I have a 01 with about 25K miles on it. over the weekend, since it was a nice day, i was crusing around in the city. I was in 3rd gear about to engage 4th. I had my hand on the shifter, about to step on the clutch, when the shifter went into neutral. It scared the hell out of me... I was thinking in my head, how the hell did the shifter come out of 3rd gear and into neutral without the clutch being depressed? Should i be worried? So i tried it again. So i decided to see if i could recreate the problem. I came to a complete stop. Started in first and then second and then third. Then with just barely any pressue on the shifter, i was able to get it into neutral again without the clutch. Anybody know what the heck is going on?
I know its kinda hard to understand.. but i am having a hard time explaining it.
Oh, btw, i also applied the same lil pressure to the shifter while in other gears, and had no problem.

 

You can upshift,and downshift,from every gear,without using the clutch,if you matchrev.

 

Oh.. didn't know that, its good to know. but i wasn't matchreving

 

Rev-matching only matters when you are getting into gear, not going out of gear.

 

You can put the car in neutral no matter what gear you're in...the clutch doesn't hafta be used to do this. It's usually easier to pop it out of gear if u give the car a little bit of gas and then do it. While braking, it's harder to pop it out of gear. (It will still happen, just not as easily). No worries...

 

I think that going into a higher gear you can matchrevs "automatically". Without throttle the RPM is going down, and at some point it will match the RPM in the next higher gear. With the slightest pressure from neutral, you can typically feel when it's ready to go into gear, withough disengaging the clutch.

 

However - since the revs never match exactly, the sychros take a beating. Without the clutch disengaged, the synchros have to speed up or slow down either the engine or the car if the reves aren't exact. A lot to ask from some brass rings.

Years ago I used to do what you are talking about til I tore up my transmission (a beefy american made unit). I don't think the S transmission is going to last long under those circumstances.

 

Agree. I wasn't suggesting to do it, just stating that it could be done. I did that for a while on my old Civic, "to learn" how to do it, then I was satisfied and never did it since. I must say though that it was a good feeling when it went in smoothly (not always!).
Tonino.

 

You can do it, but dont. In the long run, you with the syncros.

 

Damm.. I never knew any of that info.. this forum ROCKS.
I am still kinda worried... but i will make sure i don't do it on purpose. Anybody else with feedback?