Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Mitsubishi Delica L400 production commenced in 1994 -- After much anticipation, the L400 arrived on Canadian Soil in 2009!
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jcolvin
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Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by jcolvin »

How do i know? Doing 90 kmh on the highway I was messing about hypermiling and tried to put it into neutral. Instead I put it into reverse. Only for a second or so but the rear wheels locked up. Luckily nobody following close behind me! I didn't think this was possible...didn't mythbusters bust that? Guess they weren't driving a delica. At least now I know if I have total brake fade as a last resort I can bang it into reverse. Transmission seems none the worse for wear. Don't try this at home!
del400
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by del400 »

Wow, I did the same thing last summer. Had 3 other people in the car and they were all sleeping. My heart came out of my ass at that point. While everyone else was screaming in the car. I was waiting for transmission failure or something along those lines. So far so good. I try and forget that moment in my life. But it happened and I will always admit to it. Ha
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mac_stang
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by mac_stang »

I did that in my old Chevy 4x4 years ago, thought I blew the th400 up, turned out I blew out 4 of the same sides of my front u-joints(rear driveshaft) cups. A heck of a vibration. Have a look at both universals just to make sure.

Brad.
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nxski
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by nxski »

I've done the same, but managed to slam it back to drive before it engaged. The trick is to not press the button on the side of the shifter when going into neutral, it's not necessary.
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fredt
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by fredt »

http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42009 errr been there done that! cant remember if it was the tyres squealing or the rush of air in through my open mouth and out the other end that was louder? :shock:
jcolvin
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by jcolvin »

nxski wrote:I've done the same, but managed to slam it back to drive before it engaged. The trick is to not press the button on the side of the shifter when going into neutral, it's not necessary.
On the L400 there is no button. The trick is not to pull back on the shift lever when changing into neutral. Or just dont change into neutral at highway speed! On when going at all....
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mararmeisto
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by mararmeisto »

Hyper-miling at highway speed is pretty much a moot point - you're not going to save that many RPM and maintain speed. Just take your foot off the pedal periodically and that will achieve the same effect. Sprint and drift, sprint and drift. And it'll be safer.

It's generally only newer vehicles that have electronic shifting which will prevent the transmission from shifting into reverse over a certain speed moving forward. Older, mechanically-shifted transmissions - no protection.

Shifting into neutral on a down-slope however will save you fuel as it will prevent the transmission/engine from braking the vehicle, wasting fuel. Of course, it's a tricky balance to not let the engine do the braking and then burning out your brakes from overuse (which is why the transmission/engine is used for braking in the first place).
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Mr. Flibble
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by Mr. Flibble »

I did this coming down from Apex once; instantly stalled the engine. Did not lock up wheels though.
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by Dingus »

Coasting in neutral is dangerous and does not save on fuel economy. Bad idea all around.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/al ... el-economy
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Mr. Flibble
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Re: Beware..you can go into reverse at highway speed

Post by Mr. Flibble »

Dingus wrote:Coasting in neutral is dangerous and does not save on fuel economy. Bad idea all around.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/al ... el-economy
It is not coasting, it is Mexican Overdrive!


Coming down from Apex to Penticton, it is a common and fun thing to try to coast all the way into town. (Not from the very top, but a little after the T intersection with the sled hill).

If you put your car in gear, there is one hill you won't clear due to engine braking. You need to be in N to clear it. Otherwise, you have to hop on the gas. And what fun is that?

Edit: to be clear, the Popmech article is correct for electronically fuel injected engines. Mechanical pumps still inject fuel I believe, which is what the series 1 L400s are.
Canadian living in Washington USA
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