System and method for controlling loads on a manual transmission based on a selected gear of the manual transmission

1. A method comprising:

generating a signal indicating a degree of clutch engagement;

wherein a degree of clutch pedal engagement corresponds to the degree of clutch engagement;

generating a shift indicator signal based on the degree of clutch pedal engagement, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift gears of a manual transmission;

wherein the shift indicator signal is an electronic signal; and

refraining from generating the shift indicator signal when the degree of clutch pedal engagement is less than a predetermined percent.

2. A clutch position sensor that generates a clutch position signal indicating a degree of clutch engagement,

wherein a degree of clutch pedal engagement corresponds to the degree of clutch engagement; and

a shift indicator module that generates a shift indicator signal based on the degree of clutch pedal engagement, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift gears of a manual transmission,

wherein the shift indicator module refrains from generating the shift indicator signal when the degree of clutch pedal engagement is less than a predetermined percent.

3. A method comprising:

determining a selected gear of a manual transmission based on a measured position of a gear selector; and

monitoring vehicle speed and the selected gear; and

generating a shift indicator signal based on the vehicle speed and the selected gear when a clutch of the manual transmission is at least partially disengaged, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift to one of first gear and reverse gear.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining the selected gear based on clutch position, engine speed, and the vehicle speed when the clutch is fully engaged and the vehicle speed is greater than zero.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising selectively generating the shift indicator signal when a first condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition is satisfied when the selected gear is higher than the first gear and the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising generating the shift indicator signal when the selected gear is higher than the first gear and the vehicle speed increases from zero to greater than or equal to a predetermined speed.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shift indicator signal prompts at least one of a visual message, an audible message, and a tactile message indicating when to shift.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising measuring the position of the gear selector using at least two Hall effect sensors and at least two magnets.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined speed is zero.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising refraining from generating the shift indicator signal when the first condition is satisfied for a period that is less than a predetermined period.

11. A system comprising:

a selected gear module that determines a selected gear of a manual transmission based on a measured position of a gear selector; and

a shift indicator module that monitors vehicle speed and the selected gear and that generates a shift indicator signal based on the vehicle speed and the selected gear when a clutch of the manual transmission is at least partially disengaged, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift to one of first gear and reverse gear.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the selected gear module determines the selected gear based on clutch position, engine speed, and the vehicle speed when the clutch is fully engaged and the vehicle speed is greater than zero.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the shift indicator module selectively generates the shift indicator signal when a first condition is satisfied; and

the first condition is satisfied when the selected gear is higher than the first gear and the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the shift indicator module generates the shift indicator signal when the selected gear is higher than the first gear and the vehicle speed increases from zero to greater than or equal to a predetermined speed.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the shift indicator signal prompts at least one of a visual message, an audible message, and a tactile message indicating when to shift.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising at least two magnets and at least two Hall effect sensors that measure the position of the gear selector based on magnetic fields of the at least two magnets.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined speed is zero.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the shift indicator module refrains from generating the shift indicator signal when the first condition is satisfied for a period that is less than a predetermined period.