• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Am I effed... or will it be ok this one time?

  • Thread starter Thread starter fox racer
  • Start date Start date Sep 7, 2005

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Sep 7, 2005
#1
  • Sep 7, 2005
  • #1
ok, well i effed up toniote. i came to a stop sign, but i didnt kno i was in 3rd (SAVE the comments) and so i almost stalled (obviously) so i gave it gas (but too much) and eased off the clutch. after abour 10 ft i got going then noticed wat happened, hit the clutch went into first and drvoe on.

but once i notice i was in third, it STUNK like burnt clutch. it was prevelant but went away preety quick too. the dam thing only has about 600 miles on ti too, so tell me, di i totally mess up my clutch or wat? will it be ok if this is the only time? the car drives fine now and dont smell anymore.
 

281pony

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
2,681
2
46
Oly, WA
Sep 8, 2005
#2
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #2
should be ok.

i did it a couple times when i first learned to drive a stick. never smelled though, but its fine to this day.
 

Euphoric306

New Member
Apr 5, 2004
905
0
0
Sep 8, 2005
#3
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #3
you just lengthened the life of your new clutch by about -1000 miles

nah dunno on the exact number but it sure wont last long doing that too often...
 
M

Mysterio

New Member
Oct 6, 2004
101
0
0
Lakewood, Ohio
Sep 8, 2005
#4
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #4
I kept it in second and dropped the clutch thinking I was in first.(Last minute desicion to drop it and thought I had put it into first while rolling). It smelled pretty bad, just shaves a bit of life off the clutch but it shouldn't do any immediate harm. Mine still grips REALLY strongly after that.

But yea like that guy said. Just try not to do it anymore. Once won't be a problem. But if you keep doing it it will kill it a LOT quicker.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Sep 8, 2005
#5
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #5
other than glazing the friction surfaces a hair (which you likely took right back off), it should not make any tangible difference in anything.

It is not hard to grab 3rd instead of first with a stock shifter.
 

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Sep 8, 2005
#6
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #6
HISSIN50 said:
It is not hard to grab 3rd instead of first with a stock shifter.
Click to expand...


the thing is i wasnt really paying attention and i was tired.. the shifter was up, i presumed first but in reality, it was third. and no i dont plan on doing this again! lol live and learn i guess.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Sep 8, 2005
#7
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #7
I hear ya - I did it when I was not tired. I tried rowing through a T56 with stock shifter once - forget it. I could not have told you if I was in 2nd-6th. LOL.
 

sgarlic

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2001
3,085
1
56
Sep 8, 2005
#8
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #8
We used to do that back during my high school days. We'd put it in 5th, and see if we could feather it enough to actually get to the point of letting the clutch all the way out without stalling. Talk about horrible smells from the clutch. Whew.
 
M

Mysterio

New Member
Oct 6, 2004
101
0
0
Lakewood, Ohio
Sep 8, 2005
#9
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #9
HISSIN50 said:
I hear ya - I did it when I was not tired. I tried rowing through a T56 with stock shifter once - forget it. I could not have told you if I was in 2nd-6th. LOL.
Click to expand...

I actually wrattle the shifter back and forth more than I probably need to to make sure i'm in neutral now. It's kind of become a thing I do without even realizing it. I'll pull it outa first and go into neutral if i'm slowing down and use the break to stop and ill hit the shifter back and forth to make sure it's in neutral, even though I knew I just put it there. I don't even realize I do it half the time.
 

GRGT1994

New Member
Sep 22, 2004
1,034
0
0
Sep 8, 2005
#10
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #10
Meh, you prolly burn up no more clutch material than comparable wear on brake pads if you rode the brakes for a bit.

Make a habit of it, and the clutch will surely wear faster. But still, you are only talking about shortening the life some - not destroying it.
 
T

TheUser

Active Member
Jul 25, 2003
1,859
1
36
Springfield, MO
Sep 8, 2005
#11
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #11
I let one of my friends drive my LX one time (I was in the passenger seat and we've been friends for a long time). It's hard to tell what gear they're in from the passenger seat, but he mistaked 3rd for 1st the whole time. I knew it felt slow and I'm sure he could tell it wasn't the same as when I drive it, but I didn't know what it was until I started wondering why it wasn't taking off very well.

That's no different than when we all learned to drive a stick, and our clutches seemed to make it then. I'll say what everyone else has: as long as you don't make a habbit of it, I think you'll be alright. If people can drop their clutch at 3000 grand and still drive the car, I think you can take off in 3rd a couple times
 

Euphoric306

New Member
Apr 5, 2004
905
0
0
Sep 8, 2005
#12
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #12
sliding the clutch is way worse than dropping it... just for the record

but its worse on the tranny, diff, u-joints, and oh yea... tires


speakin of which... F_CK tires are expensive, for the cheapos still
 
T

tjm73

Founding Member
Aug 3, 2000
2,418
2
48
Rush, NY
Sep 8, 2005
#13
  • Sep 8, 2005
  • #13
No big deal. If that would hurt a clutch once, the Tempo I learned to drive stick on would not have gone to over 200,000 miles onthe factory clutch (108,000 miles of it being my doing). I slipped the clutch and started in the wrong gears countless times when I was learning. You'll be fine.....just don't make it a normal practice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Engine Cooling reservoir questions
  • R82148V
  • Oct 3, 2022
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2022
Mustang5L5
Any thoughts? 03 4.6 2v
  • ThatBlack4.6
  • Mar 7, 2023
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
1K
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Mar 7, 2023
ThatBlack4.6
Drivetrain Having hard time shifting into first.
  • AbhorrentSpecies
  • Oct 30, 2020
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 25, 2020
General karthief
J
Electrical No crank no dash no nothing, troubleshooting leads to more questions
  • Jojam99
  • Jun 2, 2022
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
1
Views
3K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jun 2, 2022
Jojam99
J
Build Thread 1978 Fairmont. I bet somebody back home’s thinkin’…I wonder why he don’t write..?
  • CarMichael Angelo
  • Aug 27, 2020
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 137 138 139
Replies
3K
Views
383K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 7, 2025
Rdub6
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?