I recently bought a 2009 TL FWD Tech with 100k miles. In the few months we've owned it, my wife and I have both accidently hit the paddle shifters on several occasions, dropping a gear - sometimes 2 gears at once - and sending the RPM's near 5k. I am wondering if hitting those shifters accidentally is a common occurrence and whether it can contribute to long-term transmission issues.

 

I deleted your first thread posted one minute before this one.

 

it is fine.. the transmission has a safety feature.

 

While I was driving yesterday I thought of your thread here. I tried to imagine how is it possible to do that, click to downshift by accident. There was no way I could imagine or replicate. Not sure how you hold the steering wheel or more important: how long are your fingers?

(if you keep doing this, chances are, you'll burn oil faster than usual)

 

being that its a new car for them, they are not used to the paddle's being in that location.

please dont scare people. you will not burn oil by keeping it in the upper RPMS.
unless you meant fuel. yes, you'll go through fuel faster.

potmilks is correct that there is software in place that wont let you harm the transmission.

 

Agree it must be because we are not used to having them there. I'll try to figure out how it happened the next time it does.

 

My glove size is XL and my wife holds the wheel at 10 & 2 so she must be bumping it there.

 

Sorry, have absolutely never **accidentally** hit the paddle shifters. I guess it depends on how possessively you grab onto the steering wheel.

 

Aha! I finally was able to re-create it. Yes, if you hold the steering wheel in a certain way it is possible to hit the paddles from behind with your knuckles. How you may ask is that possible? Not sure how to describe this, but I'll try: if you hold the wheel like a monkey holds a banana, then it can happen.

PS. The "system" hasn't prevented me from dropping to 2nd at 60 mph and hitting 6k RPM... I can't imagine what the threshold is, but it is scary to say the least, "don't try at home".

 

The car should only downshift 1 gear per time pressed, so if you are pressing it 2-3 times, that's when it'll get into the 5K range.

The transmission has programming to keep you from harming it, however you probably are going to reduce the life of the transmission fluid and as well waste a little more gas.

 

I've pressed them accidentally before but I believe you need to hit the paddle twice before it will drop 1 gear and 3 times to drop 2 gears.

 

There you go. Bump it, panic, press the "-" again instead of the "+" and you have 5-6k.

 

there ain't a thing wrong with 5-6k rpm.

 

I live in vtec.

 

You didn't mention if the trouble happens when you're turning on traveling straight ahead. I'd try asking your mechanic to check to see if the switch is working correctly. On my 2012 TL the switch needs to be pulled back about 3/4". I've only hit the switch once by accident while trying to use the turn signal. Don't worry about damaging the car. The computer will prevent you from doing anything that would cause damage.

 

Ok, thanks. BTW, it usually happens when turning left.