Stick drivers? Do you row all the gears?
08-18-2005 | 08:46 AM
#1
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From: Miami, FL
Stick drivers? Do you row all the gears?
Just curious. I read in an auto column that someone wrote in asking if going 1-2-5 was okay rather than rowing them all. The columnist said it was fine as long as the car wasn't bucking in 5th. What do you guys usually do? I had a buddy that rarely drove in 5th. He'd usually cruise in 3rd or 4th. Yeah I know about the gas just curious what you guys do and please list your car.
08-18-2005 | 11:08 AM
#7
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From: Tick-Tock Tech
I typically go through all, but will occasionally skip 5th when upshifting to freeway speeds. I'll also occasionally skip 5th when downshifting from 6th.
It's not bad for the car -- and with a close ratio gearbox, the likelihood that you'll bog or when you skip one gear is pretty low.
Once you get to know the power curve of each gear it's pretty easy to predict a given engine response to a given gear at a given speed. I find it almost instinctive and never bog on upshift or overrev on downshift.
It's not bad for the car -- and with a close ratio gearbox, the likelihood that you'll bog or when you skip one gear is pretty low.
Once you get to know the power curve of each gear it's pretty easy to predict a given engine response to a given gear at a given speed. I find it almost instinctive and never bog on upshift or overrev on downshift.
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08-18-2005 | 11:09 AM
#8
Yeehaw
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From: Chandler, Arizona
I have s2k. I skip gears all the time. Why would it be bad? Nothing wrong with it at all.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too. And I only downshift to brake during 'spirited' driving, or when absolutely necessary.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too. And I only downshift to brake during 'spirited' driving, or when absolutely necessary.
08-18-2005 | 11:10 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by BEETROOT
I have s2k. I skip gears all the time. Why would it be bad? Nothing wrong with it at all.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too.
I dont know why it would be bad, I just remember reading something that said it was
08-18-2005 | 11:13 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by fdl
I dont know why it would be bad, I just remember reading something that said it was
08-18-2005 | 11:16 AM
#14
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
When I had an MT vehicle, I would skip gears all the time. It doesn't hurt it, trust me. I had a high mileage vehicle and the transmission was perfectly fine. Automatic transmissions skip gears all the time, like when you're in 5th and you floor it (assuming you're going the proper speed), it will downshift to 3rd right away without going through 4th. The only way you could hurt the vehicle by skipping gears is if you shift to the wrong gear (ie: you're in 6th, going really fast, and you downshift to 2nd or something, overrevving the engine, or going slow down a residential road and you upshift to 6th and stall the car...obviously situation number 1 is way worse).
08-18-2005 | 11:40 AM
#16
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From: Swansea, MA
Maybe 
I will row thru the 4,5,6 thing getting on the highway, but I won't let the clutch out for 5th. So basically on the upshift it's 4th, clutch in, into 5th (briefly), into 6th clutchout. I just row thru 'em hitting 5th so I know I'm going into 6th correctly. My brother caught me doing it one time, and commented on it. He said he does the same thing in his Taco.
On downshifts, I don't row thru 'em. Sometimes it's 6th to 4th or 3rd, with a momentary stop in neutral (to make sure I'm in the right gate, and not in going to go in 2nd).
I will row thru the 4,5,6 thing getting on the highway, but I won't let the clutch out for 5th. So basically on the upshift it's 4th, clutch in, into 5th (briefly), into 6th clutchout. I just row thru 'em hitting 5th so I know I'm going into 6th correctly. My brother caught me doing it one time, and commented on it. He said he does the same thing in his Taco.
On downshifts, I don't row thru 'em. Sometimes it's 6th to 4th or 3rd, with a momentary stop in neutral (to make sure I'm in the right gate, and not in going to go in 2nd).
08-18-2005 | 11:42 AM
#17
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Originally Posted by fsttyms1
skipping gears WILL NOT hurt any thing. the GM 6speed manual has teh skip shift built into it. makes you skip gears under certain rpm to help increase gasmileage
It MAKES you skip gears?! What if you're trying to race? That just gives me another reason not to buy from them. The last thing I need is more nannies! 
08-18-2005 | 11:48 AM
#19
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From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Sometimes when I’m cruising on an interstate or turnpike and I have to stop for a toll I do a 1-2-3-4 then over to 6.
And of course if I want to pass someone quickly I’ll do a 6-4 downshift so I can power by them.
Like if it’s a truck and I want to minimize my time in his blind spot.
And of course if I want to pass someone quickly I’ll do a 6-4 downshift so I can power by them.
Like if it’s a truck and I want to minimize my time in his blind spot.
08-18-2005 | 11:50 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by BEETROOT
I have s2k. I skip gears all the time. Why would it be bad? Nothing wrong with it at all.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too. And I only downshift to brake during 'spirited' driving, or when absolutely necessary.
I skip 3 if I got up to speed in 2 and just want to cruise. I skip 4 and 5 a lot too. And I only downshift to brake during 'spirited' driving, or when absolutely necessary.
nothing bad about it... I do it if I'm feelin lazy...
08-18-2005 | 11:53 AM
#22
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From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Some GM cars shift from 1 to 4 if you attempt to hit 2nd at under 2,000 RPM.
Most people driving normally it will rarely happen.
It’s for emissions and MPG ratings.
Apparently there might be a gas guzzler tax without it.
If it really bothers you, there’s a 20-dollar “jumper” you can hook on the tranny to disable it.
