IA_Stingray

This is the first automatic trans I've had since my 06 Mustang GT. With my Mustang, I could get a second and sometimes even a third great scratch. No chance with my 2017 Grand Sport. Whether I paddle shift or leave it in drive, WOT shifts are so slow and soft. Is this normal? If so, what have you done to deal with it?

Kraz8s

Which driving mode are you in?

IA_Stingray

I went out this morning and played around with drive modes and traction control. I normally drive in Touring because the roads around here are so rough. I found a nice smooth area to make some passes on. Even in Sport or Track, with the traction control off, it still isn't a very firm shift. Also, is it normal for the car to pop (backfire through exhaust) through every upshift at WOT?

Kraz8s

Shift firmness is relative, what are you comparing it too? My stock C7 doesn't shift as hard as my tuned C6 GS did, but it definitely shifts faster.

What you are hearing isn't really a back fire. The engine shuts off fuel for a split second to make the shift smoother/faster if I remember correctly.

Jay_Davis

It also matters if you are still under the break-in mileage.

Kraz8s

Completely forgot about this!

IA_Stingray

You mean the 500 miles? I did get my first oil change and have 700 miles now.

Jay_Davis

Yes. At 700 miles that isn't a factor. In track mode, shifting at full throttle should be pretty quick.

C2367

Love the way mine shifts, would not want it any other way, don't want it to break loose shifting. Sometimes it breaks loose 2nd to 1st or 3rd to 2nd WOT so I let off. ZF1, NPP.

dovervold

Sorry to hear that man. GM auto's = I had multiple tuners try to get my A6 to snap at shift point, but kept hitting redline Hopefully someone can tune

Mike Campbell

Hmmm, I don't know why. My A6 snaps in Sport and even more so in Track mode. In fact in Track I rarely use it on the street because it can beak loose.

Scruff Vette

I leave mine in Sport 99% of the time and shifts are awesome under full throttle. Quicker than you can blink your eye. The shifts are not harsh and are made at exactly the right time. Why slam through gear changes like a Tubro 400 with a shift kit?

Bill Dearborn

Which track mode are you in? Just moving the selector to Track doesn't select the sub modes. Try it in Sport1, Sport 2 and Race.

Bill

AmmoVet

Try autocross in track/race mode and leave it in drive. Seems to know exactly what gear to be in at every turn based on brakes and throttle. Previously I used track/sport1 and manual using paddles, not anymore.

Love this car.

Tow

You should notice a few crisp shifts from 1st to second cold in the mornings. Once the fluid heats up it's pretty smooth shifting. This is to do with the new Toque converter design and stator shaft.

Higgs Boson

Getting a scratch when shifting is not fast. There is a difference between shift pressure and shift time/speed.

Your A8 is applying power to the wheels much more efficiently than your Mustang did.

chefcg1

I have been running "chuck COW" trans tune and it shift hard and quick now. Really woke up the transmission. Only down side is getting chuck to send update tunes in a timely manner!

djnice

Why would an auto spin tires when it shifts? I could see that happen in a manual with driver error.


I know...my old cars and truck did that but doesn't mean they were fast.

ajrothm

Torque management is probably hellacious on these things...hence the big delays between shifts in the lower gears.

I know on the 6l80s once you get the trans tuned, they will shift really fast, and really hard if you want them too. My G8 GT would get rubber on the 1-2 shift and sometimes on the 2-3 shift (depending on the road)..I had a SuperChips canned tune in that one. You could adjust the "Shift Torque" which reduced the TM and increased line pressures etc..

My wife's 16' Camaro SS with the A8 has a BIG delay on the 1-2 and a bit less delay on the 2-3.... However the 3-4 shift is really fast, as is the 4-5.


My point is, its all in the tuning.

My Ecoboost F150 with a 6R90 and a custom tune will get a second gear scratch on 33"s...

It doesnt seem like anyone really has a good handle on tuning the A8s yet...at least in regards to reducing the torque management and delays on shifts

Higgs Boson

There is really not a lot to tune on the A8s. They are better from the factory than any aftermarket 6 speed tune. Once you have too much power then you may have mechanical limitations to sort through but that's an all out drag race situation.

"Torque Management" as an item to overcome or remove is a thing of the past. The ECMs are torque based, not airflow based, which means that your idle while in the McDonalds drive through is torque management.

Again, a shift that "gets rubber" only makes your car slower.