transmission question

[konati]

I had my smart on the freeway for the first time. What I noticed is that when I needed what I will call the passing gear, it would not shift out into a higher gear. Is that normal?

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by konati

I had my smart on the freeway for the first time. What I noticed is that when I needed what I will call the passing gear, it would not shift out into a higher gear. Is that normal?

how did you get into what you call passing gear. If your car is not broken in yet you should not be there... you get to "passing gear" by putting your foot to the floor ????

[Fredvon4]

depends on how fast you were going

At 70~75 I can stab the foot feed to the floor and have the trany drop to 4th

But if I am near 82~85 MPH she will not do the down shift unless I slip it over to manual mode and drop down one... but in this range there is not much acceleration because you are already near the RPM limit in that gear

[bull8042]

I'm with Karl on this one, if the car is still in the break-in phase, I wouldn't even try to get it to kick down.
Both posts are correct however, below 70 or so just stick your foot in it.

[Karl Roth]

The question focus to me is upshift, my question is from what.
what is "Normal" is the car will hold a gear as long as it will accelerate the car to redline if that is what your foot on the gas pedal tells it to do.
foot feed for our farmer/ranchers

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by bull8042

I'm with Karl on this one, if the car is still in the break-in phase, I wouldn't even try to get it to kick down.
Both posts are correct however, below 70 or so just stick your foot in it.

At that speed even if it kicks down. In 4th gear and 4500rpm, the smart will be doing 90 and is both power, speed and rpm limited there. 4500 rpm is perfectly fine even if the car is not broken in ...not excessive there. Anything above that would be, however. You gotta get those rods stretched and you won't do it if you baby it too much.

Fred is correct.

[bull8042]

I won't argue as to whether it would definitely be detrimental to the car. However, stomping on a car not yet broken in and loosened up can't be good for it. I would just hesitate against a blanket recommendation saying it is just fine to wind it out...
Just my $0.01 (Sorry,that was all I had leftover after buying lunch)

[Fredvon4]

well not that a read the question I am not sure what is being asked.... at first bluch I though he could not get a "passing Gear" down shift.. like 5th down to 4th....now it seems to read once donw shifted it will not up shift to 5th...

so hell I do not know any thing but this.... I limited MY motor to Under 3500RPM for first 500 and under 4500RPM for next 500.... now at 2500 miles I find the rev limiter a few times a day in certain traffic situations......grin

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

well not that a read the question I am not sure what is being asked.... at first bluch I though he could not get a "passing Gear" down shift.. like 5th down to 4th....now it seems to read once donw shifted it will not up shift to 5th...

so hell I do not know any thing but this.... I limited MY motor to Under 3500RPM for first 500 and under 4500RPM for next 500.... now at 2500 miles I find the rev limiter a few times a day in certain traffic situations......grin

Does the limiter cut fuel ignition or both?
still having fun afer all these years
karl

[bull8042]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

well not that a read the question I am not sure what is being asked.... at first bluch I though he could not get a "passing Gear" down shift.. like 5th down to 4th....now it seems to read once donw shifted it will not up shift to 5th...

so hell I do not know any thing but this.... I limited MY motor to Under 3500RPM for first 500 and under 4500RPM for next 500.... now at 2500 miles I find the rev limiter a few times a day in certain traffic situations......grin

I agree, a little clarification would be nice. Hopefully the original poster will return to claim his responses.