Hi All,

Whilst overtaking a lorry the other day, I accidentally shifted from 5th into 2nd, but realising my error managed to dip the clutch again before the engine popped out of the bonnet. This is the first time I've done this in over 20 years of driving.

This left me wondering - I know the ECU won't allow the engine to get higher than the rev limit in normal driving - i.e. through application of the loud pedal, but what would have happened if I had been even more stupid than I was and fully engaged the clutch after changing gear like an idiot?

What speed were you doing? You can often do 60 mph in 2nd gear.

Usually the syncromesh will make it really difficult if not almost impossible to select a gear outside it's range, it will be like you've hit the gate between gears. That's why 1st can be hard to select if you are still moving to fast.

It was on an A road and I was stuck behind a lorry so I couldn't have been going more than 55 when I started to accelerate to overtake, then realising I needed more RPM I shifted after a few seconds so probably going 60-65 at that point?

I definitely heard the engine start to go bananas when I shifted though.

I might take the car our for a spin on some quiet country roads tonight to see how fast 2nd will take me - that might make me feel better 🙂

I don't think the ecu rev limit would help. That would control the fuelling to stop the revs going too high when pressing throttle, but if the revs are being forced high by the gearbox in effect powering the engine I don't see how anything electronic could stop it.

The ECU wouldn't stop it over-revving in this case. You can probably go beyond the limiter briefly, but not much over lol. If your engine/gearbox was to explode, it would've done so the second you let your foot off the clutch. If there's a piston shaped dent in the bonnet, that's not really a good sign😉

mmm... now, can you publish your number plate so we all know what car to avoid on a future purchase?? LOL

18 hours ago, Luke4efc said:

The ECU wouldn't stop it over-revving in this case. You can probably go beyond the limiter briefly, but not much over lol. If your engine/gearbox was to explode, it would've done so the second you let your foot off the clutch. If there's a piston shaped dent in the bonnet, that's not really a good sign😉

Now you mention it there is a funny shape dent that's suddenly appeared in the bonnet! Also someone has replaced my engine with a diesel I think because it's making a horrible rattling noise at idle. 😁