new to manual learning how to drive vx

[spotaneagle]

Originally Posted by fobx530

Also could someone tell me if pulse and glide would be good or bad for the civic? this means i gotta turn off my engine during the glide? i really don't think the vx is all that aerodynamic...in it's original state that is.

another trick I used to get my transmission to shift better is more tire pressure.. your tranny will use less pressure to changed gears as less force is needed to get it moving, I went from slop to shifting nicely... I also lightened by 80-100 lbs..

from what it sounds like, you need to clean your first gear maybe, try driving at 2000-2200 rpms in first gear for 7 or 8 minutes this might possibly purge the gear and allow you to shift between between first and second better, also change your tranny fluid to mobil 1 if it will work in your car...

read my first response too.. do this stuff after you have your mounts cheched

[spotaneagle]

Originally Posted by fobx530

it's california, i checked the car fax. been in california it's whole life. no shift indicator.

first gear requires 2.5k rpm to get to 20mph and then into second w/o the thumping or shaking of the car. anything below that will somewhat make it shake.

when i make a right turn, i can't really use 2nd gear the car will shake, i think it's the exhaust or w/e is shaking.

The hood has been replaced, so i don't know the type of emission.

I can shift at 7-12 mph into second, but I have a different car..

[fobx530]

yes it's up to date on it's maintenance

[FrugalFloyd]

Once you get your mechanical issues resolved, you should be shifting at about 2000-2200 rpm for best mpg.

[IndyFetch]

Originally Posted by fobx530

There's not a way to drive it in this "lean burn" mode at all times are there?

If you have a California model, you do not have learn-burn at all.

[bowtieguy]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

Once you get your mechanical issues resolved, you should be shifting at about 2000-2200 rpm for best mpg.

some VX owners actually shift below 2k in higher gears. i don't have any manipulated facts or studies to "prove" it however, just real life examples of those that do it.

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

Originally Posted by Fetch

If you have a California model, you do not have learn-burn at all.

OTOH, you probably don't have to worry about it being rusted out. Considering the age of the car, and what you paid for it, that is, in my opinion, a reasonable trade-off.

[imzjustplayin]

Originally Posted by fobx530

It's not really a thumping sound, it's only when i shift too low on second gear. it sounds like it's starving for oxygen to burn the fuel or something...that's what a friend said. the car shakes, i think it's mostly the muffler or something.

so i'm unsure if this is bad for the car or not or if it's suppose to be like this at all.

So you have to shift at 3000RPM in 1st gear otherwise the car will shake violently? That's far too high of an RPM to have to shift.. If this is indeed the case, then the car needs a major tuneup because on my Civic which isn't a VX, I can shift safely at 1700RPM which drops me down to about 1K rpm. The VX is designed so that it can shift early unlike my Civic.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by bowtieguy

some VX owners actually shift below 2k in higher gears. i don't have any manipulated facts or studies to "prove" it however, just real life examples of those that do it.

I thought so too. I was going to post about it but then I had some doubt when I remembered the VX's wide ratios compared to my Volkswagen's close ratios...I shift at 1200 or 1500 under normal conditions, but I run out of gears by 30mph.

Also, if you shift at low RPM in any gear it would be in the lower gears where you get more acceleration from less torque. As you get into higher gears you need to let the RPM rise more before shifting because the next gear is harder to turn.

[LarryJ]

Originally Posted by fobx530

Am I driving it correctly? Is the car ok? I'd love to learn how to drive this car correctly w/ the best possible mileage, shifting etc.PLEASE HELP!

I have a federal VX, not sure if it's the same for a california version, but try this:
shift into 2nd at 5mph
shift into 3rd at 28(?)
shift into 4th at 38
shift into 5 at 48

if you have an owner's manual, check that for precise shift recommendations.
the idea is to avoid the high revs, but I hear it's good for the engine every once in a while.