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Interesting, what vehicle is this? Does the engine lug down real low at idle when in second?
2007 Charger autostick. No idea on the idle as I never use the start in second feature (I just know it's there), no need to with the traction control system.
My 16 year old son tells me it makes for better traction on slippery roads by starting out from a stop in 2nd gear rather than first with an automatic transmission vehicle. (down shifting rather than using drive).
I always thought that a vehicle needed to be in first gear when accelerating from a complete stop.
Does anyone know if using 2nd gear is okay to start out from a complete stop and, if so, does this provide better traction on slippery roads?
I would greatly appreciate any information from experienced drivers/mechanics about this.
Sure does. First gear is the lowest range and the most likely to slip. Some vehicles are equipped with "winter" mode that does exactly what your son told you. Some even use 3rd. These days, a lot of automatics are out of 1st at 10mph; starting in 2nd is the equivalent of starting in 1st in the older 3 and 4 speed automatics.
Keep in mind, placing the selector in 2 on an automatic transmission, will not achieve the same thing. It has to be a transmission smart enough to skip the 1-2 shift and start in 2 or 3 (whatever is selected).
Hes right but if the roads are that slick its best to be off of the roads.
Then I guess I'm stuck at home for 3 months out of the year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheViking85
Starting from 2nd, even in a Manual, doesn't strain the drivetrain too much. You use the clutch to adjust slightly, which is the main concern when staring from full stop at a higher gear. You'll use some clutch (on a manual, so slightly off topic this), but I've started my 86hp Corolla from all gears 1st to 5th, and though 5th gear starts are completely useless and wear more clutch than probably 100 regular starts it IS doable, and as long as you know what to do, it doesn't strain the drivetrain.
In my 86hp Corolla I'll use second for any starts where the wheels are still moving, even barely, because the 1st gear is so short it gets too jaggedy when in 1st. I've also made countless of second gear starts when I've forgotten to shift into 1st. Works fine, just slower.
You cant start from anything but 1st gear in an automatic transmission. When you put the shifter in "2" that just means 2nd gear will be the final gear it will shift to. When the car comes to a stop the transmission AUTOMATICALLY downshifts to first, it just doesn't stay in one gear all the time.
Not true, many auto trannies are designed/programmed to start in 2nd gear when you put it in 2, for precisely this purpose.
The op says this is an AUTOMATIC transmission... So the manual trans posts do not apply.
Your Son is correct BUT you cannot get automatic transmissions to start off in second in 99% of vehicles out there. If you put the gear selector in the 2 position, it starts in first and only shifts into second so it will not matter
The op says this is an AUTOMATIC transmission... So the manual trans posts do not apply.
Your Son is correct BUT you cannot get automatic transmissions to start off in second in 99% of vehicles out there. If you put the gear selector in the 2 position, it starts in first and only shifts into second so it will not matter
Not true, might be true for american cars but not european cars.
VW, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes all have the ability to start from second, some of them do it as a default (such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo), Lexus, I assume will have that possibility, as well as seats with the VW sourced trannys. There's a good number of other cars that'll have it too, mainly because many of them share technology.
...A Lambo should be able to do so.
You got to remember than the more advanced manufacturers out there, now power their cars with 7 and 8 speed auto boxes. They utilize the second gear (either from stop or by severely short shifting) precisely to hinder wheelspin.
Our Subie Legacy has a "Manual" button on the shifter, that will allow you to "lock" the transmission in 2nd or 3rd gear. Apparently starting in 2nd helps some people in slick conditions, I will re-read the owner's manual and see if I can make sense of why this feature is offered.
Subie generally know what they are talking about when it comes to traction in slick conditions, so I'll offer up the idea that at least on a Subie this is not 100% BS.
With that said I don't think if you have good throttle modulation there is any benefit starting out in 2nd.
Our Subie Legacy has a "Manual" button on the shifter, that will allow you to "lock" the transmission in 2nd or 3rd gear. Apparently starting in 2nd helps some people in slick conditions, I will re-read the owner's manual and see if I can make sense of why this feature is offered.
Subie generally know what they are talking about when it comes to traction in slick conditions, so I'll offer up the idea that at least on a Subie this is not 100% BS.
With that said I don't think if you have good throttle modulation there is any benefit starting out in 2nd.
"Good throttle modulation" can only do so much. Reduced torque multiplication can help with the rest.
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