stupid question, what happen if you accidently up shift or down shift ?
or shift too soon or too late ? or on the wrong gear completely.. ?
How does the Smart react to that ?
That if you downshift at a speed in which the gear selected is too low for the speed at which you are traveling, you WILL overrev the engine. The electronic rpm limiter detunes the ignition so that obtaining rpm's over 6500 cannot happen. The engine overspeed control is NOT a mechanical governor.
The mechanical link between the wheels on the road, thru the transmission to the engine on a deceleration is pretty much physically unalterable (except for the gear chosen so, therefore, if the gear ratio selected is too low for that speed, the engine will attempt to *engine brake* or slow the inertia anyway and an overrev will occur.
Engines have been lost in S-2000 Hondas due to overreving because the drivers thought they were protected under all circumstances.....the situation with hitting the wrong gear on a downshift not included.....
...
The mechanical link between the wheels on the road, thru the transmission to the engine on a deceleration is pretty much physically unalterable (except for the gear chosen so, therefore, if the gear ratio selected is too low for that speed, the engine will attempt to *engine brake* or slow the inertia anyway and an overrev will occur...
Only if the gear selection is manual (S2000).
The smart gear is electronically selected and it is too "smart" to do what you asked and will not downshift to cause the overrev.
The 'lift' during manual shifting may be a helpful interim training method for some. (I started out trying it when I got my smart.) But it's completely unnecessary to go to that trouble to get smooth shifting from your transmission. With no effort on my part, the shifting smoothed out and has no jerkiness to it. (If all else fails: RELAX!)
Don't worry, somewhere around 5000 miles you don't notice the quirks anymore.
You don't notice them or they are gone? I could not believe that the driveline computer was dumber in the smart than an 18 year old ford in the bunch here. The computer does a great job shifting mine smooth as you could want up and down but then I let it and don't try to feed it mixed signals. Perhaps someone here can share how they apply brake to one wheel 3 times in a second... Drive it like it is a conventional automatic for a week, at the end of 5 days 99.9 % of quirky will be a memory. Try it what do you have to loose. The car will not allow you to lugg it. You can override the computers choice but only so far and then it takes over and prevents harm to itself.
enjoy karl
So what happen if you see a stop/red light coming in 10 sec ? can you just use the break without down shifting ? (im manual mode that is)
What if you have to pull over or stop the car on 4th gear.. does it get back to its 1st gear automatically ? or do you have to downshift all the way down from 4th to 1st ?
First question:Yes, manual downshifting is unnecessary.
Second Question:Yes, in the manual mode the smart returns automatically to 1st when you come to a stop.
Third Question:Hence,No, you do not need to downshift.
A good time to use manual mode is when the transmission starts hunting for the right gear. Example: driving about 40 mph on a hilly road.
One thing I notice when riding at night, the car dips and rises as you go through the gears; some approaching drivers perceive this as "flashing your lights at them".
Last edited by tverb; 04-09-2008 at 08:55 AM.
Reason: Placement of answers/content
Yes, in the manual mode the smart returns automatically to 1st when you come to a stop. Hence,No, you do not need to downshift.
A good time to use manual mode is when the transmission starts hunting for the right gear. Example: driving below 50 mph on a hilly road.
One thing I notice when riding at night, the car dips and rises as you go through the gears; some approaching drivers perceive this as "flashing your lights at them".
maximize your milage let it shift. the bobbing will go away
karl
One thing I notice when riding at night, the car dips and rises as you go through the gears; some approaching drivers perceive this as "flashing your lights at them".
Yeah, pretty common for stiffer suspension cars, especially sans self leveling xenons. Some time ago I used to go on back road drives and when the S2k was behind me, even during the day, the headlights looked like they were flashing - I'd always think he was sending a signal
Re this topic - perhaps this thread can be combined with other similar ones and stickied? This topic seems like it will keep coming up as new owners come on board..
Only if the gear selection is manual (S2000).
The smart gear is electronically selected and it is too "smart" to do what you asked and will not downshift to cause the overrev.
Driving in the manual mode. I think the poster was also referring to driving in the manual mode. I know there is no problem on downshifts in auto mode.
I just crossed 1000 miles, and I swear it's like the computer threw a switch. Engine got happier, trans got a LOT happier. Seems like a bit of throttle makes it all work better.
In just the same way, too. Seems like the transmission said to itself..."this is the way the guy wants to drive me so we'll work the way he wants it to"!!!LOL
And while we are on transmission comments, I will repeat my findings insofar as the car's *hunching* is concerned.
It definitely does notever hunch when in the auto mode when you come to a stop but still will in the manual mode....
Will others make a mental note of that and see if they concur with my experiences. Call it a sanity check....for me, that is.....
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