Question about the A4
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Question about the A4
Question for those with the knowledge:
I have a 2002 C5 Coupe. Can your A4 hold 1st and 2nd. In other words, my tranny will stay in 1st or 2nd until I move the lever out of that position. In 3rd, it will downshift as I slow, and upshift as I accelerate. But I can slam the needle against the redline (and revlimiter) if I am slow shifting out of 1st or 2nd. Is this standard for Vettes or is there a shift kit lurking inside.
I have a 2002 C5 Coupe. Can your A4 hold 1st and 2nd. In other words, my tranny will stay in 1st or 2nd until I move the lever out of that position. In 3rd, it will downshift as I slow, and upshift as I accelerate. But I can slam the needle against the redline (and revlimiter) if I am slow shifting out of 1st or 2nd. Is this standard for Vettes or is there a shift kit lurking inside.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Country Boys Can Survive.
I don't know about 1st, but, I can manually shift mine into 2nd and it stays there unless I shift it into 3rd or drive. Like I said though, I don't know about 1st, never tried it! Mines a '99. 
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by Honez
If you manually shift it into a gear (A4), it isn't going to change unless you manually put it to another gear or drive.
In "3" it acts as a three speed automatic.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 563
Likes: 1
From: Mission Viejo CA
Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
not 100% correct.
In "3" it acts as a three speed automatic.
In "3" it acts as a three speed automatic.
Your right, I stand corrected. They do that so that you can stay out of OD for "spirited driving and hills". But if you go to 1st or 2nd, it's not going to shift.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
Likes: 1
From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
I'm not 100% sure, but what my old age failing memory remembers is...
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable.
Good luck... 
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable.
Good luck...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 551
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
One other thing if you put it in 2nd gear from a stop the transmission bypasses 1st and starts in 2nd gear. Good for low traction situations.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,337
Likes: 283
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by Rogue Wave
I'm not 100% sure, but what my old age failing memory remembers is...
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable. Good luck...
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable.
Good luck... 
That sounds right. If you leave it in 2nd you will start and stay in 2nd, this is good if you take your Vette out in the snow 
Anyway, it is all in that book in your glove box if you take it out and read it:
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle will not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-32.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system.
You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in
ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever – push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish. If
you do not apply the brake after 15 seconds once the
ignition is turned on, you will receive a PRESS BRAKE
BEFORE SHIFT message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-34.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-32.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting our of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Be sure the engine is not racing
when shifting your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X): This position is for
normal driving.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X):
• When driving on hilly, winding roads.
• When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the
vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in
second gear. You may use this feature for reducing
torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start
your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for
preventing the transmission from downshifting into
FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would
be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power,
but lower fuel economy, than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission will not
shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle will not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-32.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system.
You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in
ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever – push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish. If
you do not apply the brake after 15 seconds once the
ignition is turned on, you will receive a PRESS BRAKE
BEFORE SHIFT message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-34.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-32.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting our of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Be sure the engine is not racing
when shifting your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X): This position is for
normal driving.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X):
• When driving on hilly, winding roads.
• When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the
vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in
second gear. You may use this feature for reducing
torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start
your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for
preventing the transmission from downshifting into
FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would
be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power,
but lower fuel economy, than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission will not
shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 52
From: Colorado Springs CO
oh yeah, the book....the one the guy at the "undisclosed location" said he would mail me because they forgot to give it to me.....some day I might break down and buy one, until then I downloaded the entire book in a .pdf file.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Rogue Wave
I'm not 100% sure, but what my old age failing memory remembers is...
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable. Good luck...
1st is 1st
2nd is 2nd
3rd is 1-3
D is 1-4
I know it has been discussed on the forum over the years. You might try a search and see what comes up. Sorry but can't help with what to search for to get the results down to something managable.
Good luck... I drive around the city in 3 and the highway after 50mph in D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,385
Likes: 6
From: Campbell CA
Originally Posted by screw991le
I drive around the city in 3 and the highway after 50mph in D
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Country Boys Can Survive.
Originally Posted by screw991le
I drive around the city in 3 and the highway after 50mph in D
I do the same. I don't know if it's good for the trans, (although I don't see what harm it would be), but, I don't like the low rpm's at say 35 mph in Drive. Hasn't seemed to do any harm, (yet).