Mis-Shift (please forgives for I have sinned)

[Ninkumpoop]

I've had my license for 2.5 years now and got my first stick-shift car just over a week ago. I was careless and ended up shifting from a nice, cozy 6th gear down to 2nd by accident when I was shooting for 4th. Yeah, I was a total idiot and blah blah blah. It only hit 2nd for HALF a second but it was enough for my tires to lock up and my RPM guage to show 8k...T_T. After that, I've been hearing sounds every so often when my car's creeping at ~1-3MPH. When the sound shows up, it makes the sound everytime the front-right tire makes a full circle (sound only on front-right side). Any idea what the problem can be? I took it back to the dealer and they said it's covered by warranty completely but since I couldn't duplicate the sound in front of them, they didn't know what to look for. If it happened EVERY time, I'd have it fixed by now but it only occurs every so often and it's been happening less frequently lately. Any idea what's broken/damaged?

 

[StealthWyvern]

Does the sound also only occure during take off in low speeds? Dependant on engien loads? You might of gotten lucky and trashed the mounts.

 

[BillTheCat]

Hmmm... if it happens once every wheel rotation, it is possible that when you downshifted, you twisted up the CV joint a bit. If the damage wasn't too severe, then the noise might end up being temperature related, etc. as the metal contracts & expands. Of course, there are dozens of possible explanations. But with the engine, tranny & axles fighting each other so violently for such a short time, I'd be suspicious of the CV joints, since they are one of the weaker points in the whole equation.

 

[wisniaPl]

thats why when downshifting you should go like 6th to 5th than to 4th ....thats why im doing mainly because im breaking with geasr when approaching stop signs aor lights....

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

4th to 2nd is a long way, wow. How fast were you going? You could have a flat spot on the tires and it is going away.

 

[Ninkumpoop]

Does the sound also only occure during take off in low speeds? Dependant on engien loads? You might of gotten lucky and trashed the mounts.

It only happens on low speeds (under 3mph-ish) but not sure about if it's only during take-offs.

Hmmm... if it happens once every wheel rotation, it is possible that when you downshifted, you twisted up the CV joint a bit. If the damage wasn't too severe, then the noise might end up being temperature related, etc. as the metal contracts & expands. Of course, there are dozens of possible explanations. But with the engine, tranny & axles fighting each other so violently for such a short time, I'd be suspicious of the CV joints, since they are one of the weaker points in the whole equation.

How much is it to fix or will my dealership cover it by warranty? I haven't really told them a story yet and I just told them that it makes noises >_>.

4th to 2nd is a long way, wow. How fast were you going? You could have a flat spot on the tires and it is going away.

Does this mean the problem will go away with tire wear?


Will my warranty still be covered 100% if I tell them I messed up and down-shifted like an idiot?

 

[Kain]

I was careless and ended up shifting from a nice, cozy 6th gear down to 2nd by accident when I was shooting for 4th.

Stop doing this.

 

[Ninkumpoop]

Stop doing this.

>_>" obviously. I mean, it was a huge mistake. I did say I was trying to go from 6th to 4th but mis-shifted into 2nd by accident.


Update on the problem:

It doesn't happen as frequently as it originally did and the sounds not as loud, neither. It usually happens when I just get off the freeway and am waiting for a red light, I gas, *slight noise*, then it's gone. The other moments when it happens is when I'm stuck in heavy traffic (I live in LA so traffic's an unavoidable cancer).

EDIT:
The noise used to be so loud that the inside of the car, with the windows closed, would sound like in the movies when a heavy crane is being operated (metal on metal sound, not the crane's engine sound). Now, it's barely audible with the window up usually but still highly noticeable with the windows down.

 

[coololddude]

just drive it regular. if a problem is there the car will let you know for sure. these cars can take a bit of abuse and survive. ive missed a few downshifts and the car was ok. i needed a transfusion though!!

 

[Ninkumpoop]

Even if the car's okay, I wanna fix every little problem before it snowballs on me. I'm gonna start doing some mods on friday when my friend's available so I gotta try ti figure out the problem by then.

 

[15min5k]

Tranny is weak sauce in this car be weary.. Mine was rebuilt @21k miles and I only mis shifted a few times. Car will be someone else's problem waiting to happen at 59k

 

[ericrapp]

Take it to someone else for a free estimate. Sometimes a second opinion helps. I know its time consuming but might be worth the effort on this. I would lean toward the joints as they are designed to break before the really expensive stuff, like transmissions and motor bits. It sounds like you are uncomfortable driving as thats no damn fun.

 

[ericrapp]

Tranny is weak sauce in this car be weary.. Mine was rebuilt @21k miles and I only mis shifted a few times. Car will be someone else's problem waiting to happen at 59k

Wow never heard about this. Did they tell you any details as to why it went to s***?

 

[15min5k]

Wow never heard about this. Did they tell you any details as to why it went to s***?

Yeah, tranny can't take much abuse. Just try hard not to mis shift and you'll be alright.

 

[Frisco speed3]

I would be much more worrid about my vavle train, that is a huge miss, you should definatly do a compression and leak down test. You could easily have bent a valve. Rev limiters cant stop mechanical force.

 

[Ninkumpoop]

I would be much more worrid about my vavle train, that is a huge miss, you should definatly do a compression and leak down test. You could easily have bent a valve. Rev limiters cant stop mechanical force.

I was going 70-80MPH-ish when I went from 6th to 2nd...Is it THAT bad??? T_T I'm so scared for my car now. I mean, the sound isn't as loud anymore or as frequent, but it still does show up from time to time.

 

[ZooMIN3]

wow....didn't think that was possible..i figured there would be a shift locking mechanism to keep you from down shifting from high speeds to one of the lowest gears...

i feel bad bout your car... good luck with it...

 

[StealthWyvern]

Personally I think you may of gotten extremly luckly and just trashed your mounts.

 

[Ninkumpoop]

Personally I think you may of gotten extremly luckly and just trashed your mounts.

What be them mounts? Layman's terms, please...unless it's actually called a "mount." I'd be lucky if it's just the mounts that messed up??

 

[Frisco speed3]

I was going 70-80MPH-ish when I went from 6th to 2nd...Is it THAT bad??? T_T I'm so scared for my car now. I mean, the sound isn't as loud anymore or as frequent, but it still does show up from time to time.

Im not trying to scare you but for the piece of mind you should get the comp./leakdown test done. I know in a 911 or s2000 missing by one gear can do seerious damage, but this car doesn't rev that high so you might be ok.