I forgot to hit the magic button that mostly forgets about six gear, chews up petrol and makes you feel better during stop-light grand prix's ;-) while on the way to work today, and noticed that the ensuing downshifts into first during stop and go speeds were almost seamless as opposed to non-sport mode.

Got me thinking. I assume the pressure changes along with ECU commands to maintain a gear for longer and staying (mostly) out of overdrive, but could this be a larger sign of improper pressures throughout our trans?

My downshifts aren't generally memorable, but I wouldn't call them new car smooth either. Our ZF fitted LR3 experiences this same issue (hard 1st gear downshifts), but has been that way since day one.

Thoughts??

Jeff

 

In non sport mode, I understand that there is no change to 1st gear.

 

There is a downshift into 1st in both modes at very slow speeds / I'm referring to less than 10 mph downshifts, not kickdown.

Jeff

 

What I've noticed is that shifts are smoother in both upshifts and downshifts in sport mode. Generally, I keep my car in sport mode at speeds below 50 mph and treat the normal mode as a overdrive.

 

I might try that today. Mine's a bit jerky in first sometimes.

 

Yep, confirmed the same for me. Much smoother in sport.

 

Excellent, thanks for confirming.

Now we REALLY need to know why and one of you software gurus need to write a reflash that mimics sport mode, but pushes into O/D sooner and stays per non-sport.

Get on that would ya (guru whomever you are ;-).

Cheers,

Jeff

 

That's the ONLY issue I've really had with my car since I bought it; sport mode has never worked on it

 

When driving around the city I DO NOT turn sport mode off! The shifts are quicker and smoother.

 

It makes me think Jaguar was going for a slow soft shift and the amount of bloat between gears allows too much RPM drift which causes the roughness. Every other automatic car I've ever had never re-engaged first gear until the car came to a complete stop. It seems weird that it engages at 2-5mph when almost stopped.


I was thinking this on my drive home last night. I wish we had plug in quick programmers. My 2004 GTO had a little slop between shifts and I was able to retune the shift points and up the line pressure. The shifts became crisp and all slop went away.

 

Just curious, but where is it stated that 6th gear doesn't engage in sport mode? I just tested it at above 50mph in sport and pulling the J gate into 5th resulted in a downshift. I also counted the shifts going from 0 to 60 mph accelerating at a normal driving pace and the car went through all 6 gears. As far as I can tell I can't see a reason to ever turn sport off, it feels like it shifts like ZF equipped BMWs I've driven. I love that it stays engaged and doesn't have to be re-enabled every time the car is started.

Nevermind, I see what is said, it has a tendency to drop down out of 6th more readily which would affect fuel economy. I didn't notice it doing that but I was on flat pavement.

 

It's in the Technical Guide 2004-05, on page 95.

However Sport Mode is over-ridden by Cruise Mode which, if selected, does use 6th ... but I think the Sport Mode light stays on.

 

Good, then I truly have no reason to shut it off.

 

All this "Smooth shifting, downshift, Sport mode" hooplah is making me,,,,,,,,,,,, being I have NEVER got to experience it!

 

Why doesn't it work? Have you ever looked to make sure the button is plugged in?

 

If I knew why, I'd have it working! Hahaha

But nah, I hadn't ever took the J-Gate off completely. I started to last week when I was switching out the Dash button controls. I'll take a look. Hopefully that's all it is. I've tried the whole "reset" thing to no avail...

 

So, I am assuming the red light does not come on at all when pressing the button?

 

I actually like running it hard in regular mode. The shifts between gears are smoother and it feels like a rocket ship. Sport mode is great but it is harsher shifting whereas regular mode is smooooth....

 

Notta! No light or anything...

 

I think the red light is the only indication too. I don't think it pops up anything on the display when enabled from what I remember.