Why does this exist? I have not seen it yet but WTF is this all about anyway. The manual doesn't explain it reason, just that it's there.

 

It's supposed to improve fuel economy. You can get an cags eliminator for $20 to disable it.

 

The forced 1-4 shift is the manufacturer's way of "earning" a higher mileage rating and therefore avoiding a gas guzzler tax on the vehicle. Long history of GM using this technology on a variety of vehicles.

 

If you are seeing that message, your right foot is way to light

 

+1 to both posts #3 & 4!

I always thought it did just the opposite of post #3 and made me embrace post #4.

 

Is it hard to eliminate with the CAGs?

 

I very seldom have the CAGS experience!

 

I get this message on my C5 but simply ignore it. I've never been prevented from rowing through the gears one by one.

 

Really? CAGS was SUPER intrusive on the C5's. Did you buy the C5 new? If not, suspect you have a CAGS eliminator already put on my the original owner. It does NOT remove the 1-4 message that will come up but it does allow access to 2nd and 3rd with the CAGS eliminator.

CAGS was a bit annoying on my C6 but nowhere near as bad as on my 02 Z28. I had a CTS-V that only wanted a 1-4 a handful of times so I never bothered with the CAGS eliminator but I find the C7 is more intrusive than the V so I got the CAGS eliminator. Yet to install though.

 

Nope never have and I guess I never will.

Really a stupid thing.

 

Don't know about you but I'd rather spend 20 bucks on the CAGS eliminator than spend 1300 on the Gas Guzzler tax. Without CAGS, we would be paying that tax.

 

Well if that was true sure I'm all for it. Off to buy a CAGS eliminator

 

This feature has been on C6 and other Vettes. I put a CAGS Eliminator on my ’08 and my C7. It is not as intrusive in the 2014 but I think is a safety issue and worth the ~$25. Here is why:
First, it is there to get better gas mileage on the EPA dictated driving sequence required by manufacturers to list gas mileage. If you look at the Owner’s Manual it says you can shift to 4th at 17 mph to get the best gas mileage! I would never do that myself since in the Z51 that is ~760 engine rpm! In my opinion too low, you’d be lugging the engine, but that is what GM suggests (page 9-30 of the owner’s manual.)
That works for the EPA required drive cycle! If you try to shift from 1st to 2nd below about 17 mph it forces the 1st to 4th shift. There is a solenoid at the transmission that inserts a pin in the shift gate to prevent the normal 1st to 2nd shift. All the CAGS Eliminator does is fool the computer to thinking it engaged the solenoid, the light will still come on! However the kit includes a resistor so the computer thinks the solenoid is still connected!
I never had the “skip shift” engage in my C7 until one day I was in bumper to bumper traffic and as I moved forward I tried to shift at probably ~15 mph. When I tried to engage 2nd it would not go. The car slowed and it took a few seconds for me to realize what was happening! Now, had someone behind me started to move when the saw me move and been checking a text on a phone on their lap, they would have expected me to move forward and not slow abruptly as I did! Could have been in my bumper! In today’s world my biggest concern is folks responding to text messages like "Pavlov’s dogs did to a bell!" An automatic response! They feel “obligated” to look at the screen when they hear a "ding!" I have never had an accident with another car in 50 years of driving (looking for some wood!) I am always looking in my mirrors for folks behind me and today, all too often I see someone (especially young drivers) looking down at a light, or even when moving! The $25 fine we just voted in in SC for texting while driving is a joke!
That is why I believe a CAGS Eliminator is a safety feature-you decide! Here is a detailed PDF of my install, more detail and I did more work than you probably need: http://netwelding.com/Skip_Shift_Eliminator.pdf

 

CAGS goes back long before the C6. C5's had them as did all 4th gen Camaro's and Firebirds. The GTO's had them as well.

I agree with you about the safety issue. I was out right after I picked up my C7 and was in bumper to bumper making a tight turn onto a very narrow bridge. I was going so slow due to traffic it locked me out of second and it took me 3-4 seconds to realize what was going on and get moving. The car behind me slammed his brakes and narrowly avoided hitting me because I started and move and to him, just stopped for no reason.

 

I have the CAGS eliminator but have yet to install it. Does it cause any warranty issues by adding it?

 

In the C6, the CAGS eliminator was easy as literally installing a fuse-shaped device in the fuse box... I wish that had been something they carried to the C7.

 

HUH? Mine had to be installed in the same place on the C6 transmission. Never heard of installing in the fuse box. Was that something after 2008?

If you have a tune, they can tune it out so you don't need that CAGS eliminator but I don't recall anything being needed in the fuse box of my 08. Just the eliminator in the trans.

 

This is the one I have in my 2012, no tune required:

http://www.complianceparts.com/c6cagsinstall.html

 

Cool. I learn something new everyday here. Thanks.

 

I actually tried to make mine come on today and nothing, which is fine by me. Hope I never see it.