Shifting into Neutral while rolling or at speed

[m5teven]

I tried to search as best as I could, but couldn't find anything specific. I found loads of info about getting the car into neutral with no power. Does anyone know how or if it is ok to shift into neutral while rolling? I've gotten into neutral when at real low speeds, but for example; if i'm rolling under a bridge or through a tunnel at say, 60 mph and I want to engage the clutch and rev the engine for a nice smile... does anyone know how to do this? It seems I'm fighting a safety feature that doesnt want the tranny in neutral after something like 10 mph or so.

Thanks for any insight.

[Dwaynos]

Never tried at 60mph but I've done it at around 40. When I first tried to do it i got the same feeling as you. Make sure the throttle is fully released before trying to shift into neutral otherwise it will stay in gear.

[Ickdeep]

That's weird, I've never had a problem going into neutral at any speed. Because sometimes I want to shift into neutral in a tunnel or underpass and hear the car better. I just get off the throttle, shift the gear lever towards me to engage N and rev it. Then once the rev's drop down back to normal (1k'ish). Push the gear lever away to engage Drive.

[Dwaynos]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

That's weird, I've never had a problem going into neutral at any speed. Because sometimes I want to shift into neutral in a tunnel or underpass and hear the car better. I just get off the throttle, shift the gear lever towards me to engage N and rev it. Then once the rev's drop down back to normal (1k'ish). Push the gear lever away to engage Drive.

I imagine the OP will have his foot on the throttle, even the tiniest bit. I have no problem shifting to neutral now but when I first got the car it wouldn't always go in, obviously i was doing something wrong.

[TLK]

That's not nearly as annoying as having to repeatedly click - to downshift from 2 to 1 at even very slow creeping roll throughs.

[X42]

I do this occasionally. Not so often as I can’t imagine it’s too healthy for the gearbox but they’re not designed to break after engaging neutral and pumping the revs up on occasion. Whilst driving, disengage the throttle, flick the gear selector to Neutral, give it a thump in a tunnel, disengage the throttle again and re-engage the gear to position D.

I think the car has a safety feature which means it will automatically switch back to gear if in neutral at higher speeds. If it’s done at a lower speed it will make you stop the vehicle fully before putting the vehicle in gear.

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Dwaynos

Never tried at 60mph but I've done it at around 40. When I first tried to do it i got the same feeling as you. Make sure the throttle is fully released before trying to shift into neutral otherwise it will stay in gear.

I want to say I've tried at 40 as well but I will try again next time I take it out. I definitely had throttle completely closed before trying it. I'll update soon.

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

That's weird, I've never had a problem going into neutral at any speed. Because sometimes I want to shift into neutral in a tunnel or underpass and hear the car better. I just get off the throttle, shift the gear lever towards me to engage N and rev it. Then once the rev's drop down back to normal (1k'ish). Push the gear lever away to engage Drive.

Are you holding the gear shifter to the left or just pushing and letting go? You know I haven't tried to rev the car after pushing to the left because I assumed with it still saying a numbered gear... I would just accelerate. I'll try that soon.

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Dwaynos

I imagine the OP will have his foot on the throttle, even the tiniest bit. I have no problem shifting to neutral now but when I first got the car it wouldn't always go in, obviously i was doing something wrong.

Thats what I am thinking too. Gotta be something I am doing wrong or something wrong that I'm trying to do LOL!

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by TLK

That's not nearly as annoying as having to repeatedly click - to downshift from 2 to 1 at even very slow creeping roll throughs.

I know exactly what your saying lol! Sometimes I lose track of the downshift and end up getting too low on revs and im just clicking away!! lol!!

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by X42

I do this occasionally. Not so often as I can’t imagine it’s too healthy for the gearbox but they’re not designed to break after engaging neutral and pumping the revs up on occasion. Whilst driving, disengage the throttle, flick the gear selector to Neutral, give it a thump in a tunnel, disengage the throttle again and re-engage the gear to position D.

I think the car has a safety feature which means it will automatically switch back to gear if in neutral at higher speeds. If it’s done at a lower speed it will make you stop the vehicle fully before putting the vehicle in gear.

I'm gonna try this as well.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

[Ickdeep]

Originally Posted by m5teven

Are you holding the gear shifter to the left or just pushing and letting go? You know I haven't tried to rev the car after pushing to the left because I assumed with it still saying a numbered gear... I would just accelerate. I'll try that soon.

Just push it and let it go. Transmission goes into N. Rev it. Let revs down back to normal. Push right and it's back in gear

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

Just push it and let it go. Transmission goes into N. Rev it. Let revs down back to normal. Push right and it's back in gear

yea thats what I've been doing when I pass a tunnel or what not. I'll see the tunnel... 1 try 2 tries and out the tunnel still in gear and disappointed. Foot off the throttle and all. Got me on autotrader looking for an extra manual daily lol.

I've been successful at maybe 20 mph going from I think 3rd to N but rolling slow

[Ickdeep]

Originally Posted by m5teven

yea thats what I've been doing when I pass a tunnel or what not. I'll see the tunnel... 1 try 2 tries and out the tunnel still in gear and disappointed. Foot off the throttle and all. Got me on autotrader looking for an extra manual daily lol.

I've been successful at maybe 20 mph going from I think 3rd to N but rolling slow

I'll try to record me doing it next time

[Ickdeep]

Hope this helps

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

Hope this helps

wicked. I was out today and got neutral around 30. forgot to try at higher speeds. pretty sure I was just tripping out before.

[M5Rick]

Alternatively if the thought of doing that worries then just change down with the windows down and punch it in a tunnel, much more positive sound and lasts much longer.

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Alternatively if the thought of doing that worries then just change down with the windows down and punch it in a tunnel, much more positive sound and lasts much longer.

Not so much a worry of doing it rather then a worry of fighting a possible safety feature. The thread definitely took a turn into a noob thread lol!!! with it boiling down to simply moving the shifter into neutral and it working. I wish i would of remembered to try it out at a decent speed yesterday because I could sware up and down I have been traveling at 60mph or so when I try to bump it into neutral and no go. I'll report back next time I take it out.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by m5teven

Not so much a worry of doing it rather then a worry of fighting a possible safety feature. The thread definitely took a turn into a noob thread lol!!! with it boiling down to simply moving the shifter into neutral and it working. I wish i would of remembered to try it out at a decent speed yesterday because I could sware up and down I have been traveling at 60mph or so when I try to bump it into neutral and no go. I'll report back next time I take it out.

Whatever floats your boat.

[lotus49]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Alternatively if the thought of doing that worries then just change down with the windows down and punch it in a tunnel, much more positive sound and lasts much longer.

This is what I always do. It works a treat.

[m5teven]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

Hope this helps

UPDATE: I noticed you were in auto and I'm usually driving in manual. I tried it yesterday and seems like when the RPMs are too high, it wont let you go into neutral. Assuming auto wont let u get too high in the RPM I guess it should work most of the time. When the RPMs are lower it kicks over just fine.

[Dwaynos]

I always drive in manual and it works fine for me every time. Never tried it at high rpms though, not much point to be honest.