Did not press the clutch while down shifting :(

Adithya BG · 9th March 2012, 09:16

Hi All,

I still cant believe that I did it but I really did this...it all happened in a flash my mind was wandering and this idiot on the road happened to cross while talking on the phone and i managed to brake in the last minute but i forgot to initially press the cluth while downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.

The car gave out a horrendous wail although i am pretty sure I did not change it all the way through and immediately pressed the clutch.

My car is Ritz diesel and its less than 4 months old.

Somebody

tell me the extent of damage that could have happened.

TIA

Catalyst_delhi · 9th March 2012, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adithya BG

I still cant believe that I did it but I really did this...it all happened in a flash my mind was wandering and this idiot on the road happened to cross while talking on the phone and i managed to brake in the last minute but i forgot to initially press the cluth while downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.

The car gave out a horrendous wail although i am pretty sure I did not change it all the way through and immediately pressed the clutch.

Nothing much would have happened - Gear boxes especially diesel ones can take some torture. relax and have a cool drive.

anujmishra · 9th March 2012, 10:08

Not much damage would have happened. Once in a while it happens with most of the drivers. It depends upon that time's situation and mindset. Do not think much and carry on.

Today, it happened with me also when I pressed less than half clutch and tried to downshifting and it gave me famous Krrrr... sound in my Tata Safari. It happens.

PGNarain · 9th March 2012, 10:39

You are not alone adithya!! I don't think any driver, no matter how proficient they may be, have EVER driven and not at least once downshifted/upshifted without properly depressing the clutch.

If your car is behaving and driving normally since the incident, you need not worry about having caused any damage to the gearbox. However, if you are really anxious, you can always have the car looked at during the next service.

Drive safe.

SmartCat · 9th March 2012, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adithya BG

Hi All,

I still cant believe that I did it but I really did this...it all happened in a flash my mind was wandering and this idiot on the road happened to cross while talking on the phone and i managed to brake in the last minute but i forgot to initially press the cluth while downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.

The car gave out a horrendous wail although i am pretty sure I did not change it all the way through and immediately pressed the clutch.

My car is Ritz diesel and its less than 4 months old.

Somebody

tell me the extent of damage that could have happened.

TIA

Nothing to worry. Truckers do this all the time!

Next time, do not downshift during emergency braking.

You would think that you are using the engine to reduce braking distance - but you are wasting atleast one second pressing the clutch, changing the gear and releasing the clutch. And the chances of you making mistakes during an action like this - right foot moving from the accelerator to the brake, left foot working the clutch, left hand working the gear lever, right hand holding on to the steering wheel - are very high.

The only time one would recommend downshifting is when you are doing high speed emergency braking, and the car starts skidding because of lack of ABS in the car.

ssh1979 · 9th March 2012, 14:48

Isn't it dependent on speed? If you had done that downshift when you were doing high speeds, I think the gear tooth would have broken resulting in a gearbox jam and absolute standstill?

What speeds were you doing? And nothing to worry I guess since (I assume) the vehicle behaved normally after the incident.

Adithya BG · 9th March 2012, 17:03

Thanks everyone for the reply. I can breathe easy now

@smartcat - I am not that good to have the presence of mind to down shift when I am in an absolute emergency. This was not that much of emergency and it was just instinctive. In an absolute emergency i would just kill the brakes and i dont think i would even be able to give the down shifting even a thought!

@ssh1979- It was in the middle of hosur road under the flyover and was just crossing an intersection. I dont think i was doing more than 40!

seedyk · 9th March 2012, 17:34

As he was downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, and keeping in mind its a new car, don't think he must be doing crazy speeds in order for such an extensive damage. (read gear tooth breaking)

IMO, you need not worry and continue savoring her.
BTW, congrats on the purchase

Rehaan · 9th March 2012, 18:19

If you notice sounds or harshness in the gearbox (2nd and 3rd gears) - you should get it opened up an looked at.

Else, you should be okay.

cya
R

Born2Slow · 9th March 2012, 18:29

My mom does this all the time , and I have done it too with different cars. May be it runs in the family

.

mempheS.D · 9th March 2012, 18:46

I guess this does happen once in a while. Modern engines can bear this abuse to a certain extent. Stand on your BRAKES in such situations. Engine braking surely does add that additional bite to braking BUT, as someone mentioned earlier, every second counts in an emergency scenario and it's better to just rely on your brakes than waste time downshifting.

If you're at high speed and want to slow down quickly, engine brake + normal brakes is the best way.

For the engine though, Engine brake doesn't hurt it, yes it puts load on it, uses a bit more fuel, but the problem isn't there- it's the clutch plate. All of the friction slowing down a car with engine brake goes on the clutch plate, which can prematurely wear the clutch. It's much easier to replace brake pads than clutch plates, but at a certain point of braking most pads start to "fade" - as in become less useful for braking - due to heat. This also prematurely wears the pads.

The ideal way of braking down an incline is to use a bit of engine brake, but tap the brakes on and off gently so they're not on all the time - this will ensure that they don't heat up to the fade point, and that you're not overloading the clutch.

somubj · 14th March 2012, 13:48

If the car is working fine after the incident, then no worries at all. If there is some problem in shifting gears or some unusual sound from the gearbox, then better get it checked.

I have done it multiple times on my swift, no damages as such.

govigov · 14th March 2012, 16:50

I would suggest that you look at an imaginary line on the road, drive at 60/100 till one point and try to come to a standstill before that imaginary line. reduce the distance between the time you start to break and the imaginary line. I usually pick a lamp post on the side and try to come to a stop before that.

