Can anyone tell me why when I have my RA in Normal Automatic mode it shifts from 4th to 5th in 2 seconds and I'm not even revving at higher RPMs for it to be shifting like that.


same thing with 5th and 6th. When I push the throttle it down shifts from 6th to 5th. then when I let go of the throttle (lower RPMs) it goes back to 6th.

This makes no sense shouldn't it down shift to a lower gear when at lower RPM's to get more power.

and should it shift up when I push throttle.

some one please explain?

 

it down shifts for more TQ and hp if it were to up shift it would fall on it's face when you tried to accelerate. Someone else needs to explain this better.

 

Characteristics of the transmission, it takes some getting used to.

Gears 1-4 are set up low for quicker starts off the line 0-60 performance. Gears 5-6 are set much higher for better gas mileage. The transmission naturally wants to get to 5th as soon as possible.

As for the down shift, it is set to rev match, so whatever the rev is set to in Normal Automatic will trigger a down shift. Let's say you are in 6th gear traveling at 2,000 rpm, then you hit the gas and hit 3,000 rpm, it will down shift to give you more power.

The transmission is computer controlled, it is attempting to predict what the driver wants based on what you do, if you hit the gas, it assumes you want to accelerate quickly, so it chooses a lower gear.

I have also been working on slowing down without hitting the brake. For example, when you let off the gas, once the car begins to decelerate naturally it will perform a rev match down shift which results in a considerable slow down of the car especially in lower gears. I have gotten pretty good at this, almost to the point where I can drive in city traffic without ever hitting the brake, or hitting it very seldom. The down side is that when I hit the gas again there is a slight jerk from the surge of power. Remember the turbo is already spooled up, so it makes for a less smooth ride, but it's better on the transmission.

I have also gotten into the habit of putting the car in neutral when I pull up to a long red light, which also helps save on wear/tear of the clutches. Any time you push the break the clutch automatically disengages the gear. Stops at a red light are basically like sitting at a red light in a manual transmission with the shifter engaged in 1st and the clutch and brake pushed in, or more accurately perhaps like sitting at a light, in gear, with the brake off, and the clutch slightly engaged.

Any time you push on the brake, it is akin to pushing in on both brake and clutch with a manual transmission.

It's funny because I am spending as much time thinking about my driving technique and how the transmission will reacts as I did back when I was driving a stick. lol I adjust my driving style when the family is with me, using the brake more when rolling up to a light or slowing down. Ideally, I want to come to a full stop at the light and roll out from first, it makes acceleration smoother for the family.

My advice, focus on the characteristics of the transmission, think about what you are "asking" it to do with the understanding that it is trying to "predict" what you are doing, or what you want to do. Pay close attention to how it accelerates and decelerates, gear shifts, power jerks, etc. Once you spend some time looking at it from that perspective, it should begin to sense.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Yeah I have been focusing on communication with my TC SST since I got the car I to put the car in neutral when I'm at every red light or in traffic.

Your info is really great thanks for the advice. I also have goten my downshifting down to a science. My downshifts are very smooth once I see it at 2000 RPMs I usually downshift 1 gear below eg. 5th to 4th and It goes up to about 3K rpms and downshifts like a baby.


However thats just when I want power but when I want to completely slow down the car I'm not as good with the down shifts since I don't like putting alot of stress on the tranny my downshifts are smooth but not effecient when trying to slow the car down without pressing the brake. Any advice on that??

 

I know what you mean, I can feet the torque hit the drive train when it auto down shifts, using that technique. No advice yet, it's a work in progress. The best bet might be lightly braking then letting off once it has completed the down shift. I will be out and about tomorrow, I'll try some different techniques and post in this thread.

 

After a certian amount of time does it automatically go into a "neutral" like mode?

In a manual sitting at a light and riding the clutch is something you do if you have a spare clutches in the garage and nothing better to do with your money.