Is a BLAST!

I would love to see how the car would do on a closed road course.

I use it all the time

Exactly what does the I gear do? Does it go through the same 4 gears, just holding them to a higher RPM? The TC is still engaged-only the first position disables it. And what happens in that gear? I know it is in the book, but that is way downstairs and out in my car.

It like driving in L on any other auto, it limits your shifts. I tried driving in I and it sucked. My HHR was shifting at like 3000-4000 RPM as opposed to where it normally shifts at around 6000. Let's see how long the tranny last from pushing it too hard in I gear.

It like driving in L on any other auto, it limits your shifts. I tried driving in I and it sucked. My HHR was shifting at like 3000-4000 RPM as opposed to where it normally shifts at around 6000. Let's see how long the tranny last from pushing it too hard in I gear.

You're way wrong here CH. I saw this response a while back and let it slide but I'm telling you, - you need to re-check things. Driving in "I" nets firmer shifts and shifting rpm is solely based on throttle position. With gentle throttle, "I" will shift at 4000rpm. Put your foot into it more and it's a whole different story - it will rap out as hard as you want to push. Also, it's not like driving in "L" or "2" of a normal trans, as "I" will allow full shifts to 3rd as well.

Give it another try and see what you can discover...:thumb:

I drive in I all the time. It is a hoot and Mike is right it changes with the amount of foot you use.

man go out and dog it in I,,,, it is a blast. it downshifts sooner keeping ur rpms higher as well. if you drive real easy it will feel like it is hard shifting.

to me it imitates standard on an automatic or as close as you can get.

you just have to really have some fun w it on some roads u can really get down with it. start at a light entering a freeway and punch it. tell me I gear is like L,,,, aint no way

Maybe I need to try again. :smile: I am basing my opinion off the one time I tried driving in I. :roll: :nuts:

Drive I gear like an old lady and you will not like it.

drive it like a sports car and you will love it

everyone that tells me that the HHR is doggy to me is telling me that they arent having fun with it

Mine gets up and gone it is... I use I drive to go down the hill here in Duluth... I watch everyone but me on the brakes all the way down the hill. I did a pass this afternoon in I and was up to 85 in no time at all.. _"G-Forces"_

... I use I drive to go down the hill here in Duluth... I watch everyone but me on the brakes all the way down the hill.

Brake pads and rotors together cost a lot less than an automatic transmission :eek:

You're way wrong here CH. I saw this response a while back and let it slide but I'm telling you, - you need to re-check things. Driving in "I" nets firmer shifts and shifting rpm is solely based on throttle position. With gentle throttle, "I" will shift at 4000rpm. Put your foot into it more and it's a whole different story - it will rap out as hard as you want to push. Also, it's not like driving in "L" or "2" of a normal trans, as "I" will allow full shifts to 3rd as well.

Give it another try and see what you can discover...:thumb:

Dont we have 4 speed auto-so will it go up to 4 in I gear? Why the name intermediate???

Dont we have 4 speed auto-so will it go up to 4 in I gear? Why the name intermediate???
in I gear, it will not go into 4th, only drive in first 3 gears. Remember 4th is an overdrive.

try it, you willl like it. the more you use it the more fun it is.

page 2-28 in your manual
Intermediate (I): this position is also used for normal driving. However, it offers braking from the engine for slight downgrades where the vehicle would otherwise accelerate due to steepness of grade. If repetitve shifts occur between 3rd and 4th gears on steep uphills, this position can be used to prevent repetitive shifting. Fuel economyu will be lower than automatic overdrive (D). here are some times you might choose Intermediate instead of Drive
1 when driving on hilly, winding roads
2 when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
3 for hauling a** and losing PT losers (had to throw that in)

Right it limits your shift like I originally said. :confused: Just like L on any other auto. :confused: I wonder if you guys driving hard in I are actually damaging or at least shorting the life of your transmissions. :confused:

Right it limits your shift like I originally said. :confused: Just like L on any other auto. :confused: I wonder if you guys driving hard in I are actually damaging or at least shorting the life of your transmissions. :confused:
it doesnt limit it, it just doesnt shift into overdrive which is D
you could drive this all day long in I w no problems. you get less gas mileage is about all that happens

personally i dont like overdrive going 30 to 40 around town and it gives u rpms so if u need a quick get off,, you have it. You really have to put ur foot in it to do anything from D but not I.

If u read what i posted from the manual you are supposed to use it for pulling trailers and
***Intermediate (I): this position is also used for normal driving****
hint the word Normal driving:D :smile: :thumb:

I got the normal driving part I'm not dense. :lol: I posted that part of the manual verbatim the last time the discussion came up, but I'm sure driving hard in I is not Chevys idea of normal driving. ;)

but I'm sure driving hard in I is not Chevys idea of normal driving. ;)
im pretty sure that driving hard in D or I is not Chevys idea of normal driving,,, but we all do it all the time and have since i have been driving since age 14 and am now 52= 38 years. i dont think i am going to quit now or ever

Do you drive yours hard in D?
:smile:

if you read ur manual on those pages for D it says
D- "this position is for normal driving with the automatic transaxle. if you need more power for passing use half pedal below 35 and full pedal above 35 for passing.

