Theres a fairly big hill near my house where I often put my foot down. I turn onto it from another street (5-10mph while turning) and then gradually put the gas pedal down all the way (about 4 secs to get my foot all the way down). Now Im assuming that at 5-10 mph my car is in first. However it accelerates up to about 40 without shifting and at just over 40 it downshifts and starts really flying up that hill. My question is: what is going on? Is it still in second at 5mph? Why? And why not downshift earlier? If its in first at 5mph, then can it even go 40 (at around 5k rpm) in first? And then how does it DOWNshift?

 

at 5 to 10mph under little load your car is probably in 2nd. Even if it's in first it can go up to 40. The shift will occur near redline because you're at WOT.

 

At 10 MPH it may even still be in 3rd. Gotta love the Autotragic tranny.

Don't put your foot down slowly, just come out of the turn and hit it. It should hit 1st and take off like a bat-at-of-he11.

 

swap a 5 speed and control it yourself

 

It'll stay in 2nd if you slowly put your foot down, but as you get the pedal further and further down, it'll suddenly downshift and take off. njmax has the right idea, you have to just punch it out of the corner.

 

40mph at 5k is second

 

Alright thanks, I'll give that a try tomorrow on the way home from work

 

Yeah, Level......they're right.. I've noticed it too in my Max, and its really annoying, especialy when you;re trying to pull out in traffic in a slow roll. Have to really drop the hammer to get it to downshift. I don't know why it isnt controlled better by the ecu.....would make the car work less. Ya gotta love those hills in the Worcester area........