P & M session

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

I assume the engine shutdown feature is exclusive to hybrids. I like things mechanically, electronically and even aesthetically simple so stuff like that doesn't appeal to me, and may even make me feel rather uneasy. I'm the type who would not only insist on a manual transmission, I would probably back it with a four-speed auxiliary given the opportunity. I reckon double low gear would make traffic jams a lot easier to handle.

The only newer technology I've been spoiled by is DVD players and LCD monitors. When I got a laptop in '05 and saw how clear the display was compared to my 17" ViewSonic CRT I was like, whoa. I was reluctant to give up my first-gen Mac G3 but it barely ran and Win XP grew on me anyway. I still used CRTs on desktops for some time after that but gradually gave that up.

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler has a six speed manual transmission that seems to have a real low first gear. When driving it, I also shift through all the gears, instead of starting out in a higher gear, which is harder on the clutch.
Regarding the engine cut-off feature, there's is some gasoline-only cars out there that have it. I believe it's not a good system.
The Prius' design doesn't use an alternator or a starter. Everything is done by the traction motor and the invertor system.
There's a theory of operation found on the internet.

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler has a six speed manual transmission that seems to have a real low first gear. When driving it, I also shift through all the gears, instead of starting out in a higher gear, which is harder on the clutch.
Regarding the engine cut-off feature, there's is some gasoline-only cars out there that have it. I believe it's not a good system.
The Prius' design doesn't use an alternator or a starter. Everything is done by the traction motor and the invertor system.
There's a theory of operation found on the internet.

That sounds like the old granny gear, it's probably related to the off-road nature of the Jeep. I think it would come in handy if you were off-roading and needed to crawl over some really ugly terrain. Old Ford farm trucks with the 4 speed always had that, it's great for starting an overloaded trailer moving without burning your clutch, not so great for city commuting.

I think you might actually put less wear and tear on the clutch by shifting frequently with the engine putting out very little torque, than by starting in a high gear and dumping the clutch into a situation where it has to close under a big load - like say starting rolling in 3rd gear.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler has a six speed manual transmission that seems to have a real low first gear. When driving it, I also shift through all the gears, instead of starting out in a higher gear, which is harder on the clutch.
Regarding the engine cut-off feature, there's is some gasoline-only cars out there that have it. I believe it's not a good system.
The Prius' design doesn't use an alternator or a starter. Everything is done by the traction motor and the invertor system.
There's a theory of operation found on the internet.

I knew one guy who had a 1988 Ford F-150 with a 4-speed; He would always start out in second gear, probably not a good idea considering what I've read here. He also drove a fuel truck with a splitter switch so I couldn't tell what was going on there.

I'm not sure what a traction motor is; I've heard of traction elevators but I hadn't heard the term used elsewhere. There's another thing to look up.

I found this fairly recently, it's the result of someone who drove her VW Transporter everywhere in third gear because she didn't know how to operate a manual.

[Celt]

Luckily, my '10 Focus radio is fairly easy to use. It has USB/CD/FM/AM/Sirius.
The car at this point has less than 10k on it....so I intend to keep it for awhile.

[bgadow]

I've never owned anything new enough to have such a "stereo" though we've rented some. The good thing is I never had the notion to listen to the radio while I had them. One of my daily annoyances at work is that I have to obtain, if at all possible, the odometer readings from all the vehicles I look at. Some electronic odometers are great (most Chrysler products & many newer models from everyone else are automatic when you open the door). On some GM models I have no idea whatsoever how to access it. Earlier this week I was trying to extract this simple bit of information from a 3 year old Explorer. The only thing I accomplished was to have the radio suddenly turn on full blast. Phooey!

As for me, I like knobs...something I can grab. Um...I mean, on the radio

[MadMan]

Originally Posted by bgadow

Some electronic odometers are great (most Chrysler products & many newer models from everyone else are automatic when you open the door).

Chrysler has always been good about that. That feature dates back to the late 80s, with any of their cars that had the digital instruments - open the driver's door, and the odometer wakes up. So far as I can tell, they've kept that nice feature. Most other cars with digital odometer readings aren't as thoughtfully designed, sadly.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by MadMan

Chrysler has always been good about that. That feature dates back to the late 80s, with any of their cars that had the digital instruments - open the driver's door, and the odometer wakes up. So far as I can tell, they've kept that nice feature. Most other cars with digital odometer readings aren't as thoughtfully designed, sadly.