I- this position is also used for normal driving

why would it say the same for both gears if they did not intend it. alot of automatics these days have the off to the side neutral and plus and - where it goes to low and u can manually shift the auto trans by moving up or down to plus or -.

one could even start in L- first 2 gears, then change to I then change to D
alot of work but you can do it. i tested a car that had the =and- on the shifter and manually did it myself, i liked it. it always went to first when you came to a stop. made it a standard w/o a clutch. tapping down shifte to next gear and tapping it up downshifted. wish the HHR had it.

It's the whole holding in third gear not shifting into fourth under hard driving that I think could potentially damage the transmission. That's just the way I read into it. I'm not trying to start an arguement because I could be totally wrong. Like I stated, I drove in I once and hated it. I didn't like the way it drove and was afraid of damaging my HHR so I never tried again. I'm not going to tell you how to drive or in what gear to drive in, I can just give my opinion.

It's the whole holding in third gear not shifting into fourth under hard driving that I think could potentially damage the transmission. That's just the way I read into it. I'm not trying to start an arguement because I could be totally wrong. Like I stated, I drove in I once and hated it. I didn't like the way it drove and was afraid of damaging my HHR so I never tried again. I'm not going to tell you how to drive or in what gear to drive in, I can just give my opinion.

oh and 4th is OVERDRIVE not drive

definition of overdrive
A transmission in which the highest gear ratio is less than a one-to-one ratio. This means the drive shaft turns faster than the engine crankshaft.

why would it be ok to totally tow something in I and never use D if it wasnt ok?
becasuse if you tow while in D, you will damage and overwork the tranny.

do yourself a favor,, ask a tranny guy at Chevy or a good shop and see what they tell you.

if it would hurt it, they would have a label and have a paragraph in the manual on it saying, do not drive in I for and excessive amount of time cause it may damage the transaxle. there is no such paragraph anywhere.

this isnt an argument, an attempt to educate:D
me being a teacher i now officially give up
ask someone YOU trust

why would i want to drive my new CAR that i love to intionally harm it?

Its not fun to drive while in Traffic. I did not realize at first I was in that gear and then I notice it seemd like the gears were slipin when ever I came to an dead stop

I notice it seemd like the gears were slipin when ever I came to an dead stop
i never have had that happen
slipping is not normal for any trans

I think I know what he means..I tryed it for the first time today and I was in traffic..It was wierd..When I would slow down to a stop at a light it was like I down shifted and I'd be stopping to hard all of a sudden.

I think I know what he means..I tryed it for the first time today and I was in traffic..It was wierd..When I would slow down to a stop at a light it was like I down shifted and I'd be stopping to hard all of a sudden.
it does downshift hard like a standard to help you brake
that is normal for I gear

Brake pads and rotors together cost a lot less than an automatic transmission :eek:

The "I" gear was designed to aid in engine braking on downhills...it's in the owner's manual. The tranny is sealed and designed for 100,000-miles of useage. I say break it and let GM worry about the repairs. :lol:

But I seriously doubt engine braking from coast downs will hurt this trans.

Murphy's law usually kicks in one mile or one day after the warranty period is over and that's when the tranny will roll over and die! :lol:

Ng

UP IN HERE!

I-Gear, feels like a sports-driving gear. TRUE:it does not turn off the traction control. It does however allow you to come out the hole like you were shot from a cannon. I don't use I-gear all the time,just when I want to do a BURN-OUT or get somewhere very quickly.

I-GEAR..............TRY IT,YOU WILL BE SUPRISED HOW QUICK YOUR CAR IS!


P.S.
I can not wait until the G.M. test drive show comes to my city. I will spend all the day in the HHR. The frist thing I will do, is put it in ......I-Gear!

[QUOTE=BlackHHR Music Machine]UP IN HERE!

I-Gear, feels like a sports-driving gear. TRUE:it does not turn off the traction control. It does however allow you to come out the hole like you were shot from a cannon. I don't use I-gear all the time,just when I want to do a BURN-OUT or get somewhere very quickly.

QUOTE]


I say save the burnouts for something that is actually fast and preferably rear wheel drive..

I agree with STG.

I agree also: I also have a 1954 chevy 1/2 ton with a 74-Nova clip & ladder bar, coil-over shocks,10 bolt posi,built 350 trans-with b&m stall,built 350 with an out of 350 horse's 350 torque. I was running a stick,but I kept breaking the transmissions-even after I installed a rockchrusher munchie 4 spd.

