1-4 skip shift
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
1-4 skip shift
I have a 2011 Grand Sport MT. I know that when the 1-4 lights up it only lets me go into 4th gear. For a while now when it lights up it won't let me into 2nd, 3rd or 5th. Will the Bypass adapter at the trans fix this issue or is there something else I need to look at. It's just plain annoying. Thank God the car has the power to overcome this. Thanks for your help.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 85
From: Sumter SC
That is a gas mileage feature that GM engineered to improve the MPG. There are a few ways to overcome that feature with involve doing nothing but changing your driving style such as driving through the light into a higher RPM and shift when the light goes out. You can add a resister to the circuit either at the fuse box or the transmission.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
You have a few options to bypass the 1-4 shift. I used the skip shift eliminator bypass fuse. Worked great for me, no issues. Another option is to tune it out. After using the fuse for awhile, I have since purchased a Diablo Tuner and tuned the 1-4 shift out completely where the light doesn't even come on in the dash anymore either. The other option is what you mentioned, and it is the skip shift eliminator that gets installed by the transmission. You can buy one of the fuses for $14 or so, and it would definitely be the easiest of the 3 to install.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Michigan Motorsports CAGS Bypass...
FWIW - I would avoid the fuse method as I've seen several fail, which is no big deal except the skip shift reappears and your out $20. This failure really shouldn't be a surprise as you are really installing an already blown fuse with the fuse method.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 6,821
Likes: 278
From: SE Ohio
Thanks for sharing - good information. This is a pretty annoying and to me, unnecessarily aggravation. I don’t see how the skip shift improves mpg. You have to wind up the rpm’s in first so 4th gear shift rpm’s don’t end up in the basement or accelerate pretty strong to avoid it. Both seem to me as less efficient than shifting through the gears as per usual.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 825
From: US
Here is the one I bought 4 years ago and it still works great. A two minute install after you get the car in the air. Hard to beat for $13.
Michigan Motorsports CAGS Bypass... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014O87W5E...p_mob_ap_share
FWIW - I would avoid the fuse method as I've seen several fail, which is no big deal except the skip shift reappears and your out $20. This failure really shouldn't be a surprise as you are really installing an already blown fuse with the fuse method.
Michigan Motorsports CAGS Bypass... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014O87W5E...p_mob_ap_share
FWIW - I would avoid the fuse method as I've seen several fail, which is no big deal except the skip shift reappears and your out $20. This failure really shouldn't be a surprise as you are really installing an already blown fuse with the fuse method.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 851
Likes: 390
Here are some options: https://xse.com/leres/z06/cags.html
I blew a smart fuse with a motorcycle battery and that's been working for me for over a year with no issues.
I have 2 more that I blew using the same method as backups if the LED ever goes out. Super simple, easy to un-do, and no need to jack up the car.
I blew a smart fuse with a motorcycle battery and that's been working for me for over a year with no issues.
I have 2 more that I blew using the same method as backups if the LED ever goes out. Super simple, easy to un-do, and no need to jack up the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
You do not need to buy anything.
The easiest way to defeat the 1-4 skip shift is to go into neutral momentarily. You are going slow enough that the brief sub second in neutral is not noticeable.
I stop in neutral then into second, simple.
The easiest way to defeat the 1-4 skip shift is to go into neutral momentarily. You are going slow enough that the brief sub second in neutral is not noticeable.
I stop in neutral then into second, simple.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 613
Likes: 347
From: Westminster, CA
Here are some options: https://xse.com/leres/z06/cags.html
I blew a smart fuse with a motorcycle battery and that's been working for me for over a year with no issues.
I have 2 more that I blew using the same method as backups if the LED ever goes out. Super simple, easy to un-do, and no need to jack up the car.
I blew a smart fuse with a motorcycle battery and that's been working for me for over a year with no issues.
I have 2 more that I blew using the same method as backups if the LED ever goes out. Super simple, easy to un-do, and no need to jack up the car.
Last edited by Jon2kZ; Sep 10, 2022 at 01:09 PM. Reason: Added photo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
The whole point of complaining about and/or trying to eliminate the 1-4 shift, is that the car is tryin to dictate to the driver how to drive the car, instead of the driver just driving the way they want. Your work arounds do nothing to solve the problem, since the driver is still having to modify or change their driving to avoid the skip shift feature. Best resolution is to eliminate the feature. It's a simple fix. And then you, as the driver, can drive the car however you want without ever having to be concerned about activating the skip shift feature ever again.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 729
Likes: 317
From: Ashevile, NC
Get the skip shift module, easy install using a floor jack and stands. You need to get to the transmission to install it. Takes all of about 5 minutes once you're able to get under the car. You'll still get the message on the dash but just ignore it. The module tricks the computer into thinking the system is working as normal.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
The whole point of complaining about and/or trying to eliminate the 1-4 shift, is that the car is tryin to dictate to the driver how to drive the car, instead of the driver just driving the way they want.
I learned the car and realized when and how to deal with a minor problem. You are going 10 - 15mph, what difference does it make? I pop it in neutral and immediately into second, simple.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 6,821
Likes: 278
From: SE Ohio
I do a quick little toggle in this situation which probably takes less than 1 second. My 6-speed Mazda3 doesn’t have the skip shift and I consistently get 40+ mpg. My 5 speed (v6) Ranger doesn’t have it either but I only get a little over 20 mpg in it. This is just annoying and seems like it’s a solution looking for a problem.
Truly, this is the ONLY thing that annoys me with my 09.
Truly, this is the ONLY thing that annoys me with my 09.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 110
Likes: 30
From: Orange County, CA
I tried the CAGS bypass fuse and it didn't work for me. The ECM threw all kinds of codes. Terrible "your engine has now been destroyed by this fuse and you're going to jail" codes. After putting the proper fuse back in & clearing the codes I put in the gizmo that plugs in between the CAGS connector and the transmission and everything has been SMOOTH SAILING since.
I can shift into any gear I want. The CAGS skip-shift 1-4 that lights up feels like a relic of some far off cold-war, or a bad fever dream. I don't even notice I'm ignoring the light.
If you've got the tool to reset CEL codes, then try a fuse. Based upon my experience, I wouldn't recommend it, though.
I had to jack of the car to put this CAGS bypass gizmo in, but it was a very simple installation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The gizmo cost me like $17 @ Amazon. Even though I know it's just $4 worth of parts it is definitely $17 well spent.
CAGS is an abomination. The thought process of forcing the driver of a car with a manual transmission to not shift to their preferred gear is a certain type of evil.
I can shift into any gear I want. The CAGS skip-shift 1-4 that lights up feels like a relic of some far off cold-war, or a bad fever dream. I don't even notice I'm ignoring the light.
If you've got the tool to reset CEL codes, then try a fuse. Based upon my experience, I wouldn't recommend it, though.
I had to jack of the car to put this CAGS bypass gizmo in, but it was a very simple installation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The gizmo cost me like $17 @ Amazon. Even though I know it's just $4 worth of parts it is definitely $17 well spent.
CAGS is an abomination. The thought process of forcing the driver of a car with a manual transmission to not shift to their preferred gear is a certain type of evil.