Let’s face it, most of us have grown quite content with transmissions that shift themselves. So content, in fact, that manual transmissions are rapidly heading for the junkyard of antiquated automotive technology. There they’ll be in good company with floor-mounted dimmer switches, CD players, and vent windows.
Where, though, does that leave car enthusiasts who want the rush of actually stirring the transmission themselves? Well, sort of nowhere.
Here is the good news: The impending death of manual transmissions doesn’t necessarily mean we can no longer shift the transmission ourselves. Many automatic transmissions provide for manual shifting. More often than not, it’s through the gearshift lever.
Manual mode is to the right or left of the “D” on the shift gate. Pushing the gearshift lever in that direction locks it into manual mode until the driver pushes it back into drive. Once in manual mode, look for the plus and minus (+/-) icons. Tapping the shift lever toward the plus icon upshifts a gear. Tapping it toward the minus icon downshifts a gear.
A growing number of vehicles, however, come equipped with paddle shifters. More fun and making for quicker shifts than the shift lever, paddle shifters can completely alter your driving experience for the better. Even many manual car enthusiasts grudgingly admit there is life after the clutch.
Paddle shifters are a steering wheel-mounted alternative to the gearshift lever for manually shifting a transmission.
Usually thought of as a feature of automatic transmissions, paddle shifters were first used in race cars with manual transmissions. They can still be found in an occasional manual-transmission application.
Mounted on either the back of the steering wheel or on the steering column, you will find paddle shifters at either the 9 and 3 o’clock or the 10 and 2 o’clock position. They may be constructed of plastic or metal.
Basically, you will bring paddle shifters into play when you want to be more engaged in the driving experience. Being able to shift gears gives you the ultimate freedom during your drive. Another reason is when you need to have more control, like driving in snow or towing downhill.
Adding to the fun of driving along twisty roads is downshifting a gear or two. Tapping your paddle shifter while going into a curve to increase the torque for a more aggressive curve exit can give you that rush you are looking for. The same goes for when passing a slower vehicle. Kicking down a gear as you begin making that pass increases torque and acceleration.
Although the paddles may operate differently based on the vehicle, usually you upshift by toggling the right paddle and downshift toggling the left paddle.
An automatic transmission seems rather simple as it seamlessly and smoothly goes from gear to gear. Nothing to it, right? Not so fast.
Think of it more like a duck gliding along the surface of a lake. Smooth, effortless, it’s an exercise in tranquility. Not really. Below the surface, its little webbed feet are going 90 mph.
Although an automatic transmission functions mostly unnoticed, there is a lot at work internally making those nearly seamless shifts possible.
There’s no reason to wade into the details here, but manually shifting an automatic transmission disrupts the normal order of things. Because of this, carmakers have built safeguards into the system to avoid any accidental shifts.
In some cars, to shift an automatic transmission manually it must be in manual mode. In many vehicles, putting the transmission in manual mode for paddle shifters mimics the process for manual shifting with the gearshift lever.
For other vehicles, the paddles can be used any time the transmission is in drive. In these vehicles, using the paddles will place the transmission in manual mode. Returning to fully automatic mode usually requires holding in one of the paddles for a two or three count and then releasing it.
Once in manual mode, the paddles do most of the work. The driver does most of the thinking. Learning when to upshift and downshift comes with practice.
Appropriate shifting has everything to do with an engine’s revolutions per minute, or rpm. The idea of a transmission is to maximize an engine’s efficiency. That is, to get the most out of the least rpm. The higher the rpm, the harder the engine is working.
The harder an engine is working, the more fuel it burns, and the more wear and tear on its components. A typical automatic transmission will upshift when the rpm reaches about 2,500.
When using paddle shifters, you will only be in manual mode to a point. The carmaker built certain safeguards into the system to keep you, and the transmission, safe.
Most of them have to do with not exceeding safe rpm limits. Here are a few of them:
Damaging your transmission by using paddle shifters is virtually impossible. However, if you find your transmission needs work, you can use our pricing tool to find a fair price for your car maintenance and repair.
There really isn’t much for you to fret about here. Chances are, you’ll never be inside a vehicle with a manual transmission and paddle shifters. Only a small percentage of new cars today come with manual transmission.
If you do find yourself in a Formula race car or something similar with an actual clutch and paddle shifters, you can forget about manual mode. You are already in it.
Beyond that, you’ll need to depress and release the clutch when accelerating from a stop. Then depress it again when you come to a full stop. Otherwise, toggle those paddles as you would with an automatic.
Basically, as far as the driver is concerned, paddle shifters work the same regardless of the transmission type. It’s still upshifting and downshifting with paddles to override an automatic transmission’s pre-programmed shift points.
Many drivers never so much as touch their shift paddles, well, at least on purpose, that is. No law says you must. However, mastering their operation can be fun. Not to mention, they can increase your control.
We aren’t fond of showing you how the sausage is made, but here are brief descriptions of the three types of automatic transmissions using paddles for manual shifting.
Depending on your vehicle, you may be able to start out in second gear. This is helpful on slippery surfaces like snow, ice, and gravel.
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