When I took out my new-to-me 2017 Jeep Compass, naturally I tried the radio. When I brought it back, I shut off the engine and pulled to key, the radio didn't shut off, so I shut it off before I left the car. As it turns out, the radio shuts off when the driver's door is open.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

When I took out my new-to-me 2017 Jeep Compass, naturally I tried the radio. When I brought it back, I shut off the engine and pulled to key, the radio didn't shut off, so I shut it off before I left the car. As it turns out, the radio shuts off when the driver's door is open.

GM has been doing that for a while Both my burban and its envoy predecessor have that. Also after a few minutes with the engine off, it will shut off the radio to avoid draining your battery.

[maxhifi]

Not sure, but 20 sounds low, I'd imagine you'd be shifting that one before 10 mph. It sounds like half what it would normally be. Out of curiosity what year was the Peugeot? Don't see many of those around.

[jr_tech]

1960 model 403... I was just a kid so I usually went to red line in first. That was a whopping 5100 RPM, as I recall.

jr

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

1960 model 403... I was just a kid so I usually went to red line in first. That was a whopping 5100 RPM, as I recall.

jr

How cool is that.. what a neat car.

[MadMan]

The Prius 'transmission' is actually quite fascinating. As a transmission mechanic, I had the opportunity once to open one up. Everyone always kept telling me it was a CVT transmission.

In a manner of speaking, I suppose. But no, it was a lie! There's next to nothing inside of them. There's 2 big ass electric motor/generators, the final drive (differential), and then a little planetary gear that is the armature of the 1st motor. There are no clutches, no torque converter, no hydraulics, and no electronics. The engine is directly coupled to the planetary gear, and the way it's set up is that the planetary just freewheels there. Unless the motor is energized, then it sort of holds it, and the engine is 'directly' coupled to the wheels, the amount of 'slip' varying by how much electricity is sent to the motor. Reverse is accomplished electrically.

Fun fact, if you have a Prius, you can use pretty much any oil as a trans fluid. They say it has to be Toyota's basic trans fluid, but really, any old trans fluid is fine, because no hydraulics, and no clutches.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by MadMan

The Prius 'transmission' is actually quite fascinating. As a transmission mechanic, I had the opportunity once to open one up. Everyone always kept telling me it was a CVT transmission.

In a manner of speaking, I suppose. But no, it was a lie! There's next to nothing inside of them. There's 2 big ass electric motor/generators, the final drive (differential), and then a little planetary gear that is the armature of the 1st motor. There are no clutches, no torque converter, no hydraulics, and no electronics. The engine is directly coupled to the planetary gear, and the way it's set up is that the planetary just freewheels there. Unless the motor is energized, then it sort of holds it, and the engine is 'directly' coupled to the wheels, the amount of 'slip' varying by how much electricity is sent to the motor. Reverse is accomplished electrically.

Fun fact, if you have a Prius, you can use pretty much any oil as a trans fluid. They say it has to be Toyota's basic trans fluid, but really, any old trans fluid is fine, because no hydraulics, and no clutches.

The main reason I'm driving one as a daily driver is because of the high degree of engineering that went into it, plus the 45+MPG.
This ones a 2011 bought used with 89K miles. The older one I had was a 2006 bought with 87K. The Prius models are all built in Japan.
My other three vehicles are US built Mopars.
Regarding the Transmission fluid, certain 60's era Mopars with the Power-flite transmissions used the engine oil as the transmission fluid.

[zeno]

Auto stop/start is big with Ford. I wouldnt have it. Always defaults on
unless you mod it or buy a kit. Ford says they have a better starter &
battery so no extra wear. Begs the question why not put the better
stuff in ALL the cars ?

With manuals I almost always started in 2nd. Only time for 1st was
when you were doing comparative driving or a smoke show. Another
feature lost on automatics is the D2 that skips 1st. In snow both my
Crown Vic & Roadmaster would just spin the tires in 1st the second
you let off the brakes.

Interesting thing on gearing. The Mt. Washington Auto Road uses
GMC vans as limos.
https://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/guided-tours
They are geared so you have to accelerate to go DOWN hill. Let off the gas
& you come to a stop.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

[mr_rye89]

Kinda late here, But I have a 1990 Dodge w250 with an NP435 granny 4 (and likely 4:10 gears in the diffs) and I never take off out of first unless I'm ripping small trees out of the ground. 1st is like 6:1 or something ridiculous like that. It even says in the manual to take off out of second for normal driving.

I'm also not crazy about the old 4 speeds. my truck is at 3000rpm at 65mph in 4th.