Downshifting In Sss Instead Of Braking

[RK2707]

I use the sss as well, after all that's what its there for. :D

As for not being able to downshift sometimes it's due to the transmission shift calibration and the vehicle must be under a certain road speed before the trans will downshift. All types of electronic auto boxes have this in their programming. Basically to prevent engine overrun and trans damage.

So Falchoon don't be concerned it sounds like your trans is working fine.

[richdave]

I use the "gears" all the time to hold road speed into the citylink tunnel, down ferntree gully road hill. in 2nd or 3rd with the cruise set it makes sure I dont get pinged by the tax collectors...I mean the police. I also use the SSS to slow down sometimes.

[dankman]

My first little car was a suziki Hatchback. I bought it for 3k bearly 7 years ago when it only had 35,000 on the clock. The clutch was farked. When I replaced it I didnt have to touch it at all for the next 4 years as my bro's and sisters had it to learn to drive in as well over nearly 250,000 k.

When I bought it I was niaeve and the guy had me going that using the gears to slow was what killed it and why he wanted to get rid of it. I have since found out that the clutch was rooted cause he used it to hold the car in the one position at the lights ON HILLS.

I was taught by my dad and I passed on to my bro's and sisters that you must use the gears to help slow down, every little bit helps especially in an emergency. Never had a problem and to this day the suzi still has the origional clutch I put in it.

My next car my poor old EA had the same fault as the suzuki, the guy I bought it off lived on a hill and instead of doing handbreak starts he rode the clutch like there was no tomorrow. Had it replaced in 3 days and a lot of money later :( But now that I have sold it 5 years later only headache I had was a broken clutch cable.

Maybe that's wht people really mean, for the manuals at least, is that you shouldnt ride the clutch to hold the car in the one spot especialy on inclines, when the brakes will do???

My 2c

My god I'm a nerd

[Ford_Power]

I agree with sport, the only major problem I can see is if you shift down to 1st on a wet road to engine brake, I can see the rears momentarily skidding on the road (no traction control intervention here) - I used to do this all the time in my NA Fairlane auto.

By this time it could be too late...

Another point though.. the warranty is 3 years on these cars and the likelihood of the transmission packing it in even with some solid abuse is unlikely to be less than 3 years normally... Most problems will only appear after the 3 year mark...

So you could be left with a stuffed auto after maybe four years and no warranty :(

As a few have said. Brake pads are a lot cheaper than an auto rebuild.

Ross

[Guest HocuSChrisT]

I too asked the dealer whilst test driving before purchasing my Falc, and he said that it's fine to use them to brake. Another thing of interest, is that there is no difference in the stopping distance between premium brakes and normal brakes, the only difference is that premium brakes allow for more repeated braking, as in on a circuit or similar. I would of thought opposite. Apparently there is a mechanism that stops you from shifting down if too much compression is present.

[NT TURBO]

Alot here seem to think sss is something new and somehow makes the box stronger, its just an adaptation of any other manual selector. Sure if I'm having some fun its handy to select the gear yourself in and out of corners, off the lights whatever. but I did that in every other auto I've owned too. As for day to day driving theres no need to force early downshifts as it no doubt adds to the long term wear off its internal clutches IMHO.

[plonky]

The electronics of the car will allow you to shift into a gear as long as the electronics will accept the gear change.

Take a shift from 3rd into second to set up for a corner and maintain throttle through the corner.

The 'box won't allow you to shift dwon (slecte the gear) until the engine rpm and tailshaft rpm are at an acceptable level. This is designed to protect the 'box and the tailshaft from excess tailshaft revolutions.

In the AU, you could defeat the electronic override by applying the brakes with the left foot, pull the shifter back to second and floor the accelerator to 'kickdown' the 'box.

Reason being is that the AU XR8 was designed to not select 2nd over 140kph on a downshift, but it would accelerate out to 168kph on an upshift. By braking and kicking down at the same time you can defeat the electronic override.

For all of those engineers at Ford who thought the 'box wasn't strong enough. or the tailshaft revolutions were too high, I NEVER had a Ford 'box break during all the years of driving AU XE8's (from the first series right up to the 220)

Can't say that about the Late model camira though, three gearboxes in 40k is pretty ordinary!