What's this thing do? And I wasnt aware that a manaul could skip gears? What?

http://www.afterthoughtsauto.com/skipshifelki.html

There is a feature on the standards that makes the driver skip 2nd and 3rd gears while normal driving. It saves gas and can be avoided if you know how to get around it. This little dohibby however simply tells the computer to not do it anymore.

Ahh, that explains alot. <--- Easily confused today.

aka CAGS eliminator... right?

Originally posted by 04GOATGERM@Dec 14 2004, 07:20 AM
aka CAGS eliminator... right?
Right, same as on the 4th gens.

Another reason not to buy a sandard eh?

Originally posted by ScreaminGTO@Dec 14 2004, 12:21 PM
Another reason not to buy a sandard eh?
I love standard. This is the first car I have owned that has a manual. I have wanted one since I first started driving, finally 8 years and 3 cars later I have one. I almost converted my camaro to a manual. The skip shift can be annoying but you can easily get around it, or buy the eliminator.

Maybe im missing something, but the skipshift shift's the manaul for you? how is that even possible? I thought if you shift into 2nd it's gunna go into 2nd. I havent owned a manual yet so this is a bit new, please try to explain.

NO, NO, NO....

The GTO has a feature built in to the Computer that (Under certain conditions) will force the DRIVER to shift from 1st to 4th to obtain maximum gas milage, a light on the dash lights up. Obliviously you as the driver do not have to shift but if you are going to shift you gotta go to 4th not 2nd or 3rd. And riding in 1st for very long will not work B)

With the Skip Shift Eliminator - it "tricks" the computer to dis-reguard this signal and allows the DRIVER to shift normal not forcing the 1 to 4 shift but allowing the 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 shift.

This is no reason at all to not get a manual. Or if it is it should be a very small reason.

And my 'skip shift eliminator' lets the light come on still for when the 1-4 shift would be activated - and it only EVER came on twice when I actually was going to shift the car and that was when I first got it. It only comes on now when I'm in traffic staying in first and not planning on shifting anyway.
Dan

Originally posted by DANSLS1@Dec 14 2004, 02:28 PM
And my 'skip shift eliminator' lets the light come on still for when the 1-4 shift would be activated - and it only EVER came on twice when I actually was going to shift the car and that was when I first got it. It only comes on now when I'm in traffic staying in first and not planning on shifting anyway.
Dan
lol I guess you are always above 29% throttle or under 169* then huh.

Some ways of getting it around it are to shift at a higher RPM, I believe it comes on at 2500-3000K, so shifting at 3100 will avoid it, also not comming to complete stops at stop signs or things like that will also.

Originally posted by Valistener+Dec 14 2004, 08:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Valistener @ Dec 14 2004, 08:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-DANSLS1@Dec 14 2004, 02:28 PM
And my 'skip shift eliminator' lets the light come on still for when the 1-4 shift would be activated - and it only EVER came on twice when I actually was going to shift the car and that was when I first got it. It only comes on now when I'm in traffic staying in first and not planning on shifting anyway.
Dan
lol I guess you are always above 29% throttle or under 169* then huh. [/b][/quote]
I guess so - think maybe that's why I'm getting less than 15 mpg city most of the time?

Driving habits dictate Milliage more than anything else.

So I think I got this, The computer thinks your driving normal and wont let you shift into 2nd or 3rd? Or is it just a warning light type thing to let you know you should just shift to 4th. How fast does the system turn off? I could find that to be a problem if your cursing and the system decides to turn on. I am getting a manual GTO his jan and It's gunna be my first manual ever. Just kinda wanna know about these little things before it happens to me. Sorry I'm just not grasping the concept about this whole thing. Although if we were discussing electronics, sound systems, or computers I could talk circles around most people. =//

It closes off the 2nd and 3rd shift gates so if you try to shift, even with the clutch in you cant get it into 2nd or 3rd, it will let you into 4th though. It only does this in 1st gear, and is avoidable by either not shifting when the light comes on (i.e. shifting higher han say 2500 RPM) or by no comming to a complete stop after the last you stopped.

Intresting but seems usless. I wonder how much that unit weighs. I'd unbolt what ever lock's the gears but leave the light as a reminder.

Its a computer thing, you cant unbolt it. its much easier to simply buy the removal unit plug it in, and forget about it. The unit itself isnt heavy, under a pound.

that is realy wierd b/c i can shift into first or second even when the skip shift light is on...... funky

Actually, there is a solenoid bolted to the side of the transmission. The eliminator kits have you unplugging the power to this solenoid. As far as weight - I've heard maybe a pound or so, but I've not seen anybody who makes a cover for the hole it would leave in your tranny.
And, from somebody who apparently has had a number of these trannies apart, it doesn't lock out the 3rd shift - it just pushes the lever into the '3/4 row' so to speak, so even w/ the light on and the solenoid activated you could do a 1-3 shift if you were so inclined.
And the reasoning is it's a simple fix for the car companies to get around the gas guzzler tax on the manual transmission cars. Considering how easily it is bypassed, it works out well for most everybody.
And dammit - y'all made me mess up my post count...

Well, I went and did it. Saturday, I bought a silver '04 and love it. The car is everything I was hoping it would be...and more.

And people really look at this car. Most wonder what it is and some have asked me at gas stations, etc. A neighbor/M3 owner wants me to take him for a ride asap.

Also, the skip shift is a bit irritating. I have been caught by it about 5 times in 250 miles of driving. I can avoid it of course, but I don't want it in the back of my mind every time I drive the car. Who offers the bypass?

I am accustomed to BMW's shifters and would like to reduce my GTO's shift throw length. Options?

The brake pedal and accelerator are too far apart for heel-toe downshifting. Ideas about bending the gas pedal arm; pedal extensions?

'Glad to be in the owners club...

Carter

My automatic transmission makes it easier for me to hold on for dear life when I stomp the loud pedal! It sure is fun to watch the scenery wiz by while you listen to the wailing exhaust. With an automatic you lose just a 1/10th of a second in 0-60 time, but it eliminates the hastle of constantly shifting while driving in heavy traffic. I'd rather save the leg work for my stationary bike.

Long live the manual tranny..... :lol:

Welcome to 1993 :D

I have an '04. When the stupid light comes on I either just go faster in first gear or just put it in neutral for a second or so & then it will shift into second. I hate having to do that! I understand a tune can eliminate this also.

Originally posted by DANSLS1@Dec 21 2004, 01:44 PM
...And, from somebody who apparently has had a number of these trannies apart, it doesn't lock out the 3rd shift - it just pushes the lever into the '3/4 row' so to speak, so even w/ the light on and the solenoid activated you could do a 1-3 shift if you were so inclined...
I frequently do that 1-3 shift, Dan, when CAGS catches me in light traffic. I've also found that CAGS quits once you enter the 3/4 gate, so you can wiggle into that gate and then back to the left and into 2nd if you'd like. One of these days I'll take the time to get under the car stick a resistor in there but I hit CAGS so rarely (and almost always when I am intentionally driving like someone's grandma) that it is really not a priority for me.

Convincing my wife that "spending several grand on warranty-blowing perf mods really is a good thing" is my priority at the moment... :ph34r: