Manual Transmissions

[dT]

I have become obsessed with shifting properly. During the break in period, I followed the manuals an instruction for shifting speeds and it definately does work for fuel economy and acceleration. I am not the most mechanical educated, I fully understand the concept of engines and transmissions, but would never be able to work on it.
I have missed gears a few times, and it drives:rofl: me nuts to grind gears. I’ve only done it a few times with a little bit of grinding. Does anyone have an expert opinion on the life expectancy of a transmission that’s been grinded a few times. How many times can you grind it and still be able to drive it. I know its like sex, abstinence is the best policy, but hey life happens ya know:razz:.


Another thing,

If you’re still rolling backwards from being in reverse, and you use first gear for accelerating before you come to a complete stop, can that cause damage to the tranny?

[THansenite]

I have been driving manuals since I have had my license and I still grind from time to time when I try to shift too quickly. I also have a shortened throw on my clutch pedal so that doesn't help at all either. Your transmission will be fine if you grind a few times. I have had my car to the strip and missed a shift near redline, sounds terrible, damages your pride, but the car is still going after over 50,000 miles.

If you have any speed, you could potentially overstress the tranny by rolling backwards and going into first gear. However, if you are just slowly creeping backwards, and put it into first, just be careful you don't dump the clutch. I do that from time to time because I am too lazy to come to a full and complete stop before switching into first.

[xBvegan]

Tony's right. occasionally grinding your gears is not going to noticeably shorten the life of your tranny. standard transmissions (especially Toyota) are virtually bullet proof. even with grinding gears, a standard tranny will way outlast any automatic tranny and probably even the life of the car that it's in. the only time a person would ever have to consider rebuilding a standard tranny is under extreme racing conditions or if you've like doubled your engine's horsepower (and even then only if you use the horsepower ALL the time).

as far as using first gear to stop a backwards roll, it is a very BAD habit to get into. it's not going to have any effect on your tranny, whatsoever, but, even at very low speeds, (though it won't cause any immediate, catastrophic failure) it DOES put undue wear on (and therefore shortens the life of) your clutch plate. and if you're not a mechanic, then you would probably have to send your car to someone to have the clutch replaced and that can be VERY expensive (think $600.00 and up!) of course, it could take many years of this before you would cause enough wear to have to replace the clutch but, depending on how long you own the car (i.e. six years or more) it could mean the difference between having to replace the clutch and not. so anyway, as a general rule, it is best to use your brake to come to a complete stop before engaging a gear in the opposite direction.

hope this helps! and congrats on not being afraid to buy the manual tranny even though you didn't have a lot of experience with one!! truly scikotic!!
:clap:

[dT]

Hey thanks guys that’s some great insight. I have always driven a manual like Tony said, my first car was a manual. But this is the first time I have actually cared about a car, so I want to treat it good and keep it nice for a long time to come.