That is how i learned to change gears and breaks while trying to come to a dead strand still in am emergency.

now it is a second nature and almost always downshift before coming to a dead halt.

abhijitl · 14th March 2012, 17:51

Hi, nothing will happen. Gearbox can take that kind of shock once in a while. They are reasonably strong.

Born2Slow · 14th March 2012, 17:59

Dont see why anybody would want to downshift in an emergency unless you have very bad brakes.

9th March 2012, 09:16	#1
Adithya BG Newbie Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Hi All, I still cant believe that I did it but I really did this...it all happened in a flash my mind was wandering and this idiot on the road happened to cross while talking on the phone and i managed to brake in the last minute but i forgot to initially press the cluth while downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. The car gave out a horrendous wail although i am pretty sure I did not change it all the way through and immediately pressed the clutch. My car is Ritz diesel and its less than 4 months old. Somebody tell me the extent of damage that could have happened. TIA Last edited by Adithya BG : 9th March 2012 at 09:34.
	() Thanks

9th March 2012, 10:08	#3
anujmishra Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,293 Thanked: 529 Times View My Garage	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Not much damage would have happened. Once in a while it happens with most of the drivers. It depends upon that time's situation and mindset. Do not think much and carry on. Today, it happened with me also when I pressed less than half clutch and tried to downshifting and it gave me famous Krrrr... sound in my Tata Safari. It happens.
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 10:39	#4
PGNarain BHPian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 419 Thanked: 636 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( You are not alone adithya!! I don't think any driver, no matter how proficient they may be, have EVER driven and not at least once downshifted/upshifted without properly depressing the clutch. If your car is behaving and driving normally since the incident, you need not worry about having caused any damage to the gearbox. However, if you are really anxious, you can always have the car looked at during the next service. Drive safe.
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 14:48	#6
ssh1979 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chennai Posts: 395 Thanked: 109 Times View My Garage	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Isn't it dependent on speed? If you had done that downshift when you were doing high speeds, I think the gear tooth would have broken resulting in a gearbox jam and absolute standstill? What speeds were you doing? And nothing to worry I guess since (I assume) the vehicle behaved normally after the incident.
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 17:03	#7
Adithya BG Newbie Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Thanks everyone for the reply. I can breathe easy now @smartcat - I am not that good to have the presence of mind to down shift when I am in an absolute emergency. This was not that much of emergency and it was just instinctive. In an absolute emergency i would just kill the brakes and i dont think i would even be able to give the down shifting even a thought! @ssh1979- It was in the middle of hosur road under the flyover and was just crossing an intersection. I dont think i was doing more than 40!
	() Thanks

9th March 2012, 17:34	#8
seedyk BHPian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 165 Thanked: 105 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( As he was downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, and keeping in mind its a new car, don't think he must be doing crazy speeds in order for such an extensive damage. (read gear tooth breaking) IMO, you need not worry and continue savoring her. BTW, congrats on the purchase
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 18:19	#9
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,198 Thanked: 36,140 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( If you notice sounds or harshness in the gearbox (2nd and 3rd gears) - you should get it opened up an looked at. Else, you should be okay. cya R
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 18:29	#10
Born2Slow BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bnagalore/Cochin Posts: 86 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( My mom does this all the time , and I have done it too with different cars. May be it runs in the family.
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2012, 18:46	#11
mempheS.D BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 536 Thanked: 219 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( I guess this does happen once in a while. Modern engines can bear this abuse to a certain extent. Stand on your BRAKES in such situations. Engine braking surely does add that additional bite to braking BUT, as someone mentioned earlier, every second counts in an emergency scenario and it's better to just rely on your brakes than waste time downshifting. If you're at high speed and want to slow down quickly, engine brake + normal brakes is the best way. For the engine though, Engine brake doesn't hurt it, yes it puts load on it, uses a bit more fuel, but the problem isn't there- it's the clutch plate. All of the friction slowing down a car with engine brake goes on the clutch plate, which can prematurely wear the clutch. It's much easier to replace brake pads than clutch plates, but at a certain point of braking most pads start to "fade" - as in become less useful for braking - due to heat. This also prematurely wears the pads. The ideal way of braking down an incline is to use a bit of engine brake, but tap the brakes on and off gently so they're not on all the time - this will ensure that they don't heat up to the fade point, and that you're not overloading the clutch.
	(1) Thanks

14th March 2012, 13:48	#12
somubj BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 126 Thanked: 16 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( If the car is working fine after the incident, then no worries at all. If there is some problem in shifting gears or some unusual sound from the gearbox, then better get it checked. I have done it multiple times on my swift, no damages as such.
	(1) Thanks

14th March 2012, 16:50	#13
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,739 Thanked: 1,222 Times View My Garage	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( I would suggest that you look at an imaginary line on the road, drive at 60/100 till one point and try to come to a standstill before that imaginary line. reduce the distance between the time you start to break and the imaginary line. I usually pick a lamp post on the side and try to come to a stop before that. That is how i learned to change gears and breaks while trying to come to a dead strand still in am emergency. now it is a second nature and almost always downshift before coming to a dead halt.
	() Thanks

14th March 2012, 17:51	#14
abhijitl BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 51 Thanked: 17 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Hi, nothing will happen. Gearbox can take that kind of shock once in a while. They are reasonably strong.
	(2) Thanks

14th March 2012, 17:59	#15
Born2Slow BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bnagalore/Cochin Posts: 86 Thanked: 49 Times	Re: Did not press the clutch while down shifting :( Dont see why anybody would want to downshift in an emergency unless you have very bad brakes.
	() Thanks