StandardShift.com

94Corolla5Speed - Does it do the same thing if you set the cruise when it's in gear and then slip it out of gear w/o using the clutch? Nice that we have rev limiters these days. I remember when there was nothing to cover up ones sins and if you sinned real bad the crankcase got ventilated, but we li...

They hired some professional fuel economy masters to drive the diesel van on a promotional trip and they got some ungodly fuel mileage with it - 56 mpg? I should try to find the press release. I know that I drove a 2.0 L gas (Neon SOHC motor) 5-speed MT minivan on a trip to Holland (Michigan), Sauga...

That's the attitude! I happen to know that some cars confusers can sense runaway rpms and cut the cruise control with no switch input. Try driving on level ground with the cruise control on and jiggle the stick so the trans pops out of gear and see if yours is smart enough to pause the cruise contro...

Well, not built for North American market since '94 model year, but built in Graz, Austria for overseas markets until end of '07 model year. 75% of Chrysler minivans built for Europe were 5-speed MT at one time. Most recent engine choices were 2.4L NA Gas or 2.5L T/D

Not so simple. If you are lucky, there is an upstop switch and if it is functioning properly the revs shouldn't hang or rise during shifts. Upstop switch can also be used to signal to cut off the cruise control so the engine rpm doesn't flare when the clutch is disengaged. If you don't have this swi...

It's all a matter of synchro capacity and trans & clutch disk inertia. Most people like low-effort downshifting, but couple that with seats that lack side support and then attempt a 5-3 downshift while driving on a curve at 80 mph and you just might overshoot the 3-4 gate and end up shifting int...

Exploding the clutch in this manner has nothing to do with re-engaging it and everything to do with the synchronizer doing it's job of synchronizing the input shaft speed. In fact, the clutch may blow while the synchronizer is still in the process of speeding up the input shaft, as long as the burst...

The trick would be for Kelly to salvage the meat and potatoes from a Spirit RT and swap them into the '89 Spirit. Talk about a sleeper.

Could this original post be about lift-throttle flare? In order to smooth in-gear throttle tip-out, many vehicles use the idle speed control function to functionally not let the throttle plate close so quickly (actually they bleed air past the throttle plate). Unfortunately, if the engine control co...

All too often, I've seen clutch disks exploded due to over-revving. Usually occurs when someone gets lost in the shift pattern and downshifts mistakenly to 1st gear at some speed that puts the clutch well over 12,000 rpm. Typically, they try to absolve themselves of all blame by stating "But it...

Well it was sunny in southeastern Michigan earlier this week. I sat on a picnic table on the bank of Paint Creek and downed some Guiness and coney dogs with my gearhead friends on St. Patrick's day. Yes, manual transmissions are not generally noted as hosting cutting-edge technology and they require...

In sunny Michigan (well, today it is!), a stick is something we throw for the dog to fetch, but what do we know? We drink Vernors and we call it "POP". I still run into folks that call them "Standard" transmissions, but in more and more cases the "Standard" transmission...

RITmusic2k - No, I am not a Scoutmasher, just an assistant in charge of outing logistics. This duty seems to fit the nature of an engineer better. You know, Scouting would be much more fun without all those boys!

I think you are missing the point. Automakers make Amish transmissions available so that "Slushboxes" can be sold as an option. It's a profit thing. It's even more of a profit thing than you might think, but that's where you'd be wrong. In North America, because of economies of scale, it i...

I tend to agree with padauk_dust. There is some minimum dollar amount that one needs to be ready to spend on the vehicle. Spend less, and you will make up for it in repair costs in a short while. My son calimsx that for Dodge or Plymouth Neons, the dollar figure is $1300. I also agree that you need ...