Random Manual Question - Honda CRZ Forum: Honda CR-Z Hybrid Car Forums

gsilvers · 06-16-2011, 10:12 AM

So I've been driving manual cars for probably 10 years basically since I could drive but one thing has always nagged me and I have chosen you CRZ forum to help me figure out why...

Why sometimes when I am at a stop (car off or auto stopped in the CRZ) it is easy to push the car into gear without depressing the clutch and other times it is easy.

tsh · 06-16-2011, 01:03 PM

Not a good idea if it is in auto-stop!
I assume it is to do with the synchromesh, and the gear wheels needing to align as you push them together. If the engine is rotating, this provides a small amount of drag through the pilot bearing which will help in reaching alignment.

gsilvers · 06-16-2011, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsh

Not a good idea if it is in auto-stop!

Why not the car is not going to engage the motor unless the clutch is depressed?

MachVEvan · 06-16-2011, 11:50 PM

It is luck of the draw if it is easy or hard to get into gear with the engine stopped. If you have a normal manual park and engine off, you can probably get into any gear without using the clutch.

But for safety sake, treat it like a normal manual, and only shift into gear with the clutch depressed. :good habit:

...but on the CRZ, you are right.

gsilvers · 06-17-2011, 09:00 AM

Yea I never used to place my car in gear except when parking/turning it off but one day at a light while autostopped I found I could sometimes put the car in gear which I had no use for... but was a pretty cool thing

lexicon · 06-17-2011, 10:40 AM

The gear teeth need to be aligned for them to engage. The synchromesh takes care of that, but only if the box is still turning, which it will be if the car's moving - if it's all stopped then it's just luck if they align or not.

karsx · 08-22-2011, 01:56 AM

When shifting into first gear from stop (autostop), it takes more effort to shift with engine off then with engine on. What I do at the light is to press clutch in and tap gas. Engine restarts and it's easier to shift into first. Just wanted to share this.

TCroly · 08-22-2011, 02:50 AM

To better understand how a manual transmission works and exactly what is happening when you shift gears, go here: HowStuffWorks "How Manual Transmissions Work"

Ol'Man Driver · 08-22-2011, 04:25 AM

^Thank you for this link, TCroly. This made me the first time fully understand the mechanics behind a manual transmission.

GaZoom · 09-13-2011, 02:07 PM

Constant mesh makes no remark,
But those shifty dogs may bark!

06-16-2011, 10:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
gsilvers Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 364	Random Manual Question So I've been driving manual cars for probably 10 years basically since I could drive but one thing has always nagged me and I have chosen you CRZ forum to help me figure out why... Why sometimes when I am at a stop (car off or auto stopped in the CRZ) it is easy to push the car into gear without depressing the clutch and other times it is easy.

06-17-2011, 10:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
lexicon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 220	The gear teeth need to be aligned for them to engage. The synchromesh takes care of that, but only if the box is still turning, which it will be if the car's moving - if it's all stopped then it's just luck if they align or not. __________________ 2010 CR-Z GT 6MT Crystal Black Pearl

08-22-2011, 04:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ol'Man Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Good Old Europe, Austria Posts: 173	^Thank you for this link, TCroly. This made me the first time fully understand the mechanics behind a manual transmission. __________________

09-13-2011, 02:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
GaZoom Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 365	Constant mesh makes no remark, But those shifty dogs may bark! __________________ (9/3/2011) 2011 SSM CR-Z EX 6MT #016131 avg 37/43 mpg

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06-16-2011, 11:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
MachVEvan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 449	It is luck of the draw if it is easy or hard to get into gear with the engine stopped. If you have a normal manual park and engine off, you can probably get into any gear without using the clutch. But for safety sake, treat it like a normal manual, and only shift into gear with the clutch depressed. :good habit: ...but on the CRZ, you are right.

06-17-2011, 09:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
gsilvers Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 364	Yea I never used to place my car in gear except when parking/turning it off but one day at a light while autostopped I found I could sometimes put the car in gear which I had no use for... but was a pretty cool thing

08-22-2011, 01:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
karsx Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Los Angeles,CA Posts: 16	When shifting into first gear from stop (autostop), it takes more effort to shift with engine off then with engine on. What I do at the light is to press clutch in and tap gas. Engine restarts and it's easier to shift into first. Just wanted to share this.