It’s real popular with the Corvette crowd.
Most people driving normally it will rarely happen.
It’s for emissions and MPG ratings.
Apparently there might be a gas guzzler tax without it.
If it really bothers you, there’s a 20-dollar “jumper” you can hook on the tranny to disable it.
It’s real popular with the Corvette crowd.
08-18-2005 | 11:53 AM
#23
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Originally Posted by FastAcura
I heard the GTOs will skip from 1st to 3rd if you don't go WOT.
08-18-2005 | 11:53 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by youngTL
It MAKES you skip gears?! What if you're trying to race? That just gives me another reason not to buy from them. The last thing I need is more nannies! but... swap out a resistor and you can bypass it
oh yeah GTO has the same setup.. 1st to 4th...
08-18-2005 | 11:54 AM
#25
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Originally Posted by srika
if you have the throttle down far enough it won't skip shift.. if your driving casually, it will force you into 4th gear, coming out of 1st.. lame as hell when it happens - you feel so out of control.
08-18-2005 | 11:57 AM
#26
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From: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Originally Posted by youngTL
How, exactly, does it work?
I took a 6-Speed C6 Vette out for extended test drive and it didn’t happen once.
But I didn’t do any NANNY SHIFTING at 2,000 RPM either.
08-18-2005 | 11:58 AM
#27
10th Gear
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Originally Posted by srika
nothing bad about it... I do it if I'm feelin lazy...http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
08-18-2005 | 11:59 AM
#28
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pretty sure this applies to the new cars as well... don't think they've changed the technology... more info at the link - even how to disable it. 
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/96ss/skipshift.htm
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/96ss/skipshift.htm
CAGS stands for Computer Assisted Gear Selection and is on 1994 and on cars with 6 speed transmissions. It's purpose is to improve gas mileage and avoid the "gas-guzzler" new car tax. CAGS comes into play under the following conditions:
* you're in 1st gear (of course)
* you're at 35% throttle or less
* you're between 15 and 21 mph
* engine coolant temperature is greater than 171 F (77 C)
This will energize the skip-shift solenoid and force a 1st to 4th shift. What happens is you'll be moving happily along when suddenly the "Skip Shift" light goes on in the dash. At this point you will be locked out of 2nd and 3rd. You simply cannot shift into them. At this point several options are available to you:
* shift into 4th
* shift into 5th
* shift into 6th
* coast in neutral until the RPMs drop and CAGS is disengaged
* open up the throttle a bit more and shift into 2nd or 3rd
Interestingly, 1st gear is determined by the PCM calculating from the speed sensor input and the RPM values. Disconnecting the solenoid connector disables CAGS but an error code 84 WILL be set if the PCM does not measure voltage at the solenoid connection to the computer for a period of 26 sec. This code is stored but will NOT light the Service Engine light. Apparently Chevy correctly anticipated the rush for owners to disable this function. A resistor inserted in the connector will allow voltage to the PCM input and prevent this code setting but who cares since the code is reference only.
* you're in 1st gear (of course)
* you're at 35% throttle or less
* you're between 15 and 21 mph
* engine coolant temperature is greater than 171 F (77 C)
This will energize the skip-shift solenoid and force a 1st to 4th shift. What happens is you'll be moving happily along when suddenly the "Skip Shift" light goes on in the dash. At this point you will be locked out of 2nd and 3rd. You simply cannot shift into them. At this point several options are available to you:
* shift into 4th
* shift into 5th
* shift into 6th
* coast in neutral until the RPMs drop and CAGS is disengaged
* open up the throttle a bit more and shift into 2nd or 3rd
Interestingly, 1st gear is determined by the PCM calculating from the speed sensor input and the RPM values. Disconnecting the solenoid connector disables CAGS but an error code 84 WILL be set if the PCM does not measure voltage at the solenoid connection to the computer for a period of 26 sec. This code is stored but will NOT light the Service Engine light. Apparently Chevy correctly anticipated the rush for owners to disable this function. A resistor inserted in the connector will allow voltage to the PCM input and prevent this code setting but who cares since the code is reference only.
08-18-2005 | 12:14 PM
#30
Yeehaw
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From: Chandler, Arizona
Originally Posted by Gnome
s2ki people seem to think skipping gears, at least in the s2k, can be bad:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
never heard anything like this before.
is this legit?
08-18-2005 | 12:15 PM
#31
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From: Chicago
Originally Posted by Gnome
s2ki people seem to think skipping gears, at least in the s2k, can be bad:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
08-18-2005 | 12:20 PM
#33
I
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Originally Posted by srika
if you have the throttle down far enough it won't skip shift.. if your driving casually, it will force you from 1-4... lame as hell when it happens - you feel so out of control.
08-18-2005 | 12:24 PM
#34
I typically go through all, but when accellerating onto the freeway, if i'm already going like 65 in 3rd gear, I may skip to 5th. But NEVER 2nd to 5th. That's too big of a gap.
08-18-2005 | 12:31 PM
#37
10th Gear
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Originally Posted by BEETROOT
never heard anything like this before.
is this legit?
is this legit?
FWIW I used to skip gears all the time in all the manuals I drove growing up.
08-18-2005 | 12:40 PM
#39
Originally Posted by Gnome
s2ki people seem to think skipping gears, at least in the s2k, can be bad:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...c=282583&st=25
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...kipping++gears
Some of the signatures on that forum take up half my monitor's screen.