I recently purchased a C7 Z06 with a 7spd. Now From what I understand when the message comes up and says shift from 1st to 4th that it’s supposed to lock me out of second and go straight into fourth gear. However, when the message comes up, my car has no issue going straight into second, even if the message comes up.

How is this possible on a brand new car? Am I understanding something wrong?

 

Ya that’s normal and I agree it’s annoying. The message on the cluster lags and you’re
no longer meeting the parameters that force you into 4th by the time you shift.

 

You're way behind the times young man, waay behind. That skip shift has been pretty standard since the the turn of the century....my '99 Viper had it. That's when I learned about the "skip shift eliminator". Now it's available all over the place. You can order a good one from Summitt Racing for about $25 and kiss the skip shift feature goodbye. It was developed and now has become standard aftermarket purchase for manual shift, hi performance, US type vehicles, so they could meet the mileage standards. That's why the manual M7 Z06 meets the Gas Guzzler standard (no Federal Guzzler tax) and the A8 flunks and has the Guzzler tax (around $1800 extra tax). Anyone that owns and/or has driven different Z06's, one with an M7 and one an A8, knows the M7 drinks a lot more...she's a fun lush!

 

He said, "my car has no issue going straight into second, even if the message comes up."

I honestly do not know on my car since when the light comes on I just give the car more gas and shift into second as the light goes away. If anything does not sound like an issue.

 

Once you get above 3K rpms the skip shift turns off. I have accidentally put my car in second more than once at lower rpms. It will go just does not feel too good. My car is a 16 Z06

His car should not just "fall" into second if at low rpm.

 

Without the skip shift eliminator, the car can fall into second, or better stated, can be shifted into second at lower RPMs, if you double clutch it, which is sort of a PIA. Get the skip shift eliminator, it's simple-simple to install, and you'll never experience the problem again.

 

Did you buy car used? Someone could have put the shift eliminator in. Even with it the messsge is still displayed. It’s also possible to get the message and give a bit too much throttle to avoid the lockout. I do this all the time as I normally go to second.

 

Skip shift on the Z is a pretty small window, but if you are routinely shifting while the message is displayed and not getting locked out of 2nd it’s either been programmed out or an “eliminator” has been installed.

Personally never seen a need after driving manual Zs for 15 years, but others feel differently.

 

Car was brand new, has no problem going into 2nd when the message is displayed. Strange. I haven’t had it lock me out yet, maybe the message shows up late and I’m passed the point where it locks me out by the time I actually try to shift.

 

Just buy the cheap skip shift eliminator and call it a day. https://amzn.to/2PoaI10

 

Why waste the money when it’s not locking him out?

 

Oh I misread this then. It sounds like maybe it's already installed!

 

It seems like it’s already installed even though the car was brand new. Very strange. Some things are making me raise an eyebrow about this car

 

I honestly have never felt the need to install a skip shift defeat mechanism in any newer Vette or Viper I have owned. I just don't lug it and keep the RPM's up before shifting into second. It really never rears it's ugly head.

 

I missed that it was a new car. Dealer would not have installed. You’re just missing thw window, if accelerating briskly you’re moving through the zone.

 

this is definitely what is happening. also FYI, getting a skip shift eliminator won't get rid of the message on the display. only get the eliminator if you are getting forced into 4th and that is bothering you.

 

If I’m just tooling around town and that message pops up, I find shifting into 3rd better than 4th (not as bogged down).
Or just rev it harder

 

First things First. You have to know how CAGS or Skip Shift is designed to work. Unless you are driving in heavy stop and go traffic It is rare that Skip Shift will ever activate. If you don't have slow moving cars in front of you and it activates it means you are being a slow poke a very slow slow poke. If grocery getter drivers were behind you leaving a stop light and you were driving that slow with no car in front of you they would be passing you and shaking their fists at you.

Here is the description for how Skip Shift works on all C5 through C7 Corvettes. From 1997 through the current model year or basically 23 model years.



As you can see from the description it is only meant to activate in very slow traffic where the accelerator isn't being applied very heavily. It is so easy to drive through it that most of the time it will not activate. Purchasing a $20 skip shift eliminator is a waste of money when you can easily train yourself to avoid skip shift for free. To avoid skip shift be a little more aggressive either holding first to above 19 mph, using a shade more throttle (22%), or shifting to second before 15 mph.

The description also explains the reason why the OP sees the message but doesn't have skip shift activate. The message only appears when the car operating parameters meet the conditions specified above. So if he is accelerating slowly and doesn't move the shift lever out of low he will see the message but the circuit won't force a shift since he doesn't shift until the speed is above the window. If he shifts before the speed gets to 15 mph he won't see the display. By the way there is almost no Corvette in the world that can't stand to be shifted into second gear at 14 mph. If GM says they can shift to fourth at 15 mph there is no way shifting to second at 14 mph is detrimental to the car. Even 10 mph will be no issue.

Bill

 

We actually get rid of the skip shift feature with our hand held tuning device and help you pick up some extra power while you are already at it! So many people complain about the skip shift that we make it a standard in our tunes unless requested otherwise

 

Yep, it's a great idea to have the "skip shift" tuned out...but it breaks your warranty. This "skip shift eliminator" (CAGS) has been the source of discussion for years. I can remember when I got my previous 2016 Z06 that there were many threads and responses on it. Now Bill Dearborn, I have a lot of respect for your knowledge and driving capability of the Z06....it is well deserved, for sure. But, for you to say that buying an SS eliminator is a waste of money, come on now, it's $20-25! All you have to do is run through a few dozen postings on this Forum and see that many members are spending (or at least claim to be spending) thousands of dollars regularly, on their Z06. Give the person a break if he wants to blow a few bucks on a skip shift eliminator...maybe he doesn't like the car telling him how he wants to drive it!