Is there a problem with the Getrag Transmission?

[SMART]

I have read and continue to hear a number of issues about the Getrag Transmission that is coming in the 2008 Smart. What I know is if any of our members have had issues while test driving this vehicle where the car seems to pop out of gear in cornering.

If so, under what driving condition did this take place? Did your Smart USA rep address this issue?

[SmartCard]

I haven't heard any issues about the new transmission. Aren't all the testers still 07's with the 6 speed tranny?

[MicroNut]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

Aren't all the testers still 07's with the 6 speed tranny?

If by testers you mean the street smart tour cars, they are 08 models and have the new 5-speed Getrag gearbox. Personally I have not heard or read anything about them popping out of gear, but that doesn't mean it ain't so...

[Lewis]

My tester drove ok in full automatic mode.

[oilman930]

I drove two different cars at two different street smart tours and neither one had any problem with popping out of gear. I drove both cars in manual mode.

While I had no problem driving the car, I have a feeling that the Getrag gearbox combined the the automated shift is going to cause Smart a lot of headaches. A lot of US drivers will not like how the gearbox operates.

A lot of U.S. drivers will like it. I like it because it is different.

[Old smart]

If there is a problem I think it lies in misunderstanding that the transmission is NOT an automatic in the sense of a common torque converter "slush box." It is a geared transmission that is electric servo-clutched vice foot-clutched. It just happens to have an automated feature that can move it between gears without operating the shift lever. It has been reported numerous times that the transmission performs better if one lifts the accelerator between shifts, just like is done with a foot-cluched box.

It is possible that when staying hard on the accelerator through the shifting that the internal pressure and friction between the gears trying to mesh can result in incomplete gear engagement. Standard shift drivers will recognize this; strictly auto drivers will never have experienced it.

[ALephart]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

If there is a problem I think it lies in misunderstanding that the transmission is NOT an automatic in the sense of a common torque converter "slush box." It is a geared transmission that is electric servo-clutched vice foot-clutched. It just happens to have an automated feature that can move it between gears without operating the shift lever. It has been reported numerous times that the transmission performs better if one lifts the accelerator between shifts, just like is done with a foot-cluched box.

It is possible that when staying hard on the accelerator through the shifting that the internal pressure and friction between the gears trying to mesh can result in incomplete gear engagement. Standard shift drivers will recognize this; strictly auto drivers will never have experienced it.

If true. Would'nt it be adviseable to incorperate a small (100ms) delay in gear changes?

Aaron Lephart

[smartie yank]

The trans actually shifts better if you keep your throttle position steady throughout the shifting process. During the shift the computer is controlling the engine speed, clutch action and transmission. The controls available to the driver, the throttle pedel, and shift lever/paddles are connected to the engine/transmission by wires via the computer (ECU).
The shifts seem painfully slow because there is a conventional dry plate friction clutch that must be released before and engaged after the actual shift. A conventional automatic transmission has a torque converter, fluid drive connection, instead of a clutch.
The smart clutch is operated by an electric motor driven worm gear actuater and the trans is shifted by cam followers in groves cut in an electric motor driven drum.
Again the ECU controls all of these actions and the only thing the driver can control in the manual mode is when this takes place and that is only if he does it within the operating parameters programed into the ECU.

[SmartBob]

Good info, thanks Yank!