The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Street Rod Association and/or StreetScene Magazine. Safety Inspection Reminder #18 Shift Pattern
O ne of the most overlooked items on the NSRA Safety Inspection sheet is item #18—the Shift Pattern. We just “assume” there is a shift indicator on the vehicle because they have become standard on vehicles for many decades. However, I’ve found that this is not the case. Our handbook states that a “Shift pattern must be visible within area of shift lever. A permanently attached plate is recommended. Masking tape or equivalent is not allowed. Not required on a 3-speed manual transmission equipped vehicle.” Many times when I look for one during an inspection and can’t find it, the owners respond saying they
don’t need one because they can feel the difference when the trans- mission shifts. Really? What hap- pens when you sell the vehicle or when someone else must drive your vehicle for you because you are not able to? I now carry small shift pattern plaques I purchased from a local trophy shop engraved for automatic transmissions that can easily be put on the dash- board. I’ve lost count the number of vehicles I have seen fail for not having this indicator on the dash. Finally there are the manual shifters that do not have the patterns on the knobs because the owner has replaced the original with another style shift knob. Again, the owners’ response is usually that they don’t
need it because they know the shift pat-
tern without looking! What about when you must teach someone to drive your vehicle? Sometimes you’ll run across people, or even your own grandson or grand- daughter, who don’t have a clue about manual transmissions or their operation. The shift indicator is a readout that indicates which gear your transmission is engaged in. Every vehicle with an automatic transmis- sion has one, whether it’s a digital or mechanical readout on your instrument panel, or mechanical indicator by your console-mounted gearshift lever. The gear indicator pointer is attached to a shift indica- tor cable, moving the gear indica- tor’s position to accurately reflect the gear your transmission is in. Keep in mind; the shift indicator simply reflects what gear your transmission is currently in. If the indicator is not operating properly, your transmission will still function as it should though you will need to be aware of your shifter posi- tion before starting to drive. If your shift indicator is digital and stops working, you may need a wiring repair or a transmission sensor replacement to correct the condition. The shift indicator is an impor- tant device to ensure you operate your vehicle safely. Without a properly operating shift indicator, you can accidentally engage the wrong gear and potentially injure your car’s occupants or the people around you. The next time you get in your vehicle, take a moment and look—does your vehicle have a shift indicator and how confident are you that it’s indicating properly and does it work? Carol Barnhill Arkansas State Safety Inspector
84 DECEMBER 2024
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker