Shifting question

4033 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by phootdr, Oct 29, 2008

phootdr

Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2008

Living near NYC, my daily commute has a few slow areas...along with some wide open stretches. I generally drive in "automatic", but use the paddle shifters to downshift rather than brake. I have noticed if I use the paddle shifter and then later in my trip let her out, she will not shift up, the beeping starts, and eventually the rev limiter actually kicks in. Sometimes 4th or 5th gear. This has happened in sport or regular mode. If I put it into manual then back to auto, it seems to reset. The point is, if I use the paddle shifters even once, this phenomenon seems to happen. Is this supposed to happen, defect in my car, or what?

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BigMikeISF

· #2 · Sep 15, 2008

Welcome to the site!!

If I'm understanding your question correctly I believe what is happening is after you downshift in automatic, you are going to have to upshift in auto as well, unless you do not use the paddle shifters for (I believe) 10-15 seconds.

Lets say your going down a hill in auto and you downshift to 4th, if you go uphill or level off, your going to have to upshift using the paddle shifters unless a span of 10-15 seconds (I believe this is correct, FlipSide can help me with the correct timing) has elapsed since you last downshifted into 4th. It happens to me a lot, I, like you, like to downshift in auto mode (when its used) and then continue to drive but unless I switch to manual and then back to auto or wait a certain period of time before pressing the paddles again, it doesn't reset and I will redline it or have to use the paddles to upshift.

Basically I believe there is a certain amount of time you have, when in auto, that if you use the paddle shifters, your going to have to wait until the computer puts you back in auto and will do all the shifts for you

I'm not sure if I'm making myself clear or not, perhaps someone can clarify it for him

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jctheplaya888

· #3 · Sep 15, 2008

I am kind of confused about his quesiton, i barely use the paddle shifters yet, i live in the nyc area as well long island but i commute to queens everyday, and occasionally the city, where are you abouts? I am still breaking in my car so i don't find it necessary to use it yet!

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phootdr

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 15, 2008

BigMike, to clarify a bit...it certainly is a longer than 10-15 second interval, sometimes as much as 10-15 minutes! As long as I use the paddles to downshift in auto at anytime during my trip, it seems to happen if I floor it (which is often, now well past 1500 miles), without "reseting" by switching quickly to manuel then back to auto. Hope that helps. jctheplaya888...live in Rockland, commute to the Bronx (gated parking lot!). By the way, I don't know how you all got your cars on the bottom, but I have a 2008 black/black

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BigMikeISF

· #5 · Sep 15, 2008

phootdr said:
BigMike, to clarify a bit...it certainly is a longer than 10-15 second interval, sometimes as much as 10-15 minutes! As long as I use the paddles to downshift in auto at anytime during my trip, it seems to happen if I floor it (which is often, now well past 1500 miles), without "reseting" by switching quickly to manuel then back to auto.

If it is as long as 10-15 minutes then it is not what I'm referring to and it is weird it is taking that long to reset back to full auto without you having to move it to manual then back to auto again. Its early, hopefully someone will be able to help more then I can

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tf103chl

· #6 · Sep 15, 2008

I'm pretty sure that it will reset to automatic mode if you come to a stop after using the paddles in auto mode.

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Msedanman

· #7 · Sep 15, 2008

BigMikeISF said:
Welcome to the site!!

If I'm understanding your question correctly I believe what is happening is after you downshift in automatic, you are going to have to upshift in auto as well, unless you do not use the paddle shifters for (I believe) 10-15 seconds.

+1.....once you initiate the manual mode by using the paddles (while in auto), it takes a short time to come out of manual mode and back to automatic.
During that period you have to upshift manually also.

C.

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jctheplaya888

· #8 · Sep 15, 2008

I work alot although i still go to school, the old s500 was inherited from the parents, and then the rest were purchased. I just work a lot maybe we should meet up sometime haha

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FChampOH

· #9 · Oct 28, 2008

This may have been clarified elsewhere, but....If you are in automatic mode and you decide to downshift with the paddle....then you would like it to go back to automatic mode...simply hold the upshift (+) paddle for about 2 seconds and it will return to automatic (D) mode.

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phootdr

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 29, 2008 (Edited)

Thanks for all who have answered this. Since I originally posted this, I have learned that if I upshift, it goes back to "D" (drive) mode quickly. I think someone correctly had posted that fact. If I don't upshift, or downshift more...it will hold in for a longer period of time....try for yourselves and let me know. On a positive note, I raced a Carrera 4S last week and edged out his ass....he was pissed. Also ran into a BMW Z4 M version...destroyed him so I couldn't gauge his reaction....too much fun

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