M6 Owners and Skip Shift Beware!

[Camar0wn3d]

Originally Posted by Dire Wolf

If you are behind a turtle or in a parking lot and you're in 1st why do you HAVE to shift into 2nd? Stay in 1st until you get to the proper RMPs/speed to warrant a shift into 2nd.

Skip shift is only encountered if you're not shifting correctly.

You know what, you're completely right. There is only one way to drive a stick shift. I obviously have no idea how to drive. My 14 years of driving a manual transmission has in no way gotten me familiar enough with shift points in slow traffic. What was I thinking?

I rarely encounter skip shift, but the day you have a close call like I did in my 4th gen you will be spending $30 on an eliminator.

It's not that "you're doing it wrong" if skip shift is engaged. The problem is that when it engages, you are probably looking at the road during a turn or the car in front of you in traffic, and it takes you by surprise.

I understand why it was put in...the gas guzzler tax. I'm just saying, install the eliminator IF your driving habits find you encountering skip shift, it could save you some bodywork.

If you don't encounter it, I acknowledge (not criticize) that it is a result of your personal driving habits. I couldn't be happier for you.

[DkknightX]

I appreciate everybodys' feedback. Thank you kindly! It was just a scary situation and I'll admit, it was exacerbated by the fact though I love my wife tremendously, she is a bit of a "back seat driver." When she is not in the car, I drive the car more spirited and I don't get locked out of second nearly as much. I fully understand the politics of the gas guzzler tax and everything and last night the recipe for disaster, though very rare, was there and fortunately it didn't happen.

The incline was greater than 45 degrees (we don't have many around here in Bergen County but there are a few on some main roads (New Milford to name one bad spot). As many members correctly suspected, I launched the car slowly and as carefully as I could began moving forward. I was a little nervous because there is a ton of salt on the ground and I've had some situations after all of the recent snow where the wheels aren't gripping the road unless you drive slowly. I drove slowly because I didn't want to chance excessive wheel spin and get rear-ended. When I stalled, I could have rolled back unless I was quick on the brake. It was just a rare and awkward situation and I'm not killing the car or GM badly for it. I will look into the SLP plug and likely have it done or do it myself, though I'm not too mechanically inclined. Thanks again for not jumping all over me folks. The situation seemed real enough at the time and many variables factored in. This is by no means an every day occurrence.

[monstertodd]

I bought this one and installed it yesterday. Works beautifully. I would even go so far as to say that the car shifts smoother. Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like the 1-2-3 shift is way smoother and less clunky now.

You need to put your car up on jacks so you can get to the transmission.

Look for your oil filter and then follow the exhaust back on the left side of the transmission.

You'll see your O2 sensor (I think it's the O2 sensor) coming out of the exhaust pipe. Follow that up to a connector that is attached to the side of the transmission.

Directly above that connector is another, shorter, connecter. This is where you will attach your skip shift eliminator wiring harness. Disconnect it, and then connect your skip shift eliminator wiring harness in line.

Get out from under car, lower car of jacks. Bada boom, bada bing, and ya done son. Simiple as that. I think this whole job took me an hour? And that included the time to wait for everything to cool down a bit.

Disclaimers* make sure you wear gloves because it's going to be HOT under there if you just drove it to your buddies house. If you don't know how to jack up a car, find someone who does.

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by CPanther95

BS.
If I want my car to dictate how I shift, I'll get an automatic.

Well I want to start out in 6th gear! And also want reverse to be two presses left and then U,U,D,D,A,A,C,L,L,B.

I don't want my car to dictate how I shift either, gosh darnit!

[Darth_Emma]

Skip shift in the manual and AFM in the auto should have a button to shut it off just like traction control.

[Russell James]

Originally Posted by caverman

What are the specifics on the resistor? Just want to verify from someone that has it working. Don't want to get the wrong thing.

Post # 20 in this thread has the link to Installuniversity web site with the specifics and directions.

