I modified my "S" shift points, but "D" is stock.
Trans tune
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 3
Trans tune
I have always had manuals, but decided to try an Auto this time partly due to my wife. I wish I had gotten the manual now, but since I have the auto I may as well make the best of it. My major complaint is, the car seems to always be in 5th or 6th when cruising slow. I would rather be in 3rd or 4th. Any suggestions as to what speed or RPM I could set my shift points at for 3rd to 6th. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 1,431
From: Brentwood CA
I have mine set up to shift at around 2000 rpm in each gear. Shift mph’s are around:
1>2 = 14 mph
2>3 = 24 mph
3>4 = 39 mph
4>5 = 52 mph
5>6 = 63 mph
The shifts to 5th and 6th actually occur around 1900 rpm. Another thing to do is to eliminate TM, both upshift and downshift. This in itself will make your car feel much more like a manual. Eliminating TM was probably the most improvement from my tranny tune. When you jump on it the upshifts feel like a manual, like when you dump the clutch after the shift. On a hard downshift, it again feels like you dumped the clutch on a manual during a downshift. You lunge forward. Do both and you'll love it.
Note: I only had the tuner change my shift points in 'D". This way, in stop and go traffic, or early in the morning when the car is still cold I can drive in "S" with the factory shift points.
1>2 = 14 mph
2>3 = 24 mph
3>4 = 39 mph
4>5 = 52 mph
5>6 = 63 mph
The shifts to 5th and 6th actually occur around 1900 rpm. Another thing to do is to eliminate TM, both upshift and downshift. This in itself will make your car feel much more like a manual. Eliminating TM was probably the most improvement from my tranny tune. When you jump on it the upshifts feel like a manual, like when you dump the clutch after the shift. On a hard downshift, it again feels like you dumped the clutch on a manual during a downshift. You lunge forward. Do both and you'll love it.
Note: I only had the tuner change my shift points in 'D". This way, in stop and go traffic, or early in the morning when the car is still cold I can drive in "S" with the factory shift points.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,403
From: Bethesda MD
Just curious, why not the opposite? i.e. S for the higher shift points and D for the factory.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 1,431
From: Brentwood CA
From the factory, the shifts is "S" are a little more sportier than "D" - supposed to hold it in gear a little longer etc.. "D" is just way to lame and useless from the get go in my opinion. Soooooo, changing the stock shift points in "D" makes sense to me. When I just want to muddle around the stock "S" shift points are a good fit - not to aggressive, but better than the original "D". Also, I never feel the need to use the paddles while in “D” with the modified, more aggressive shift points. This is not the case with the stock shift points. So keeping the stock shift points in "S" allows me to use the paddles when I need them. If I kept the stock shift points in “D”, I would not be able to use the paddles when I needed a little more aggressiveness. Hope this makes sense.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 6
From: Makena, Maui & NM
. Another thing to do is to eliminate TM, both upshift and downshift. This in itself will make your car feel much more like a manual. Eliminating TM was probably the most improvement from my tranny tune. When you jump on it the upshifts feel like a manual, like when you dump the clutch after the shift. On a hard downshift, it again feels like you dumped the clutch on a manual during a downshift. You lunge forward. Do both and you'll love it.
change alone), I found that the downshifts (which I do a lot on the
street) was too abrupt and felt was too hard on the tranny for my
tastes. I re-enabled that.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: Annandale VA
No real reason, just the way he decided to do it. That being said, I kind of like the fact that he did it this way though.
From the factory, the shifts is "S" are a little more sportier than "D" - supposed to hold it in gear a little longer etc.. "D" is just way to lame and useless from the get go in my opinion. Soooooo, changing the stock shift points in "D" makes sense to me. When I just want to muddle around the stock "S" shift points are a good fit - not to aggressive, but better than the original "D". Also, I never feel the need to use the paddles while in “D” with the modified, more aggressive shift points. This is not the case with the stock shift points. So keeping the stock shift points in "S" allows me to use the paddles when I need them. If I kept the stock shift points in “D”, I would not be able to use the paddles when I needed a little more aggressiveness. Hope this makes sense.
From the factory, the shifts is "S" are a little more sportier than "D" - supposed to hold it in gear a little longer etc.. "D" is just way to lame and useless from the get go in my opinion. Soooooo, changing the stock shift points in "D" makes sense to me. When I just want to muddle around the stock "S" shift points are a good fit - not to aggressive, but better than the original "D". Also, I never feel the need to use the paddles while in “D” with the modified, more aggressive shift points. This is not the case with the stock shift points. So keeping the stock shift points in "S" allows me to use the paddles when I need them. If I kept the stock shift points in “D”, I would not be able to use the paddles when I needed a little more aggressiveness. Hope this makes sense.
Also, D uses adaptive programming, so the computer will adjust the shift points to compensate for your driving style. Not so for S.
This makes no sense whatsoever to me, but that's how GM set it up.