BURNNING RUBBER is still fun in a HHR!(my frist brand new car!)

Just curious
Incline?

"INTERMEDIATE GEAR" (http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1797&highlight=intermediate)

INTENSE!!

It stands for "Intermediate". It holds the gear longer and introduces engine braking. You'll have to get used to the feeling of an automatic downshift as you slow down but it is fun and helps keep the engine in its power band.

i don't have an I on my shifter only numbers :lol:

i don't have an I on my shifter only numbers :lol:

Really?!?!?!?!?!? :eek: Are you 100% sure? :confused:

Really?!?!?!?!?!? :eek: Are you 100% sure? :confused:

Yeah, no "I" on a 5 speed!!

Find a nice curvy road, drop it in "I" gear, and enjoy the ride!

Yeah, no "I" on a 5 speed!!

Got it. :red: :lol:

Got it. :red: :lol:

It helps to look at member profiles before assuming.:thumb:

Got it. :red: :lol:

Bet he has three pedals also. :lol:

It helps to look at member profiles before assuming.:thumb:

I don't care about peoples profiles. :lol:

Bet he has three pedals also. :lol:

You're probably right. :red: :lol:

It helps to look at member profiles before assuming.:thumb:

Or look at their sig.

Or look at their sig.

Profile is still needed for those members that have sigs not displayed.

All I know is when I drop mine into "I" when moving, I get a metallic click/clunk out of the front end.

Dealer hasn't been able to identify it yet. I think it might be suspension related, but not 100% sure.

I have not found Intermediate gear to be very useful- I have a long, steep hill near me, and I have downshifted every automatic trans I've owned to engine brake on this slope. All have stayed in the selected gear untill I upshifted manually. The HHR held second briefly, but then upshifted to third, thus defeating the purpose of downshifting for engine braking on a grade!!! Is this some kind of "overheat protection" or is it just the nature of this "I" gear?

As a historical point, In the 1965-92 Rolls Royces and Bentleys that used the GM Turbo 400 3 speed auto, the shift quadrant was "P R N D I L", with the last three representing Direct, Intermediate and Low. (A british way of saying Drive, Second and First)

I is 3rd gear, straight through
When you start out it will run through 1 2 and then 3, no overdrive.
There is one lower gear too, L for very steep grades.

Any mechanic will tell you not to beat on your car in Overdrive position.
Very hard on the transmission.(lock up converter specially)
I put a C-4 3 speed in my TurboStang because of the weak A4LD
Now I have no overdrive but I can shift that C-4 like it was a manual all day, up and down.


Put it in I exept for the Interstate as it does not stand for this.

Good for city driving or country roads where you want some engine braking when off throttle.

All I know is when I drop mine into "I" when moving, I get a metallic click/clunk out of the front end.

:confused: Maybe you just shouldn't be doing that when moving! I don't really know, it's just a thought.:2cents:

:confused: Maybe you just shouldn't be doing that when moving! I don't really know, it's just a thought.:2cents:
It's the same click/clank I hear when I shift out of park after it's been sitting for awhile.

Maybe you just shouldn't be doing that when moving! I don't really know, it's just a thought.

I do it all the time, to pass driving cell phone users applying their makeup. No clunk, it just shifts down. It is meant to be shifted while driving !! I plan on making extensive use of it on wintery slippery days (engine compression braking).

Yves

It's the same click/clank I hear when I shift out of park after it's been sitting for awhile.

Hey Black Rose......

I'm going to suggest that you have something out of the norm in your trans.

I used "I" gear extensively, on my recent trip, to solve the "heavy" automatic trans kick down, when climbing steep hills (more noticeable using cruise control).
NEVER had your described problem. You might want to talk with your dealer (at least get it on record) about it.

Slipping the car into I is wonderful for slowing down on icy roads and hills. Once you get used to the down shift points it becomes very predictable and more gentle than braking and locking up. And yes, it is very fun in the good weather as well and allows for some good mid range rpm acceleration.

Hey Black Rose......

I'm going to suggest that you have something out of the norm in your trans.

I used "I" gear extensively, on my recent trip, to solve the "heavy" automatic trans kick down, when climbing steep hills (more noticeable using cruise control).
NEVER had your described problem. You might want to talk with your dealer (at least get it on record) about it.
Something was out of the norm, but it wasn't the transmission.

It turned out to be a bad hub/bearing on the passenger side. They replaced the hub last October and the noise went away.

It's the whole holding in third gear not shifting into fourth under hard driving that I think could potentially damage the transmission. That's just the way I read into it. I'm not trying to start an arguement because I could be totally wrong. Like I stated, I drove in I once and hated it. I didn't like the way it drove and was afraid of damaging my HHR so I never tried again. I'm not going to tell you how to drive or in what gear to drive in, I can just give my opinion.

