I have a 2.2 1LT. Is it me or does it seem like its struggling sometimes. Does anyone know what the correct rpms are for shifting?

You know, I have questioned that a few times. I was driving yesterday, with the A/C on and it seemed to get sluggish for a moment. Gave it a little more gas and it perked right up. Don't know if it was tranny, fuel, or I was dreaming. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Mine does it, and I not sure why, but it only happens when the a/c is on.
It doesn't really matter what rpm I'm shifting at, and it only does it sometimes.

just drove it
a/c just about always on in texas

initial findings, more to come
2.2 auto here

Regular driving
2nd- 3600
3rd- 3600
4th- 3600

foot in it all the way
2nd- 6300 to 6500
3rd- 6300 to 6500
4th- had to slow down cause i was in a 40 zone and already at 75 and hadnt shifted yet. i am going to see if they have a new blue and take pics and will tell you about 4th on the freeway

I gear
normal driving
2nd- 4300
3rd- 4300
4th- in I gear you do not shift to 4th. all shifts are hard and a lil more aggressive. down shifts are harder and more aggressive and rarely get below 2600

foot in it
2nd- 6300 to 6500
3rd- 6300 to 6500
same as regular w one exception. the shifts are harder and i will advise when i get back what the drop to rpms was while shifting in both I and D. i want to see what the drop is to when it changes

I have the same trouble sometimes with my 5 spd tranny. Only when A/C is on. I rev it up around 3500 to 4000 rpms before i take off, and majority of the time that helps.

Even without the AC it seems like its still struggling. I never use I gear. What is it exactly? Does it screw up the tranny?

Even without the AC it seems like its still struggling. I never use I gear. What is it exactly? Does it screw up the tranny?
HERE (http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3171) is a post CJ started that has some good info on the I gear. Trust me...if using I gear screwed up the transmission...CJ's would be shot. :lol:

I haven't had any problems with my 2.2L 5spd at all. It runs great and has tons of power. Can even chirp the tires between gears. I'm sure the CGS and my lead foot testing it out had something to do with that. :lol:

Even without the AC it seems like its still struggling. I never use I gear. What is it exactly? Does it screw up the tranny?
do a search on I gear, there are several threads about it.

using I gear hurts nothing just only uses the first 3 gears and will not get as good a gas mileage but performance is better. keeps you in the rpm zone.

i never seem to have this strugglilng problem

no imperial blue so they must have sold it over the weekend or it isnt there.

now to shifting on the auto tranny

Regular driving
2nd- 3600- dropped to 2700 to 2800
3rd- 3600- dropped to 2700 to 2800
4th- 3600- dropped to 2500 then real short after to 2200 then to around 1800

foot in it all the way
2nd- 6300 to 6500- dropped to 4200
3rd- 6300 to 6500- dropped to 4200
4th- - dropped to 2800 then to lower depending on speed. i was doing around 70 to 80 so it stayed there

regular rpms in 4th
70- 2600
75- 2700
80- 28 to 2850

I gear
normal driving
2nd- 4300- dropped to 2700 to 2800
3rd- 4300- dropped to 2700 to 2800
4th- no 4th in I gear

foot in it
2nd- 6300 to 6500- dropped to 4200 to 4300
3rd- 6300 to 6500- dropped to 4200 to 4300
4th- no 4th

i forgot to get cruising speeds in I gear at 70 to 80
i know I see it around 3600 to 3800 cause i use I gear alot

Thanks CJ. Haven't been able to really make a comparison yet though.

This may be a dumb question but Can i use I Gear on the interstates w/o damaging it?

I had a problem (I think?) with my tranny on the way to Vegas. We were just getting close to Baker and it was about 116 degrees. I started up a little rise and the HHR downshifted and then for about the next 40 miles it would never upshift again. I was running 70mph and turning almost 5000 RPMs. Of course, that made the engine start to warm up. Nothing major but around 230. And then all of a sudden, it shifted and I haven't had a problem since.

Definitely something I will have the dealer check out once I take it in, but I know the drill. They won't be able to recreate the problem so won't know what it was.

I am sure you can use I gear on the interstate without damaging it. But why would you? You'll kill your gas mileage, and your top end speed. Not to mention that it will make your engine run hotter and harder as I mentioned above. Not something that I would want to do for very long.