mis-shifting

Today I was driving in traffic and everyone slowed down on this hill so I shifted from second to neutral and then quickly tried to put it in first but accidentally put it into third. I was on my way to the gas station so I stopped and went through all the gears and they didn't grind or anything so I think it is okay, but I just had the transmission rebuilt a few months ago and I really don't want anything to break. How bad is it to mis-shift like that once in a while? Also, when I was driving later today I shifted to third and it felt loose but then after that it was fine every other time I shifted to third.

Well I never put my car into 1st unless I'm at a dead stop or going under like 1mph. I meet with alot of resistance, so I figure if it doesn't want to go in, I wont force it. I just give it a quick rev, pop it back into 2nd, and ride the clutch out a bit longer.

That aside, what happened when you put it in 3rd? Did it stall, or did it go and just kind of rumble a bit because it was too low in the rpm band?

Mis-shifting happens to everyone, better it be like yours, than the other way around. Real damage can occur if you meant for 3rd, and jammed it into 1st at 70mph. If you miss the shift completely, you just get that dreaded grinding noise, but what you did is probably the least likely to damage anything. I wouldn't worry about it.

??

wait a sec, so you were trying to shift into first gear but accidentally shifted into 3rd. I dont think thats going to hurt your car a bit :wink:

No that wont hurt your car at all! worst case scenario it stalls out but it wont damage a damn thing.
the only way you damage something is if you hear a loud crack and then the gear wont go in.

even that rattleing noise you hear when you dont quite sink the gear in all the way, even that isnt enough to break anything. thats just the dog-teeth meshing but modern day trannies are built to resist that.

Shifting into first without having come to a complete stop.....thats how you break trannies, thats also probably why you had to get a rebuilt!

Stalling a car like that won't hurt it as mentioned. When I fist started driving I did that same thing a few times. I wouldn't worry about shifting it into first when your going like 70mph. You would have to use a lot of force to get that to go into 1st gear at those speeds. If some thing were to be worng with the transmission which I'm sure there isn't it would probably grind when you downshifted into certain gears unless you double-clutch before downshifting.

thank you, I think it's fine. I was just nervous that I broke it after I just had it fixed!