6 mistakes that kill the gearbox

Manual transmissions are simple in design, reliable and can save a little fuel consumption (there are already automatic transmissions that are superior to them in this regard, but they are much more expensive).

No matter how reliable the device is, one should not forget that it often falls into the hands of a person who, for one reason or another, causes serious damage.

We suggest you get acquainted with 6 common mistakes that drivers often make (especially those with little experience).

Gear shift without clutch

It sounds rather strange, but there are drivers who do it. Usually these are newcomers or those who still drove a car with automatic transmission. They shift gears without pressing the clutch pedal. There is loud snoring, which quickly reminds you of a mistake.

At this moment, the gearbox is subjected to a huge load, and with the frequent repetition of this “exercise”, it simply fails. Of course, you can switch without a characteristic sound, but for this you need to know your car very well and feel when the speed corresponds to the desired gear.

Constantly depressed pedal

Many drivers, including those with extensive driving experience, like to keep the clutch depressed for a long time. They do this even when they stop at a traffic light or just wait for something without turning off the engine. This seemingly harmless action leads to wear of the ribs of the clutch pressure plate.

Other gearbox components also suffer from this as they are overloaded. The end result is a broken clutch and a tow truck call. And replacing a key component is a very expensive procedure.

Reverse gear before stopping

A classic of the genre - the driver tries to park and shifts into reverse before his car stops moving. Again, an unpleasant squeak is heard from the gears of the reverse gear. If this action is repeated frequently, reverse failure is almost certainly the result. This accordingly leads to a new service visit.

Shifting to the wrong gear

This often happens if the backstage is shaken and there is a strong backlash of the gear lever. In this case, trying to slow down the engine, the driver, instead of the third gear, may accidentally engage the first.

At fourth speed, the wheels of the car rotate much faster than the maximum number of revolutions allows when first gear is engaged. When releasing the clutch, the engine is forced to reduce speed, but when this happens suddenly, the damage can be not only on the gearbox and clutch, but also in the motor itself.

In some cases, he can even break the timing belt or break the keys on the gears (if the car is with a chain), which, in turn, leads to serious engine damage.

In addition to breaking important parts of the machine, it drastically reduces speed, which can affect the trajectory and create an emergency (especially on slippery roads).

Hand on gear lever

A fairly common mistake, as many drivers keep their hand on the armrest, but do not remove it from the gear lever. Sometimes they use this element as a support for the hand and transfer their weight to the handle.

Those who want to keep the gearbox and their car intact should know one thing - while driving, the driver's hands must be on the steering wheel.

Long clutch engagement

As everyone knows, clutch is the main part of the gearbox. It plays a key role in shifting gears, helping both acceleration and braking. The greatest damage to this is caused by the retention of the coupling half, as this leads to overheating of the disk and, consequently, to its faster wear.

For example, it is a mistake to keep it half pressed before starting to move or when the car is coasting. This necessarily wears it out and leads to its replacement. This procedure is almost always associated with the removal of the gearbox.

Everyone decides whether to pay attention to these things. As already mentioned, manual transmissions are designed and built to be reliable and have a long service life. The driver causes them the most damage. And the more he takes care of his car, the longer it will serve him faithfully.