downshifting to first

[jaymode]

I am new to driving stick, so this could be driver error, but I do not think it is.

Whenever I have to go up the driveway to my sister's house I have trouble because I usually don't stop to make the turn, I just make it at about 5 mph. The problem is in second the engine will bog down and just about stall, so I try to downshift to first going pretty slow 5mph before going up the driveway, but sometimes it doesn't seem like it wants to go into first, just kinda seems like it locked me out. Is this normal and should I just use a little more force to put it in first? My car is stock and only has like 200 miles on it.

 

[enigM@]

never downshift to first

when yer going up slowly, just put it in neutral.. then when yer almost at a complete stop put it back in first and feather the clutch

 

[mdaj]

hrmmm...sometimes when pulling into my driveway I am about 5 mph but I just let it cruise on up and then pop it into first and feather it a bit...but I would not force it in if it didn't want to go.

 

[Larone]

Considering you're new to stick I'm not sure if u know how to heal and toe but if u can that will do the trick. If not just double clutch and you'll get into first. When you're in 2nd, come up off the accelerator then sink the clutch and change to 1st...but the moment u sink the clutch just tap the accelerator. What happens is that in the tranny, the gear will be spinning and in order for the colar to attach onto the gear they should ideally be spinning at the same speed since the colar is what engages the gear. I've noticed the same hesitation to go into 1st without double clutching but most of the time that's when I'm decelerating very quickly.

 

[Familia323]

Like Mattrix said you shouldnt really downshift to first.. and NEVER force your car into a gear. If the car is at the right speed it will shift right into gear. .. but for a situation like that when you are going up the driveway just put it in neutral and coast up.. Then when you start to slow down it should let you go into first. then feather up the driveway. And double clutching works well too..like larone said.

 

[Larone]

Actually Familia is right.....just go neutral then first. Very very rarely will u need to double clutch (or heal & toe) for first.

 

[122 Vega]

Actually there is absolutely no reason to double clutch any car built since about 1970. This is an antiquated technique used for NONsyncronized transmissions. Some race cars use this technique, but often they are using race transmissions with no syncros. Even the Mazdaspeed TriPoint Proteges use heel/toe which is different that double clutching. The car will downshift into first, you can apply gentle pressure with the shifter and let the gears line up and it will slip right in easily. Any resistance and you are forcing it. You can blip the hrottle a bit to ease it, but is usually unecessary.

Britt

 

[Torco-MSP]

just make a complete stop then put it in first.
don't take a chance of breaking the transmission.
one other thing, never force it in!

 

[Vulcanon]

I've noticed that too, I get locked out of first if the car is in motion, but as was stated, just use the clutch to ease yourself around the turn

 

[acidbug]

I know i don' t have a speed..but our trannys are very similar..

The way i do it...push in the clutch...take out of 2nd...and while going into 1st..hit the gas...it should go in as long as you are not going very fast..

Don't worry about not getting it at first..we all had to learn at one point or another..

Chas

 

[jaymode]

Why shouldn't I downshift to first?

So you are saying that I should push the clutch in put the car in neutral let it slow down even though I am already going slow and then put it in first even though it is up hill?

 

[acidbug]

You can....I don't know why people are telling you no..it's your car..

I don't do the neutral thing...

As said before:

2nd gear..press clutch.. and as i am going into 1st..apply small amount of throttle till the synchro's line up..and i am in..I have done it at different spees...practice makes perfect!!

Chas

 

[Larone]

True thing 122 Vega...there's no need to double clutch any car since the 70s...I just find that it still helps - but it isn't necessary.

 

[Notorious]

I generally never go into first unless I'm at a complete stop. I think at about 10 mph the transmission won't even let you go back into first. When you do go into first be careful that you feather the clutch when you give it some gas. If the rpms are too high and you just release the clutch you are going to get a lot of drivetrain shock (which is bad) and your clutch could fail if you keep repeating this (which is also bad).

The car has enough power where it can take a turn in second and not be that effected by it. Besides if your racing in a corner it usually makes more sense to just take the corner faster, depends on the track though.

 

[Newf]

yeah, what the guys said.

On another note, I see people all the time trying to use 1st gear to slow down, say at a light or stop sign. These are also the same people that are bitching about their trannies going at such and such miles. Going to 1st while moving is pointless most of the time. now a trying to get up that last bit of driveway is a different thing, I'm not dissing that, just do what the guys said. But never ever force a car into gear. Change gears Nice and easy and you won't be another guy here complaining about shifter forks.

 

[grishulia]

.....or you can stay in second.

As you feel the car is dying push the clutch in and start letting it out slowly while reving the engine...

P.S. Yeah I know it's not good for the clutch.

 

[blynzoo]

There is a shift gate in first to prevent you from shifting when rolling. Shifting into 1st above 20mph spells the end of your tranny, so mazda (and all other manufacturers I know of) put a gate in first. You CAN push past the gate into 1st, but it does not want you to. You must first come to a complete stop.

It's a feature designed to preserve the trannies.

 

[Familia323]

Speaking of trouble getting into gears... does anyone else have trouble sometimes putting their car into reverse??? Because even when I start my car in the morning and try to put it in reverse it sometimes takes a lot of fidgeting to get it in gear.. I never force it so I end up having to take my foot off the clutch, rev it a little, then try and put it back in reverse...

 

[MazdaSpeed0020]

I personally think it is funny that you guys are telling him to double clutch it just to get into his drive way. There is no reason to double clutch it unless you are going around a corner doing higher speeds. Just like a few other guys have said, come to a stop, put it back in first gear and then feather it up the drive way. That is the easiest and probably best way of doing it.

Matt

 

[StreetPreacher]

Usually when i'm downshifting to first i'll just gently push it into the first gate while the car is slowing down. As soon as the car reaches the correct speed the shifter slides right in. I think that's the only way to do it without forcing the issue. If you try this when you're coming up to a red light you'll be able to feel when the saftey gate opens.

-sp