Downshifting

DJ CptnCrnch · Post by **DJ CptnCrnch** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:35 am

usually when you downshift in a stick shift car, the car slows down

my car doenst do this...what do u think is wrong? Does anyone else have this problem??

Frizbe · Post by **Frizbe** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:24 am

DJ CptnCrnch wrote:usually when you downshift in a stick shift car, the car slows down

my car doenst do this...what do u think is wrong? Does anyone else have this problem??

Do you let off the clutch pedal?

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:18 am

^^^

How many miles on your car?
You might have lack of cylinder pressures, and that might cause your car not to slow down.Check to see if you have atleast 120psi of cylinder pressure amongst the 4 cylinders.
You ever hear a big rig down shift to slow down, well thats the same idea with doing it with our cars. The only side effect is your also using more gas Vs just coasting to a stop.

lucius · Post by **lucius** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:45 am

compression (cylinder pressure) is right on target in my opinion. if your car used to slow down and you are noticing it less recently, i'd say check your cylinders. if you are comparing this car to another, keep in mind that a stock neon engine is not running at a very high compression ratio... this would equate to less slowing.

DJ CptnCrnch · Post by **DJ CptnCrnch** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:04 pm

i only have about 24,000 miles on the car...its a 04. It used to slow down, but now it doesnt. What woulc cause the compression to drop??

Im not comparing it to another car, just in general u should slow down when u down shift.

nodestiny · Post by **nodestiny** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:05 pm

BlackRoseRacing wrote:^^^

How many miles on your car?
You might have lack of cylinder pressures, and that might cause your car not to slow down.Check to see if you have atleast 120psi of cylinder pressure amongst the 4 cylinders.
You ever hear a big rig down shift to slow down, well thats the same idea with doing it with our cars. The only side effect is your also using more gas Vs just coasting to a stop.

Incorrect. The PCM detects downshifting with closed throttle and ecentialy shuts off the injectors. In the manual, it is recommended to downshift to increase fuel efficiency as well as lower wear and tear on components (somewhere in the shifting section of the manual).

neonsxt0486 · Post by **neonsxt0486** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:48 pm

Mine does the same thing. It only did it after I had the exhaust put on. With the stock exhaust when you downshift you could feel the car slow down real fast. With it open it seems to just make more noise and not slow the car.

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:00 pm

No way its a compression problem, imagine the powerloss the car would have, much easier to notice than not slowing down when you are downshifting.

So assuming you know how to downshift its probably your clutch slipping.

Smoke · Post by **Smoke** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:26 am

could be the clutch if its getting worn out, but if it is not then it should find grip after a moment even when you downshift incorectly, right?

Ifixyawata · Post by **Ifixyawata** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:13 am

I read that part of the manual. Supposedly downshifting when approaching a stop improves fuel economy and prolongs engine life. I'm not sure about the second part of that, except maybe that the engine is still pumping oil to all it's vital organs but there's no load on 'em. Oh well.

Even in my '05 (17k miles) coming down a steep grade, downshifting doesn't slow the car down more than a few mph till the hill levels off.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:25 am

I downshift all the time; every single time i slow down. If im going fast, i downshift and apply light brakes. in wet conditions, avoiding the break (especially heavy breaking) can decrease the chances of locking up and crashing. also, as nodestiny wrote i believe, downshifting reduces wear (breaks!!!) on components and helps improve fuel efficiency (though im not so sure about the PCM shutting off injectors). Anyone know why idle is higher than normal when coasting with the clutch in, but normal when standing still? that happened in my old escort too, i always thought it was odd but never gave it much thought until now.

anyways, check compression, clutch, and im sure various other things could be responsible as well. bring it into dodge u should still be under warranty, have them do a checkup and test drive with em and show the mech what u mean. good luck

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:29 am

mine slows down.... i would go see a mechaninc for that one.

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:57 am

well, sorry but anything that works for deaceleration should work the same way for acceleration, so there are only 2 options, you dont have compression, in that case you would feel a huge power loss, or your clutch is slipping and you should feel that too in acceleration, if you dont probably you dont really know how to downshift

RopeRat1 · Post by **RopeRat1** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:32 pm

Look at the IAC motor operation and make sure it is closing properly.

It may be hanging open and allowing the engine idle to remain too high while you're decelerating.

Jonathan (RopeRat1)

Sparky828 · Post by **Sparky828** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:15 am

Downshifting my atx slows it down... Not like that has anything to do with this discussion...

Baal · Post by **Baal** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 3:45 am

Sparky828 wrote:Downshifting my atx slows it down... Not like that has anything to do with this discussion...

and it hurts the tranny a lot, dont.

2GN.ORG

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