How to Use a Paddle Shifter: Get the Facts and Shift Gears Like a Pro!

Driving is a skill and not only do good drivers prevent accidents, but they also help to protect their vehicle’s integrity, so that there is lesser need for frequent or costly repairs. When you know how to use a paddle shifter properly, you are taking important steps toward safe and efficient driving.

More...

Learning more about what a paddle shifter is, what it does, proper use and the signs that it needs to be repaired helps to ensure that you are an informed driver.

Paddle shifters were once exclusive to high-performance sports vehicles, but now they are being installed in an array of mid-line cars, vans and trucks, such as the Honda Odyssey and Ford Escape.

How to Use a Paddle Shifter

What is a Paddle Shifter?

Image source: agirlsguidetocars.com

Until recent years, you either chose a vehicle with an automatic or a manual transmission. However, luxury car brands that wanted to try something new eventually found a viable middle ground and introduced the semi-automatic transmission.

Unlike a traditional manual transmission, there is no clutch in a semi-automatic transmission. However, the driver does have some input and control over which gears shift as they drive. Paddle shifters are used in place of the clutch.

With most vehicles, the paddle shifter works to switch a gear up or down. On the right side, you use this shifter when you want to upshift. To downshift, engage the one on the left.

When you engage the paddle shifter, you are sending an electronic signal to your vehicle’s clutch that tells it to engage. This results in the gear shifting. Since these are present in semi-automatic engines, you essentially have a choice about whether to use it because your transmission will still shift on its own too.

Benefits and Uses

One of the most common reasons to use a paddle shifter in an automatic vehicle is to increase the overall power and performance. When using track mode along with these shifters, the vehicle will remain on the rev limiter.

Paddle shifters can also contribute to greater safety on the road. As smart as vehicles are today, they still are not able to sufficiently respond to abrupt changes in driving conditions. However, as the driver you will immediately know when you need to change your driving and you can use the paddles to ensure that your vehicle is operating properly for the road conditions. One big area for accidents during bad weather are hills. With a paddle shifter, you can put your vehicle into a lower gear so that you can drive slower without having to use your brakes. This can prevent spinouts.

One reason people gravitate toward manual transmissions is because they tend to provide faster acceleration compared to an automatic vehicle. This, in turn, usually translates to better gas mileage and less wear and tear to your engine, transmission and the associated parts. The paddle shifters in a semi-automatic vehicle basically give you the best of both worlds concerning a manual and automatic transmission.

Using Your Paddle Shifters

Vehicles using a semi-automatic transmission will start in first gear. Just like when you drive a manual vehicle, you will shift gears when you are between 1,500 and 2,500 RPMs. So, you simply watch your gauge and it will tell you when to hit the paddle. Just like with a manual, it takes a second for the newly selected gear to engage, so if it does not happen automatically, know that this is normal.

It is easy to keep track of which gear you are in because modern vehicles will display this on the dashboard. The vehicle’s computer ensures that your vehicle will not stall out, so there is no need to worry about this. This transmission type is also set up to prevent drivers from causing engine damage due to built-in rev-limiters.

Getting the Most out of Your Paddle Shifter Usage

You can use your paddle shifters without worry because as long as you are in S mode, you now have full control over the shifting of gears on your vehicle. You will not cause harm to your vehicle even if you are new to using this feature. This is because the gears will not shift under the following circumstances:

1
Before reaching the lower gear’s upper limit you downshift
2
You simultaneously press both paddles
3
You hold down one paddle and press the other
4
Before reaching the higher gear’s lower limit you upshift
5
While stationary, you try to go into third or higher

Then, once you are ready to go back to using the automatic transmission, you simply go back to D mode and your vehicle will take over.

Signs of Failing Paddle Shifters

Like all vehicle components, paddle shifters can wear out over time if you keep your vehicle for more than 10 years. You want to know the signs of wear so that you can promptly get them replaced.

First and foremost, you want to ensure that you are performing all regular maintenance and inspection for your transmission, as this would include your paddle shifters. Every 50,000 miles, you should get your transmission fluid changed and have all of the components of the system inspected.

When you use a regular maintenance schedule, it is easier to stay ahead of any major problems before they occur. Remember that your paddle shifters are going to rely on your transmission fluid because it works to lubricate the gears you are telling to shift when using the paddles.

When this part is failing, it could be the shifter itself, or the signs might be indicative of one of the components that link it to the transmission being faulty. The following are possible when the paddle shifter is no longer working properly:

Odd noises, such as bumping, whirring, thumping or squealing
The transmission jumps into neutral from the gear that you put it in
Your vehicle is stuck in one gear

You hear a grinding noise or feel a grinding sensation
Difficulty with shifting gears
You cannot get your vehicle to go into a specific gear

If you notice any of these signs, it is imperative to get your car to a qualified mechanic quickly. Do not drive it until the offending problem is completely fixed. Continuing to drive a vehicle when a transmission component, including a paddle shifter, is faulty could result in further damage. In some cases, this additional damage is irreversible, causing you to need to replace your entire transmission.

Conclusion!

With this information, you now know how to use a paddle shifter and why they can be a great choice for your vehicle. They can aid with safety and allow you greater control over gas mileage. Of course, more power and performance are also good things.

Make sure that you attend to regular transmission maintenance to ensure that your paddle shifters and total transmission components are in good working order. This ensures that you are taking care of your investment and staying safe on the road.

Share0

Share +10

Tweet0