You just get a 2.2K Ohm 1/2 watt resistor and stick it in the female end of the connector. This tricks the computer to think that it is still connected. You then just leave it disconnected and tape the resistor in places so it doesn't fall out.

Back when the Tremec 6 speed first came out, you could get a 5 pack from Radio Shack for .49 cents. Now they are .99 each. Still a bargain.
All the modules are is the same resistor but within a little plastic box with wires and connectors. Just more solder joints to go bad. I've probably put 20 - 25 Radio Shack resistors in cars and never had a single one ever go bad. But I've seen several of the $30 "modules" go open from a bad solder joint and the person winds up at the dealer with a check engine light.

[The Flash]

Hello DkknightX:

I read your comments on the first page of this thread and share your feelings fully.

My city is "loaded" with hills of different degrees... some look very scary even for drivers of auto trannys despite the excellent condition of the tarmac, so I have to go through this a lot.

I have found out two ways to defeat the Skip Shift program in my car:

1) Rev the engine a bit more than necessary for the speed you want to achieve when changing into second gear but use (or abuse I should say) the clutch to modulate how much power is transfered to the back wheels so that the car does not jumps or takes off!

With practice you can do this so quickly that the car sensors will detect this and take out the "SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR" message from the DIC and allow the second gear to be selected so fast that even people inside the car fail to notice you ever got the shift denied in the first place.

I have practiced to do this in the CAMARO and my wife, my brother in law, even my mother do not realize this is taking place at all unless I mention the issue.

Its not easy I reckon since the CAMARO clutch has a kind of edgy or reduced engagement/disengagement area within the pedal travel but it is achievable.

If my memory does not betray me, the owner's manual refers to this (the higher revs as an event in which the skip shift will not apply)as well.

2) The other one is to keep the car above 17mph when making the gear change, even though as you know, it is not always possible under certain driving conditions like the one you experience.

I have just ordered the skip shift eliminator from SLP anyway so I do not have to deal with this issue in the future.

It seems easy to install and also to un-install so you can take it out before sending the car for service in case you are worried about giving an excuse to the Dealer to dishonor the car warranty.

I have not readed all the post so I apologize if someone else wrote about this option also before I did.

Best luck w your ride!!


The Flash

[1CAMSS]

i always rev up the engine if i see the indicator come on or go to 3rd gear with no problem. i do not go to fourth gear when the light comes on.

[Milk 1027]

Sorry, but after reading the entire thread, I still don't understand why you attempted to shift on a steep incline.

Every driving manual I have ever read tells you to not shift on a steep incline.
California, Texas, and Arizona all say this. (or did at the time I was getting my license). Go to the DMV and read up, or take defensive driving courses.

[Treefrog]

Exactly, you can always go to third gear. This is pure operator error. Sorry dude, not GM's fault.

[Mosher]

If the Skip shift was any easier to get rid of, they wouldn't of put it on there.....

It's not that hard. Hell I took the EXPENSIVE way out and paid 45 bucks for the dealer to order and then install it. It took about the same amount of time as me drinking 1 cup of coffee in a nice heated waiting room for them to do it.

(20 bucks for the part, 15 bucks so I didn't have to get under it on a 20 degree morning)

[Dare]

Ok, so I'm probably going to get a new one ripped for this. But, what is this skip shift and why is it there?

[Mosher]

Originally Posted by Dare

Ok, so I'm probably going to get a new one ripped for this. But, what is this skip shift and why is it there?

AAARRRGGHHH III KKEEEEELL YOUUU!!!



Nah basically in 1st gear when you go to shift into second, and you meet the requirements which is like around 1200 - 1500 rpm roughly and then shift, the computer sends a message to the trans and locks out 2nd gear sending you to fourth instead. It's very limited in scope, it only affects probably a 2-400 rpm or so. The reason for it is to help emissions and gas mileage.

[ahart04]

Stop driving like a nanny. Skip shift can be skipped with such little effort it's amazing to see these posts over and over. I'm not talking about the eliminator either...