Why is the first gear of Pajero not synchronized?
2 Answers
The reason why the first gear of Pajero is not synchronized is that the brake is not fully depressed, and the dashboard does not synchronize from D to N to R. First gear: Starting gear, the gear for starting the car, not suitable for continuous high-speed operation. Second gear: Passing gear, mainly used for passing road surfaces and handling complex situations, such as passing sharp-angle (right-angle) curves without special obstacles, densely populated and bustling sections, sections with large slopes, and bumpy sections. Third gear: Transition gear, mainly used for low-speed driving on urban roads. Acceleration can easily transition to fourth gear, and deceleration can easily reduce to second gear. Fourth gear: Driving gear, mainly used for long-term high-speed driving and economical driving. The economical speed of most vehicles will appear in the low-speed section of fourth gear. Fifth gear: High-speed gear, mainly used for long-distance driving on highways.
I used to drive a Pajero for several years and noticed that first gear sometimes felt a bit rough. This was actually an intentional design choice to omit synchronization. Since the Pajero is a rugged off-road vehicle, first gear is often used for low-speed climbing or heavy towing, where synchronizers would be prone to wear and damage under such high-torque conditions. To enhance the transmission's durability and reliability, the manufacturer simply left out the synchronizer. Driving it requires some skill, like slowly engaging the clutch when shifting, matching the engine speed, and waiting for the vehicle speed to drop appropriately before shifting. Once you get used to it, it becomes quite convenient, especially in off-road situations where you won't be stranded due to synchronizer failure. Regular maintenance is also crucial—checking the clutch condition can prevent unexpected wear. Overall, the design is a well-calculated result aimed at ensuring stable driving in extreme conditions.
