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I don't know how this applies to all engine applications or years, hope to gain some knowledge on this.
2021 P300 Coupe - Not a garage queen, but she's a great daily driver.
Would be nice if the display would ALWAYS show what gear is engaged, however this is not the case. (if it is, please share how to do this)
When engaging the paddle shifters in "D" mode if I come to a stop while being in gears 3-4-5-6-7-or 8 the car automatically downshifts to "2" - not "1"
Same thing in "S" mode.
In "D" mode when engaging the paddle shifters the transmission goes back into "D" - shall we say AUTOMATIC mode when the paddles are left alone for some time.
So, the questions I have are:
When in normal "D" mode is the car always doing a second gear start?
When using the paddles in D mode is it possible to keep the car from returning to D mode as it does after some time?
When in "S" mode automatic, is the car doing a second gear start ?
Otherwise is there ever a first gear start other than when engaging the paddles?
You have laid out your questions perfectly. As far as I can tell, and I am no transmission expert, your transmission is operating exactly as it should.
The display will only show what gear you are in when either Sport or Dynamic is selected and you use the paddles or when you temporarily use the paddles while in D. Even then, while in S/D mode if you do not manually move the paddle shifters the display will only show D.
While in D mode and using the paddle shifters the transmission will revert back to D if paddle shifters are not used.
While in D mode she will always start in 2nd. When in S mode and using paddles she will start in 1st.
While in D mode, and using paddles, the only way to prevent transmission going back to D is to select S or Dynamic.
If you hold both paddles together while at a stop, transmission will move to D.
This was confusing enough for me to write so I hope I got it right.
I guess my main point is that what you have described is perfectly normal.
I don't know of a way to display Gear position on the dash except when in Manual mode (using the paddles). Would be glad to learn if it is possible and I am missing something.
I have also witnessed the car only downshifting to second gear when stopping while in Manual mode. I had the same question as you regarding what the car does in Automatic mode (no paddles). Here is a data plot from a run at the drag strip:
The data indicates the car is in 1st gear when staged. This is with the car in Dynamic Mode, shifter in Sport mode, and running in full Automatic (no paddles used during the run). You can see from the RPM trace that the car launches in 1st gear. Hope that helps.
1st gear start in D or SPORT mode ONLY with paddles
I'm nearly ALWAYS in Dynamic mode and D (not Sport) and any touch of the paddles allows me to shift manually, but she ALWAYS returns to "D" mode - any way to change that?
1st gear start in D or SPORT mode ONLY with paddles
I'm nearly ALWAYS in Dynamic mode and D (not Sport) and any touch of the paddles allows me to shift manually, but she ALWAYS returns to "D" mode - any way to change that?
One extra little quirk I have noticed - yes it takes off in 2nd gear when in D, BUT if you floor it on take off it downshifts to 1st gear so quickly you can't really detect the shift.
I have the preferences set up on my 2021 F Type R for the paddles only to be activated when the gear selector lever is moved over to the Sport position. I don't know if the same transmission is used in the 4 banger model or if the programming is the same, but my understanding is that the V8's produce so much torque that under normal driving conditions they usually just start out in 2nd gear. Probably a fuel saving feature. They will only engage 1st if for example you are parked on a steep incline when you start out or if you stomp on the accelerator pedal. I'd be curious to know when they slip into 8th gear when in Auto mode, it's hard to tell when getting on the freeway and not accelerating hard. It's an overdrive ratio so maybe it doesn't shift into that gear until at least 70 MPH ?
It would be nice if the gear display always showed what gear the transmission was in if you were in the manual mode and not revert to just showing "D" after several seconds without using the paddles.
I'd be curious to know when they slip into 8th gear when in Auto mode, it's hard to tell when getting on the freeway and not accelerating hard. It's an overdrive ratio so maybe it doesn't shift into that gear until at least 70 MPH ?
Just pull the left paddle and see which gear it shifts down to - if it shifts to 7, you were in 8th! IME, if you're cruising on a light throttle it'll always select the highest gear that gives around 1500-2000 rpm.
Yes, it would be nice if Jaguar had provided a gear indicator in the instrument panel even when in "D"...in all their vehicles. Our Bimmers and Supras had/have that feature. It was quite useful. Perhaps Jaguar has been anticipating the advent of the EV where there is but a single gear and, therefore, no need for any indication as to which gear the transmission is in. I jest, of course.
I have the preferences set up on my 2021 F Type R for the paddles only to be activated when the gear selector lever is moved over to the Sport position. I don't know if the same transmission is used in the 4 banger model or if the programming is the same, but my understanding is that the V8's produce so much torque that under normal driving conditions they usually just start out in 2nd gear. Probably a fuel saving feature. They will only engage 1st if for example you are parked on a steep incline when you start out or if you stomp on the accelerator pedal. I'd be curious to know when they slip into 8th gear when in Auto mode, it's hard to tell when getting on the freeway and not accelerating hard. It's an overdrive ratio so maybe it doesn't shift into that gear until at least 70 MPH ?
It would be nice if the gear display always showed what gear the transmission was in if you were in the manual mode and not revert to just showing "D" after several seconds without using the paddles.
Both 7th and 8th are overdrive and 6th is direct drive 1:1.
Per the Workshop Manual:
GEAR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH 7TH 8TH REVERSE
Ratio 4.714 3.143 2.106 1.667 1.285 1.000 0.839 0.667 3.317
Sorry about the alignment/spacing, no amount of editing will fix it!
Yes, it would be nice if Jaguar had provided a gear indicator in the instrument panel even when in "D"...in all their vehicles. Our Bimmers and Supras had/have that feature. It was quite useful.
They probably take the view that if you're driving it like a Jag should be driven you'll be using the paddles or stick, and if you're in Auto you'll be enjoying the ride so won't care which gear the car selelcts.
They probably take the view that if you're driving it like a Jag should be driven you'll be using the paddles or stick, and if you're in Auto you'll be enjoying the ride so won't care which gear the car selelcts.
Yep, us brits are too haughty too worry about things like gears when in Auto mode>>>
If I'm 'hypermiling' I just pull the RH paddle to see which gear is engaged. It goes back to D after ~5 seconds. This works at slower speeds, too.
FWIW the trans will shift into 8th at about 40 - 45 MPH at a constant speed, with light throttle.
The trans programming seems to hold a lower gear initially, after accelerating. I guess that's in case you want to accelerate again. <--- the things you do to maintain driving interest in traffic-plagued NJ, USA
If I'm 'hypermiling' I just pull the RH paddle to see which gear is engaged. It goes back to D after ~5 seconds. This works at slower speeds, too.
That will try to select the next higher gear, so isn't conclusive if you're in 7 or 8. Better to shift down and add 1 to the gear shown, which won't be ambiguous unless you're going really slowly .....
Transmission Operation Question
I just pull the RH paddle to see which gear is engaged. It goes back to D after ~5 seconds. This works at slower speeds, too.
