Skip shifting?

  • Thread starter Boz Mon
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Boz Mon

Boz Mon

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I read somewhere about someone having a skip shift light in their car? Whats that all about? I skip gears all the time in my Prelude sometimes I go from 2nd directly to 5th. I have never heard that it was bad I was just wondering what the light was all about?
 
It's not bad at all.

The "skip shift light" is an annoying feature on some american sportscars that literally forces you to shift from 1st into 4th, by locking out 2nd and 3rd. It was designed to assist fuel economy and avoid the gas-guzzler tax.

Here's some more info:

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/96SS/skipshift.htm
Q: What's CAGS (skip shift) and how does it work?

A: CAGS stands for Computer Assisted Gear Selection and is on 1994 and on cars with 6 speed transmissions. It's purpose is to improve gas mileage and avoid the "gas-guzzler" new car tax. CAGS comes into play under the following conditions:

* you're in 1st gear (of course)
* you're at 35% throttle or less
* you're between 15 and 21 mph
* engine coolant temperature is greater than 171 F (77 C)

This will energize the skip-shift solenoid and force a 1st to 4th shift. What happens is you'll be moving happily along when suddenly the "Skip Shift" light goes on in the dash. At this point you will be locked out of 2nd and 3rd. You simply cannot shift into them. At this point several options are available to you:

* shift into 4th
* shift into 5th
* shift into 6th
* coast in neutral until the RPMs drop and CAGS is disengaged
* open up the throttle a bit more and shift into 2nd or 3rd

Interestingly, 1st gear is determined by the PCM calculating from the speed sensor input and the RPM values. Disconnecting the solenoid connector disables CAGS but an error code 84 WILL be set if the PCM does not measure voltage at the solenoid connection to the computer for a period of 26 sec. This code is stored but will NOT light the Service Engine light. Apparently Chevy correctly anticipated the rush for owners to disable this function. A resistor inserted in the connector will allow voltage to the PCM input and prevent this code setting but who cares since the code is reference only.
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If my mum were to drive a car like that she would pull over and think there is something wrong with it and call me and/or roadside assistance, she wouldn't know what a skip shifting light means.
 
Yes, the whole setup on the Chevrolets is quite bothersome, but I suppose that if you are looking to save money on gas, it is the best way to do it.

But, the fans have adjusted well, and so have most magazines. The only folks I hear complaining about it lately are the high-performance Chevrolet magazines, but even they know that it is pretty simple to disable the system, as plenty of aftermarket companies do the work these days.

EDIT: I suppose it isn't just Chevrolets that have it, as it was all of the Tremec T-56 equipped models built by GM. But I'm not sure if they do the same on the Mustang GT500, Fox-Body Cobra, or Viper. The Corvettes I have driven however use it, and it isn't any big deal when you're expecting it.
 
My thought is if you are just put puting around town then you might as well be skipping gears anyway. It's not like it does it when you are driving spiritedly.
 
IMADreamer
My thought is if you are just put puting around town then you might as well be skipping gears anyway. It's not like it does it when you are driving spiritedly.
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Thats true but sometimes I like to cruise in 3rd or 4th just because I can.
 
You can get a bypass unit for the C5 Corvettes. I don't think the Viper or other makes have the skip-shift, just GM, since I haven't heard of that problem except for on Corvettes.
 
Annoying as hell is right. I had this in my 96 Firebird Formula with the T-56 transmission. I hated seeing the "Skip shift" light come on. There are very easy ways to cure the problem as YSSMAN and Jim mentioned. I personally just gave it enough gas in first gear so the light wouldn't come on.
 

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