously had no intention of actually going into gear).

Learn something new every day

50-60kmh is outside the reach of most first gears though so there will be force against you as the input and ouput for that gear cannot mesh unless you crash change and force it to do so!

If you are within the rev range of the gear it will let you in.

Hope I have explained it fairly well!

Whu557

Hence why I could do it at 35 to 40kph. Thanks guys

eeguy

Sorry to hijack thread hit is it possible to shift into reverse when moving at speed.

I was driving a Citroën C4 and the reverse is directly beneath 5th gear.
I clutched and shifted the gear into the reverse position. No lock out as far as I could see.

Didn't clutch out of course, but it left me wondering.

Whu557

eeguy wrote: »

Sorry to hijack thread hit is it possible to shift into reverse when moving at speed.

I was driving a Citroën C4 and the reverse is directly beneath 5th gear.
I clutched and shifted the gear into the reverse position. No lock out as far as I could see.

Didn't clutch out of course, but it left me wondering.

As far as what I have read it should lock reverse out. Good job you didn't remove your foot off the clutch would of made a new pothole in the road with your gearbox

YbFocus

You shouldn't be able to get to reverse while moving, the third gear that engages to reverse the engines momentum can't engage unless the gearbox side has come to a stop.

slimjimmc

Any car I had couldn't be accidentally put into reverse when moving. There'd always be a very noticeable resistance on the gear lever and crunching of gears if forced even if you're only creeping forward.

Whu557

Forward gears you can put into at any speed I think. Reverse only while stopped. Even then I've found to put it into reverse requires a few attempts as its non syncromeshed

galvo_clare

You definitely can put it into reverse while driving.
Hired a car in Spain a few years back - Citroen Berlingo or something similar. I was used to six gears, hit the motorway and went from fifth to sixth. I knew straight away that something was wrong but I definitely had it into reverse.
Happily I kept the clutch in so the engine didn't come through the dashboard to join me.

Whu557 wrote: »

Forward gears you can put into at any speed I think. Reverse only while stopped. Even then I've found to put it into reverse requires a few attempts as its non syncromeshed

Whu557

Always thought there was a lockout I stand corrected

Stoolbend

Most won't go from 5th to reverse. That's where the lockout would be.

eeguy

Whu557 wrote: »

Always thought there was a lockout I stand corrected

It might still not go to reverse.

I'm just not brave enough to let off the clutch.

kirving

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I have to be honest and say I didn't think you could do that (go into 1st when at speed). I find the gearbox on my car/s always seem to kind of 'lock you out' of 1st gear? I've often tried (once i noticed this) out of curiousity, to go into 1st when driving at 50/60km/h and i noticed the stick wouldn't actually go fully into gear (I'd always have the clutch fully depressed, as I obviously had no intention of actually going into gear).

Learn something new every day

I kind of notice this too, it can be difficult to get into first, even from second at times, but only when moving. Issue with the syncro, or something else going on?

YbFocus

Kevin Irving wrote: »

I kind of notice this too, it can be difficult to get into first, even from second at times, but only when moving. Issue with the syncro, or something else going on?

If your synchros go you'll be dropping out of gears and grinding them trying to find them

I'd say maybe your linkages are worn?

millington

I would be highly surprised if that done any harm at all. I've mis-shifted before to 1000rpm over factory limits and done nothing.

Whu557

millington wrote: »

I would be highly surprised if that done any harm at all. I've mis-shifted before to 1000rpm over factory limits and done nothing.

Yeah mine was nowhere redline. Was just wondering what the bang was

JIdontknow

Usually forward and reverse gears are different types (cut of tooth) of gear. I think forward usually have a helical cut, whereas reverse are straight cut tooth. Think that's why reverse sounds different and if moving forward and try get it into reverse it just grinds or wont allow it, whereas you can technically change up gears and down forward gears by getting the revs correct without a clutch (at least in older cars), mightn't be too smooth though... Maybe I did learn something in college afterall lol

swarlb

JIdontknow wrote: »

Usually forward and reverse gears are different types (cut of tooth) of gear. I think forward usually have a helical cut, whereas reverse are straight cut tooth. Think that's why reverse sounds different and if moving forward and try get it into reverse it just grinds or wont allow it, whereas you can technically change up gears and down forward gears by getting the revs correct without a clutch (at least in older cars), mightn't be too smooth though... Maybe I did learn something in college afterall lol

Reverse gears tend not to have a syncro ring, and are straight cut. They normally engage with one of the sliding hubs of the forward moving gears, usually the one between 1st gear and 2nd gear, which has an outer ring of straight cut teeth. It's virtually impossible to 'engage' reverse, as the gear shaft it is trying to connect to is spinning in the wrong direction, which is why you need to come to a complete stop to engage without stripping teeth. Even dipping the clutch while the car is moving forward will not help as the gears are still spinning, it's only the drive that is disengaged. It may be possible to do it at a very low, almost walking pace, but the second you engage reverse, even it the car is moving slightly forward, will cause the gears to baulk. I think the likes of autotest cars where they constantly go forward and reverse have slightly modified gears to allow this to occur, as they only usually use 1st and reverse gear.

Whu557

How long does a properly maintained gearbox expect to last?? Obviously over the years its used its expected to grind a gear or two or acvidently be put into a wrong gear. I see 13 or 14 year old fiestas on L plates and they must of seen some abuse over the years and they still run perfect

Whu557

LIGHTNING wrote: »

35 year old one in my classic still going strong touch wood.

That must of seen some use and they wernt as well built back then as they are now

hi5

Whu557 wrote: »

Yeah mine was nowhere redline. Was just wondering what the bang was

Backfire.

Whu557

hi5 wrote: »

Backfire.

Is that bad??

Dartz

Whu557 wrote: »

Is that bad??

I do it all the time on purpose.

Probably just a sohock through the driveline from the engine having to suddenly accelerate. No big deal.

Try not to do it too far through the redline.