Just have one question, is it normal when traveling at speeds of about 55 miles {obviously slowing down to mike a super quick right or left} with the clutch pushed all the way in, the stick will not allow me to place it in first, lowest it will allow me to slide into is second, but once down to about 25 or less it slides right in. Is this a safety feature?

 

you never want to downshift into first unless you are under 15mph unless you want to blow your tranny apart, even then I still wouldn't second will work fine. I only go back to first when im all the way stopped at a light or a stop sign. its probably similar to how you cant shift into reverse unless you are stopped.

 

Thanks I do understand that it totally makes sense. Only asking cause I do know on my GT 05 there is a rev limiter as well. So I am guessing since my car has every factory option for 05 that maybe that was a safety option and or Mustang's all have it? Like I said I never pulled the clutch out, it just simply even with the clutch in would not allow me to place it in 1st. So I'm guessing that's a good thing right? Then once I'm stopped it pops in like butter (unless cold then its a little ruff) lol

 

I've never tried to shift into first going that fast, but yeah, it should lock you out at that speed.

 

To get it in first at 55 mph when you push in the clutch, the poor synchronizer has to grab the cone and spin things up to speed ..... things like a clutch disc. The first gear ratio is about 3.38:1. Likely at 55 mph with a 26" diameter rear tire and a 3.31 rear axle, the drive shaft is turning 2,353 rpm and some change, multiply that by the first gear ratio 3.38 and you'll find that at 55 mph in 1st gear, that clutch disc has to spin 7,955 RPM.

What you think will happen when you let the clutch out?

It's crazy to try and make that happen.

 

Thats normal, yes. They don't mention a lockout feature in the owners manual, but they do warn you not to downshift to 1st at speeds over 15 MPH and say failure to do so will damage the clutch.

 

Well I'm glad I was not able to and everything is fine. Thanks at least I know do not try and concur what I couldn't do and end up doing it and blowing up my tranny.


Good looking out guys.

 

On a similar note I've noticed that if I don't put my car in a gear, say 5th, before I put it in Reverse it makes a horrible grinding sound. Is this normal?

 

Seems odd. I know 99-04s had TSBs on grinding at idle trying to go into 1st or reverse while stopped. Not sure about anything newer. Are you all the way stopped when trying to go into reverse? Mine will kinda grind a sec if I'm kinda rolling when I put mine into reverse sometimes.

 

If she fights you going into reverse, don't force it. Hold the clutch in, shift into first, and then into reverse. She will usually slide in then.

On the downshifting, I find it is a lot of fun to heel-and-toe downshift through the gears as I slow. It isn't a traditional heel-and-toe; the pedals aren't ideally positioned for it. While braking, I let my right foot straddle the throttle and brake, blip the throttle as I downshift, and when I release the clutch she falls nice and easy into a rev-matched downshift.

It seems to me, with the stock pedals that the faster you are going and the harder you are braking, the sweeter this technique works. If you aren't used to it, getting the rhythm takes a while. But once you have it, it's just plain fun.

 

Weird that you could shift it into R from 5th, I ran into this from the owners manual when I was looking at it for my earlier post:

The gearshift lever can only be moved into R (Reverse) by moving it
from left of 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth) before shifting into R (Reverse).
This is a lockout feature that protects the transmission from
accidentally being shifted into R (Reverse) from 5 (Overdrive).


Either way, the dealer's told me that reverse doesn't have a synchro, so it is a little trickier. I usually let my car roll a little or inch it slightly forward and then it pops right in.