Shifting The Auto...

1354 Views 14 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Darkstar, Apr 19, 2003

FutureX 2001

Discussion Starter · Jun 25, 2002 (Edited)

Alright, I was looking through the good ol' Acura Owner's book today (I was bored). I noticed an interesting text that said, you can drive the Automatic Legend (1-2-D3-D4) like if it's a Manual Transmission but without the clutch.

Sounds like SportShift, obviously it's talking upshifting in sequence starting from one. Now, first of all, I find it odd that they say we can do this, I thought basically we only use 1st Gear, 2nd Gear selectors for hills/steep inclines. I tried it a couple of times, no I'm not trying to kill my tranny here, but there's a LOT more power, at least it feels like it. Anyways, I can't imagine this being good for the tranny at all, why do they even mention it?

The book says something like
1st gear 38 (39 TypeI)
2nd gear 67 (67 TypeI)
3rd gear ~97 (94 TypeI)
4th gear ~top speed

Those are just estimates of what I remember reading for the GS Sedan, I don't have the book in front of me right now. Anyways, what do you all think about this? The launch/pickup feels so much better than starting in D3 and pushing the pedal to the floor, because it will not hesitate to redline it, doing the 1-2 shift however, feels slightly rough, I learned not to release the gas while you shift, or it will think you want to slow down. I do find a lot more power by starting from 1 or , by starting in D3, and as soon as I feel 2nd gear in D3 selection, I downshift it to 2nd, so it holds there for power = lots of speed. Anyways, i'm not saying try this (sounds like a real tranny killer) , but I'm just curious about the whole thing, thanks.

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ILOVELEGEND

· #2 · Jun 25, 2002

I personally have never used 1 or 2 in neither of my Legends. I drive sometimes in D3 and yes, there definitely seems to be lot more power. I use D3 while driving on streets where the speed limit is less than 40mph. Once I go over 45/50, I put it in D4. That's how I drive.

I have always thought (just like u said) that gears 1 and 2 were for hills/slopes/steep inclines and have never used them so far.
If you drive in lower gear, doesn't the fuel consumption go up?

Anyone else have any opinions/ thoughts?

smoovie--smoov

· #3 · Jun 25, 2002

yeah, fuel consumption increases because you are running the car at higher rpm's. you can also downshift to 3 from 4 and really take off when you are cruising. you have to leave your foot on the gas because if you take it off and downshift it will think you are wanting to slow down. oh, and don't worry, it is ok to do this.

as far as 1 and 2, i don't use 'em. i do launch in 3 though, definitelt more power here.

JackRabbit

· #4 · Jun 25, 2002

The only time I could ever see using 2nd gear is in the snow. When it is in the second gear notch it will NOT ever go into first, even when starting from a complete stop. This is useful for snow starts because it is easier to control the wheelspin when you have less torque going to the wheels. As for 1st? No idea when you would use that...

I do the same thing that ILOVELEGEND does, keep it in D3 when driving in residentials.

Sometimes, when driving down streets with lots of speed bumps and yields I do leave it in 2nd. That keeps it from dropping down into first when I slow down to like 3 mph for the yields. The Legend has more than enough power to cleanly pull away at those speeds in 2nd, while avoiding the quick 1-2 shift we are all familiar with.

FutureX 2001

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 26, 2002

I know, that's the way I normally drive, streets in D3, and highway D4. Or if on Highway I downshift to D3 to pass a vehicle lots of power there. Of course D3 - 2- 1 will use a lot more fuel, because the engine spins faster. D3 Launches are quick yes, but I found, starting in D3, then when I feel second gear go in, to downshift from D3 to 2 will cause the car to hold in 2nd and let's the engine rev for a lot more power, than I shift into D3... it seems a lot quicker like that, like a stickshift.

I'm just saying it's odd that the book says we can do this, because I too was under the belief that 1 - 2 were only for inclines/cliffs.

jedmund1

· #6 · Jun 26, 2002

I leave the car D3 in the city but when I want to make a hard launch I put the car in D1 and then slide it to D3 once my rpms get high in D1, I get my best takeoffs this way. I think I read to do it this way at legend temple. I don't do it often cause of my fear of messing up the tranny, but when I do it, it makes a big differences, I really move out fast

HurricaneLegend

· #7 · Jun 26, 2002

I dont quite understand how everybody says that when they start in D3, the launch is much better. This has to be something completely psychological, since whether you start in D3 or D4, you're still beginning in first gear. The only difference made by starting in D3 is that the computer doesn't shift into fourth gear after third.