The old overdrive tranny's that GM used we were told to drive in (3) so we did not tear the overdrive up. So I will try the (I) gear today:nuts:

Another great post full of good info.

I had never thought of driving in any gear other than drive. I am going to give the "I" a try on my next time out.

I love it ! I live in an area with big hills and just to get into my garage I have a 6% grade. It allows me to save on the brakes while everyone else is riding theirs and get up and down these hills without gears slipping.
The best part is freeway cruising, someone will want to play games and I just shift and leave them sitting :) works for me

curtsy
Elle'

Slipping the car into I is wonderful for slowing down on icy roads and hills. Once you get used to the down shift points it becomes very predictable and more gentle than braking and locking up. And yes, it is very fun in the good weather as well and allows for some good mid range rpm acceleration.

I love it ! I live in an area with big hills and just to get into my garage I have a 6% grade. It allows me to save on the brakes while everyone else is riding theirs and get up and down these hills without gears slipping. The best part is freeway cruising, someone will want to play games and I just shift and leave them sitting :) works for me curtsy '


http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/6/2/7/PICT0003600x450small.jpg

Sounds to me like some frustrated drivers trying to justifying their automatic transmission purchases. (Which I also have) Yes the “I” (intermediate)position is fine for some deceleration but it has a major flaw.

I travel this hill on my daily commute and “I” might work good for you but it absolutely SUCKS for me, actually it terrified me the first time I used it to retard (hold back) when it up-shifted by itself with the resulting acceleration in the middle of the corner! I thought something had broken. What possible good is a transmission that up-shifts by itself when it is being used to slow momentum. Save on brakes, I don’t think so!

My PT Cruiser turbo with the auto-stick was excellent engineering (and fun), …..But anyone that would design an transmission that up-shifts from a supposedly hold back position when it feels like it is deranged.

My SS will have a 5 speed, the automatic is unsafe.:smile:

When it hits 4,000 rpm it will shift...that's just the way it's programmed.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I used mine for the first time tonight and I believe this gear is simply the old Drive 2 in most cars - ie: L, D2, D. or to put it another way, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The "I" by-passes 3rd gear and you never hit overdrive. It seems to me you will rev higher, work the tranny more, use more gas and go slower. I also think it may by-pass 1st gear as well.

The old theory of using 2nd (or in this case "I") was for starting out on slippery roads so you wouldn't spin the tires.

I realize this is an old thread, and I haven't gone back thru the earlier posts, so perhaps someone already came to this conclusion.

I thought I'd play with this today too and was unable to duplicate Ray's fright going downhil. I couldn't get it shift up in I position when my foot was off the gas in 2nd or 3rd. It's certainly is a heck of a lot noiser. I felt like a fart can guy slowing down as I couldn't tickle it into 3rd and less revs and slow that way. You do more coasting in D but I sure wasn't on the brakes as much in I and I'm wondering if you're not lugging the engine as much starting in I.

At the crest (top) of the hill (maybe 50 mph) I shift into what I would presume to be seconded gear (“I”) as I have been doing for 30 years on this hill with various vehicles and as the rpm increases and with a little brake just entering the bottom corner it will up-shift. It is unnerving to say the least and defeats the purpose of saving the brakes. As Black Rose mentioned you have to get over 4000 rpm and I am going maybe 40-45 mph on a long hill.

The owners’ manual really sucks on this; we need some tech help here! :D

Coasting down a hill, if its in "I", my 1LT w/ 2.2 will downshift into 2nd at exactly 40mph indicated on the speedo. I've not tested it much otherwise, because I mainly just use "I" for downhill coasting on this one road on the way out of our suburban "ville" where we live. For example, coasting in 3rd down the hill, 45mph... brake a little..43...41.... then 40 and the downshift happens, then I can lay off the brake.

Hey Ranger I see what is happening, I’m going slow enough to catch 2nd at the top of the hill and then the car accelerates up to 4000 rpm in seconded and then up-shifts. STILL SCARY! :confused:

Please try it backwards (not reverse, sorry) for me and see if it up-shifts in "I" ? Thanks.:smile:

at highway speeds the I gear hold transmission in 3rd,MAIN POINT for using ,it prevents the governor, from coming on , and as in another post is necessary to lose PT losers and 10 year old neons and civics, using I mode as needed wont mess tranny up, still should last 150K

at highway speeds the I gear hold transmission in 3rd,MAIN POINT for using ,it prevents the governor, from coming on , and as in another post is necessary to lose PT losers and 10 year old neons and civics, using I mode as needed wont mess tranny up, still should last 150K

What is this about a governor? Are you referring to an electronically limited top speed?

what i have noticed is sometimes in d it feels like it starts off in 2d gear.

The 1-2 shift in "I" is much firmer than when in "D". 2-3 shift I don't notice it as much.