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I recently discovered this 1,2,3 numbers on the left. This is a automatic C5 but when I tried it out it looks like a 3 speed manual mode. Does it mean that this 1,2,3 numbers can be used as manual mode on my automatic C5??
Agree it is a 4 speed. If you put it in 3 (which is D in other cars), the tranny should shift normally but not go into overdrive (OD). Place in 1 or 2, the tranny should remain in those gears.
Agree it is a 4 speed. If you put it in 3 (which is D in other cars), the tranny should shift normally but not go into overdrive (OD). Place in 1 or 2, the tranny should remain in those gears.
Huh? " the tranny should shift normally but not go into overdrive (OD)??
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Originally Posted by 3sACROWD
Agree it is a 4 speed. If you put it in 3 (which is D in other cars), the tranny should shift normally but not go into overdrive (OD). Place in 1 or 2, the tranny should remain in those gears.
this is pretty standard.
If you put it in 1, it will stay in 1, and not upshift to 2.
You can start in 1, and then shift into 2 ... if the rpms are high enough, the car will shift into 2.
And so on.. if you start the car in "2", the transmission will start in first, then shift to 2 and stay there.
So yes, you can kind of use it in "manual" mode, just realize it's not really manual. What it really gives you if you're using it in drag racing is the ability to upshift at higher rpms -- i.e., hold a lower gear longer.
Also note what may work in some cars may not work in others.
Most in 3 will just stay in three. Some will just have an L and that will put you in second gear for low tractions conditions.
Some in a manual mode will down shift if you have not already done it.
Read the owners manual in what ever you are driving as there are a number of things that can happen depending how it is programed.
Lockup converter has nothing to do with number of forward gears. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (overdrive) constitute the 4 speeds. A small argument might be made that the lockup converter could constitute another gear, but nobody I've ever discussed this with, or in any of the articles I've read, counts the lockup converter as an extra gear. Actually, any serious drag only car using the 4L60E, 4L60, or 700R4, generally run a non-lockup converter, because it's much lighter than a lockup unit, enables much better throttle response, and wont ruin the transmission due to TCC failures......
this is pretty standard.
If you put it in 1, it will stay in 1, and not upshift to 2.
You can start in 1, and then shift into 2 ... if the rpms are high enough, the car will shift into 2.
And so on.. if you start the car in "2", the transmission will start in first, then shift to 2 and stay there.
So yes, you can kind of use it in "manual" mode, just realize it's not really manual. What it really gives you if you're using it in drag racing is the ability to upshift at higher rpms -- i.e., hold a lower gear longer.
On a C5, like many GM models around the 2000 model year, they had a feature called 2nd gear start. For low traction situations. You will find that if you put the trans in 2nd gear at a stop light in a C5, it will leave the stop light in 2nd gear, and stay in 2nd gear......
Last edited by grinder11; Sep 27, 2023 at 01:45 PM.
Yeah sure, but once out of 3rd gear and into OD or lockup the car has essentially a sort of 4 gear, but it is only "1 to 1" after the converter is locked up ? It's not a real 4th gear but it is the top radio.
Also note what may work in some cars may not work in others.
Most in 3 will just stay in three. Some will just have an L and that will put you in second gear for low tractions conditions.
Some in a manual mode will down shift if you have not already done it.
Read the owners manual in what ever you are driving as there are a number of things that can happen depending how it is programed.
I have never seen a C5 with an "L" on the console....