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Ive been driving sticks for along time. Or at least long enough to think that I know what I am doing. The 6 speed tranny takes some getting used to. My biggest problem is that "Shift 1 to 4" light that I never see as I am left handed and my arm etc blocks the view. I've had my baby (sorry to my kids) for a week and a half and I am wondering if I might be doing something wrong. I have been more aware of the light and I expect it when I start rolling from them %#$&*@ red lights. When I move to 4th as directed I get what you would expect from a slow moving car in 4th gear. So I am either not winding first gear out far enough or I am shifting late ( usually at 1500- 2k and 14 -18 mph) which I doubt.
I'm not a guru but I would say your mistake is that you haven't installed a CAGS 1st to 4th shift eliminator. $30 bucks and you're in charge not the darn computer.
This light will come on when:
- The engine coolant temperature is higher than 120°F (49"C), and
- You are going 15 to 19 mph (24 to 31 km/h) and
You are at 21 percent throttle or less.
The CAGS or computer aided gear selection was put in to help GM avoid a gas guzzler tax on the Corvette. Just accelerate a little faster, or wait to shift a little longer and you can skip the light.....or as MarkT pointed out you can order a CAGS Eliminator which is basically a resitor with a connector and it plugs into the transmission and allows you to disconnect the power to the CAGS. The light will then come on but will not lock out second gear for low RPM shifts.
buy an aftermarket exhaust system it will take care of the shift light.... You'll be on the gas longer to hear the nice rumble and the shift light will go out...
I'm not a guru but I would say your mistake is that you haven't installed a CAGS 1st to 4th shift eliminator. $30 bucks and you're in charge not the darn computer.
you can also eliminate it directly from the computer, no need for a CAGS eliminator. caveat: i know you can do this in an '04 (since i had it done in mine), but no idea about other years. go to your friendly neighborhood tuning shop that has ls1 edit and inquire within!
when i'm driving real slow in town in heavy traffic, i'm happy to be rid of that annoying cags "feature."
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Originally Posted by MarkT 2002
I'm not a guru but I would say your mistake is that you haven't installed a CAGS 1st to 4th shift eliminator. $30 bucks and you're in charge not the darn computer.
MarkT
That's the cure. You can get the CAGS eliminator for about $20 from many forum vendors and it is about a five minute job to put in. Just have to get the car up far enough to get under there to the connector.
buy an aftermarket exhaust system it will take care of the shift light.... You'll be on the gas longer to hear the nice rumble and the shift light will go out...
When I first got mine 2 years ago - some joker told me this..... Got the exhaust and low and behold - THEY WERE RIGHT!
If you take off fast enough the CAGS doesn't bother me that much. Just shift at 3,000. I've heard its easy to install the CAGS eliminator, but mine hasn't bothered me enough to worry about it.
I am going to have to get this CAGS myself. I agree with eveyone though...just tac it up a bit more to pass through that window or when in traffic situations where that isn't as easy I have somewhat trained myself when going from 1st to 2nd, to quickly thrust the stick in the nuetral area (for lack of a better term) to the right and back over into 2nd quick enough to not skip a beat.
Just wind it out farther. You'll get used to the light and not even pay attention to it after a while. CAGS is a waste of money - just shift through it.