Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNick
One car I have now has a 6 speed manual trans that has a "safety switch" as mentioned above, so you can't start the car no matter what position the stick is in unless you depress the clutch pedal. On a related note, some people who install very heavy clutches to hold big power/torque end up with such high thrust loads on the front crank thrust washer that it can cause "crank walk". One of the primary causes of "crank walk" is starting the car with the clutch pedal depressed and thus putting all that thrust on a non or barely lubricated bearing.
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I wasn't positive about this, so I threw the question at a bigger car forum, and the first few replies confirmed my belief that this was almost exclusively a DSM tuner problem, and even then only a theory about what caused the crankwalk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spindles
I would add - when you are parked, don't just rely on the handbrake. Once the engine is stopped, put the car into gear (any gear really). Basically, if the handbrake fails, the gears will hold the car still.
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And if someone hits your car, you end up with severe engine and transmission damage. An automatic transmission is designed to immobilize the car, a manual isn't. If your handbrake isn't in condition to hold your car in place, it's broken or worn to the point that you need new pads.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ngdawg
And this is why I will NEVER own an automatic.....
While those big SUV's with their automatic transmissions are sliding sideways, I'm tooling along, shifter knob in hand, left foot at the ready and laughing my ass off.
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99% of the time it's not because of the transmission, it's because they think AWD makes them invincible and/or because they're shitty drivers in the first place. Realistically, just any automatic car that's safe for the street should be fine in snow except in the most extreme circumstances. My Lincoln was RWD, automatic*, and put down 100lb-ft at idle and 200+ at 2k, and the only time I had a problem was when I parked it in a snowbank and the limited slip crapped out.
I'd say it's also safe to bet that almost everyone who drives stick is more attentive when driving and more aware of what their car can handle, which keeps them safer.
* - While on that subject, refer to the picture my previous post. I believe there was a sticky valve in the voodoo, while the magic and science were going strong until the day I got rid of it.