I'm an idiot. Missed a shift and locked the tires.

[WoodBoss]

It's toast

[Hannibal]

Try not to worry too much. While there is always a chance something went wrong, it's also likely that you would know about it by now.

When I got my first 5th Gen, I went from 4th to 2nd and it caused the back wheels to lock for a second before I jumped on the clutch. This scared me to death and of course I felt the same way that you did.

70,000+ miles later, the car has no issues.

[jrisebo]

I once hit the brake pedal instead of the clutch...that will sober you right up!

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by SS376

Hate having to admit this, but I embarrassed myself while showing off to a customer of mine. Hoping for some advice/reassurance/comments from anyone here who has had a similar experience.

For the first time in three decades of driving manuals, I screwed up and hit first instead of third. Dumb, yes. Feel like a grade A moron. I was in second, and went for third at maybe 45mph (so luckily not even going that fast), car bucked and the tires locked right up on me. Not even sure how/why I would do this. Just not paying attention I guess.

I hit the clutch immediately, in less than a second I would guess. No funny noises from motor, no check engine light, car feels fine.

Do you think I saved it by clutching right away. Damaged the rear end perhaps?

Tell me it'll be OK

As long as you aren't under-reporting the speed too badly, you should be OK. 1st @ 6600 is 52 mph with 275/40-20 rear tires.

The catch is if you were actually much over 52, where you could have mechanically over-revved the engine. Maybe you wouldn't have balancer and clutch parts exploding on you, but you very well could float the valves (not good for the valve springs even if the valves didn't kiss the pistons). overworked valve springs may start to float at a lower rpm in the future, minutely bent valves will make the engine run a bit rough.


Norm

[maddoggyusa]

motor is toast... time to trade in for ZL1

j/k... I'm sure it's fine.

[Bhobbs]

Don't worry about it. It happens to everyone. I was driving my 1LE on the freeway and tried to shift from 4th to 5th but I ended up in 3rd instead. I managed to react before anything happened but it's still a little embarrassing.

[Ice-Forever]

Originally Posted by Comrando

The first time I ever drove a pick-up with an automatic (ALL trucks were stick to me then) I did that, at 70 MPH

OP, I have to wonder why, if you were showing off, you would possibly be going into 3rd at 55MPH. You should have been up to ~75 for that.

3rd is my go-to gear when cruising on the hwy and someone decides they want a piece of Bette White...Or at least a good look at her a$$...

[Muscle Car Lover]

Funny you should post this, just last Friday I was driving home and I let off the clutch to get going in 1st gear and I am not going anywhere. I was freaking out, tranny issue?? No, I just never shifted into 1st

Happens.

[TheBracketeer]

Originally Posted by jdrop01

Did this in my 98 Vette coming off a on ramp and jamming. Went from 3rd into 2nd and yup rear tires locked up and we went swirling around the freeway round and round taking out those metal reflectors along the way. Here's the aftermath so don't feel too bad! Trust me my heart was where my butt hole is lol.

I could be wrong ... but I think you're gonna need a new side mirror!

Ouch ... that totally sucks. Can happen so easily! Condolences.

[SS376]

Originally Posted by Comrando

The first time I ever drove a pick-up with an automatic (ALL trucks were stick to me then) I did that, at 70 MPH

OP, I have to wonder why, if you were showing off, you would possibly be going into 3rd at 55MPH. You should have been up to ~75 for that.

Just prior to the missed shift I had done a couple of hard, incident free runs through first, second, and into third. No problems.

The missed shift came up after I had slowed to a cruise, was in fourth and rev-match downshifted into second, accelerated a bit planning to shift into third, which of course I didn't quite manage. Luckily for me, I wasn't on it that hard at that moment, hence the speed at the time of the missed shift being under 50 mph. I was just playing around at that point.

[derklug1]

Generally, if you miss a shift and over rev, negative results will show up almost instantly. If you haven't had anything go wrong, and if you don't make a habit of it, you are good.

[PQ]

Had my Camaro since May 2009 and haven't missed a shift yet.

[SS376]

Originally Posted by PQ

Had my Camaro since May 2009 and haven't missed a shift yet.

Be careful you don't jinx yourself. I hadn't missed a shift either...until last Sunday

[SS376]

Many thanks to all the great posters who replied to this thread. Car seems to be fine, and I don't feel quite as dumb as before.