Does MY '22 allows the transmission to be in neutral without the engine running once the door is opened? I know this was a major inconvenience on the first year model, has it changed since?

 

nope. All DCTs, even the hailed Porsche PDK required the car be running to shift.

 

Are you saying it is fundamentally unfeasible?

I was under the impression that the C8 can be put into neutral and it would stay in neutral after you shut the engine until the door is opened. I don't know if this is factual, don't have a C8.

 

Rick Conti just posted his ‘Tech Tuesday ‘ video about shifting into neutral with the DCT .

 

While the C8 isn't doable without vehicle running, you can key on a Porsche with PDK and put it in neutral, same with the GTR just a heads up.

Thanks
Andrew

 

Considering you are able to put the C8 into neutral without the vehicle running, but must not open the driver-side door or the parking brake engages, I am now researching if possible to disable the “door open” sensor with a switch for those times when you want the car in neutral.

This is a major design screw up IMO.

 

Following

 

Hmm very interesting!

Ill be following to see what you discover as well since it would defiantly help us move cars around if we can get them in neutral without them running.

 

Thanks for the lead on the subject. Watching the video I learned, confirmed the followings.

* Rick Conti loves to talk
* His mechanic confirmed that the 2022 C8 operates the way I described it (you can place the DCT in neutral with the engine running and it remains in neutral after you shut down the engine until the driver side door is opened). You must have power, however. This is how the 2020 and 2021 model operated.
* The answer to my original question has been answered. MY 2022 did NOT change in this function.
* The inconvenience of this 'feature' is not imposed because of DCT design, but simply because of 'safety'.
* You can get around it (if you have power) by not opening the driver side door and exiting through the passenger door or climbing out the window.
* Once it's in park, you cannot select neutral without the engine running.
* Once the DCT is in park you need the special GM tool to disengage the gears to move the car (not cheap, convoluted process).
* If you have wheel dollies you can move the car short distances (like onto a flatbed) easier.
* This 'safety feature' can be overridden by temporarily bypassing the driver side door sensor. GM should offer this option automatically! I'm sure someone will make a Youtube video doing this at some point.

 

The parking pawl cannot be disengaged without the engine running unless you use the special tool. However, you can make the car remain in neutral after you turn off the engine. This procedure is in the owner's manual and is applicable to all MY cars:

Maintaining N (Neutral) with
Engine Off
This vehicle includes a method of
keeping the vehicle in N (Neutral)
while the engine is off.
This method is not to be used for
vehicle towing. If the vehicle needs
to be towed, see Towing the Vehicle
0 272.
Driver Remains in Vehicle : To
place the vehicle in N (Neutral) with
the engine off and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on level
ground, the engine is running
and the vehicle is in P (Park).
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release
the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue
to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle will now remain in
N (Neutral).
Driver Leaves Vehicle : To place
the vehicle in N (Neutral) with the
engine off and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on level
ground, the engine is running
and the vehicle is in P (Park).
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release
the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue
to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close
the door.
8. The vehicle may automatically
shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.

 

I can confirm also from the other day getting an alignment while in the car. For I tried ever scenario there was. The car has to be running to put in neutral. Yes you can shut the car off and stay in neutral. Even move the car as they did on the alignment rack to get thrust angle. If you open the door it goes back to park.

 

In the video, they did state you can open the passenger door though. It is cold in CO (heated garage), but I had to turn on the car just to move it forward 1' while I was detailing. I found it extremely annoying.

I wonder if there is someway to intercept the door open sensor and put a clean looking switch close to where the parking brake button is. Basically, disable the switch so the vehicle things the door is always closed.

 

My guess it was in reaction to something like this:
"Russian-born Yelchin was found dead by friends pinned between a concrete pillar outside his LA home and his Jeep Grand Cherokee yesterday." The jeeps allowed you to leave it in neutral and get out of the car. He probably got out and then noticed the car rolling back towards the gate and brick pillar and tried to stop it placing himself between the Jeep and the gate. People do not understand physics. He should have just let it hit the pillar. It would have been cheaper than any hospital bill, even if he had survived.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/130860...-in-car-crash/

 

Seems like they could have tied the parking engagement to the speed sensor, but that is a lot of engineering.

 

The other electronic shifter GM vehicles have the same issue. Hydraulic pressure is required to release the park pawl, hence the engine must be running to shift to neutral.

The only workaround on the 10 speeds in the trucks for example is a special tool that the dealer has.

 

Yes, the engine must be running to shift to neutral. However, once it's in neutral, it can remain in neutral without the engine running if you follow the procedures outlined in post #9 and #10.

 

I made a small, printable cheatsheet for keeping in the glove box (because I know I will not practice this enough to memorize it)

 

The car does not need to be put into park to initiate the procedure (I tested) to keep it in neutral with the engine off.
Key points to remember:
If you are going to stay in the car, shift to Neutral before shutting off the engine. And don't open the driver's side door.
If you are getting out of the car, open the door, shift into Neutral, and then turn off the engine. You can close the door but the car will go into park the next time you get in, so leave the door open if you want to do stuff.
Applying and releasing the parking brake doesn't seem to make the car go into Park.

If the engine dies, the above procedures MIGHT keep the car in Neutral. Hard to test since you would need to kill the engine without hitting the Start/Stop button.

 

No, you can't. You can put it in neutral with the engine running and then turn the engine off, leaving it in neutral. AND there is a procedure for doing this and being able to open the door. The idea that you can't open the door after is just wrong. RTFM, people.

But if the engine is off and the car in park, there is no way to put it into neutral without starting the engine or using GM's special tool (and a second person to hold the tool).

 

Conti did another YouTube video I watched this morning which confirms problems maintaining the C8 in neutral, engine off and driver’s door open. There is a way to keep it in neutral with the engine off, but the driver door must remain closed or the Parking Brake and transmission “Park” are automatically engaged. Perhaps a driver could exit via the passenger door (leaving the driver door closed) in order to retain a mobile unpowered car. Ultimately, this need to be addressed/remedied by GM.