WhiteLegend

· #8 · Jun 26, 2002

HurricaneLegend said:
I dont quite understand how everybody says that when they start in D3, the launch is much better. This has to be something completely psychological, since whether you start in D3 or D4, you're still beginning in first gear. The only difference made by starting in D3 is that the computer doesn't shift into fourth gear after third.

That's exactly what I was going to say, D3 and D4 makes no difference what so ever in the first 3 gears. D3 still has to go thru 1st, 2nd then 3rd gear, but it will not go into 4th. So the only time where you would get higher RPMs will be in 3rd gear.

Octane

· #9 · Jun 26, 2002

I concur - D3 or D4 make no difference in launches.

However, this business of launching in 1st, winding out and punching straight to 3rd is a new concept to me - you got this info at the Legend Temple?

I'd be interested in reading that...... gonna go check it out now

ThaAcStangSwerver

· #10 · Jun 26, 2002

I don't know if it's just me are not but.....I feel a shift when at a dead stop and I put the gear selector into 1 from D3 or D4, As if it wasn't in 1st already. My tranny is fine but I thought this was kinda strange. Anyone else ever notice this?

legend4life

· #11 · Jun 26, 2002

yep its normal, i noticed it too.........

FutureX 2001

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 27, 2002 (Edited)

Actually, maybe it is just my imagination but while in D4 my engine spins slower, from a stop, it shifts earlier.. as if to conserve fuel. While D3, while hold each gear about 1,000rpms longer, and thus giving me more power. I have a GS. But going in sequence yields a lot more power as it alows me to redline in each gear if i wanted to.

davidbaldwin

· #13 · Apr 19, 2003

ThaAcSwerver said:
I don't know if it's just me are not but.....I feel a shift when at a dead stop and I put the gear selector into 1 from D3 or D4, As if it wasn't in 1st already. My tranny is fine but I thought this was kinda strange. Anyone else ever notice this?

Check your owner's manual. When stopped in S or D (1990), th tranny is in second. If shifts into first when you start rolling - don't know why.

ikata

· #14 · Apr 19, 2003

It is interesting to find this post... Months ago when I first got my 91LS and was learning my way around I referenced to the same concept of manually shifting the auto:

http://www.legend-forum.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11725&highlight=shifting

A few of my questions were answered back then so it was helpful but my general impression was that it is not a widespread practice. Since then I have learned more about the car on my own in addition to what I learned from a bunch of Honda/Acura techs in the area.

It is my usual habit when driving autos to shift them manually and I have reverted to this practice in the Legend. The overall concensus is that there is not any more harm to the engine/tranny through the manual shifts than if you let the car shift automatically, provided that it is not abusive. I personally never leave the car in D4. I find it boring and completely non driver oriented.

Basically I avoid 1st to 2nd shifts unless I really need to get going. If I need faster take off I do as FutureX said. Start in D3, wait for auto shift to 2nd and then bring the shifter to 2, then keep it there until happy with the power/torque delivery and upshift to D3 and D4 as needed. As pointed out I avoid manual downshifts while slowing down. Something is wrong with the Legend algorithms under these conditions and that sends an unpleasant jitter through the drivetrain. I have found out it can be done without much drama if downshifts are done under acceleration and in that case it seems justified.

I agree with HurricaneLegend, WhiteLegend and Octane on the faster D3 vs. D4 launches, however, I think that the original observation is related to the fact that unless in D3 even a momentary release of the accelerator sends the tranny in D4 at which point it is sluggish unless you really step on it. Holding the car in D3 allows modulation without the D4 penalty but you are right, the gain is in 3rd gear.

All in all I avidly encourage the practice among my fellow drivers and recommend it here as well with responsible use. Basically if you can achieve smooth balance between the engine, tranny and the chasis it will not hurt anything, which, I think, is the reason why Acura put it in the manual as well. Lately as a refelction of my experience with manual-style transmissions I am learning to modulate the automatic shifts with minute but precise control of the accelerator. I am getting very good results this way and am curous of other peoples experience with this. These are good discussions fellas as they ultimately make us better drivers and help us keep our cars alive longer. Unlike the more mundane and unfortunately lengthy discussions in the likes of: "My ride will smoke your ride"...

Regards!

P.S. Oh, some suggested uses of 2 and 1... I routinely drive in 2 in traffic jams and around parking lots with speed bumps. 1 was inevitable coming down Mt. Washington this past fall. Doing it any other way would be a guaranteed trip to the shop for new brakes. Anybody elses Legend been up there?

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Darkstar

· #15 · Apr 19, 2003

davidbaldwin said:
Check your owner's manual. When stopped in S or D (1990), th tranny is in second. If shifts into first when you start rolling - don't know why.

THANK YOU for resurrecting a ~10 month old thread!

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