A6 Manual shifting
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
A6 Manual shifting
I just picked up a 2011 GS A6 with only 3012 miles on it but while driving it yesteday I noticed an anomaly. While driving down the highway in the "normal" drive mode I accidently pulled on the "downshift" paddle and the car accomplished a downshift at 58 mph. I remember from my 2009 A6 Vette and reading the owners manual that this is "supposed" to happen only in the "S" mode not the drive mode. After this happened I did it on purpose after leaving the highway so I could reduce the speed at which it would engage if it happened again...which it did. The 2011 owners manual repeats what the 2009 did with the fact the trans MUST be in the "S" or Sport Mode to initiate this type of downshifting, so to me this indicates a problem in the system but is this a normal situation for the cars after 2009??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,999
Likes: 242
From: Surprise, Az
My '12 A-6 does it, though the transmission shifting algorithm was re-worked for '12. My '08 did not. When in drive, I can downshift with the paddles and it will remain selected, great for going down hills and using the engine compression to slow the car. You can even upshift with the paddles at this point. It will eventually "time-out" and go back to auto shifting.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
The thing that confuses me is this statement in the 2011 owners manual, and I quote....The manual paddle Shift system can be deactivated by moving the shifter from S (Sport Mode) back to D (Drive), or by holding either up-shift button for more then one second. To me this means that the manual shift option can only be achieved in the Sport Mode.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City MO
The thing that confuses me is this statement in the 2011 owners manual, and I quote....The manual paddle Shift system can be deactivated by moving the shifter from S (Sport Mode) back to D (Drive), or by holding either up-shift button for more then one second. To me this means that the manual shift option can only be achieved in the Sport Mode.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
What they said is that the "manual mode" is deactivated by moving the shifter to D from S to me that means the manual mode is only available in Sport
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 234
From: Colorado
The paddles work in D on my '13. But go back to full automatic after a few seconds once you stop using them. In S, they stay unless you shift to D or hold the upshift paddle for 3 seconds. I always drive in S anyway, so irrelevant to me.
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City MO
Manual mode is available in either D or S. Switching the transmission from S to D does "Deactivate" or takes the transmission out of manual mode "until you use the paddle shifters again" whether in D or S.