välivaihteen

Välivaihteen is a Swedish term that translates to "intermediate gear" or "neutral gear" in English. It is a specific position on a gearbox, most commonly found in manual transmissions of vehicles. In this position, the engine is disengaged from the driven wheels. This means that even when the engine is running, the vehicle will not move when the välivaihteen is engaged.

The primary purpose of the välivaihteen is to allow the driver to start the engine without the vehicle immediately moving, and to prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped on a slope. It is typically selected by moving the gear lever to a neutral position between the forward gears. When the gear lever is in välivaihteen, the input shaft of the transmission is still connected to the engine, but the output shaft, which connects to the drive wheels, is not engaged with any gear ratio.

Engaging the välivaihteen is a crucial step before starting the engine in a manual transmission vehicle. It also serves as a safety feature, allowing the driver to stop the vehicle's movement without having to turn off the engine. In some contexts, the term might also refer to an intermediate stage in a process, but its most common and specific usage relates to automotive transmissions.