Shift light

[Dirt55]

I tried seaching for this and could not find a thread. Hopefully I am posting this in right group.

Anyway, does anyone know if you can disable the shift light for maunal trans? Miine is always coming on and starting to get annoying and somewhat distracting. I look down cause it is always catching my eye.

Don't know what the theory is behind it because if I was to shift up everytime it came on, I would be in 6th gear going only 38 mph!

 

[Eric Smit]

you should be in 6th gear at 38MPH when you're maintaining constant speed.

 

[Dirt55]

Wow, I usually stay in 4 gear at that speed. Guess I got some learning to do with this turbo engine.

 

[Thaifight-R]

The Sonic is after all designed to be more of an economy car.

Maintaining a speed at a higher gear would help increase mpg.

 

[Dirt55]

Yeah I get that. I got the RS cause I wanted to have more fun with it. Of my 3 fill ups so far, I have to break an average of 29 MPG. I do drive with a led foot. Right now its a 27 MPG.

 

[barch88]

It's designed to save MPG. It however doesn't calculate elevation and things very well, I'll admit. I have the 1.8 engine and 5 speed, when I'm going up a 6% grade on a mountain I need to be in 3rd (maybe 4th if I get a lot of momentum build up before hand) - yet it'll say shift up. If I did that my car would slug and most likely blow a sparkplug lol.

So if you're on a steady street, you always should be in the highest gear just maintaining the speed and cruising. Has nothing to do with the 1.4 Turbo, just has to do with knowing how to properly drive a manual trans ... at least, in a fuel efficent mindset

 

[Dirt55]

Yeah I get it is trying to save fuel, just wondering if I can turn it off. I am having too much fun driving it like a race car to care about mileage right now

 

[barch88]

I doubt you can shut if off, unless you cut some wire somewhere...probably not worth messing with.

 

[Dirt55]

I might have to go with small sticker on instrument panel

 

[barch88]

I know what you mean though, it can be somewhat distracting. I just ignore it and drive how I want to drive.

 

[Eric Smit]

I might have to go with small sticker on instrument panel

this is currently your best option.

 

[firstorbit84]

I thought those messing with HP tuners were looking for a way to disable it.

 

[T-BONE]

step 1 shift car and make note of where the arrow appears

step 2 find an apply a 1"X2" piece of duct tape over shift arrow position

step 3 enjoy distraction-free driving

 

[sx sonic]

I thought those messing with HP tuners were looking for a way to disable it.

I'm pretty sure one member did disable it with HP Tuners.

A sticker is you're best bet. Also it isn't of relevance but the shift point will change based on relevance.

Also I'm sitting at 58mpg over 525mi on a tank of gas and I'm usually shifting before the light comes on. Just saying, its there for a reason (an eco reason ).

-tyler

 

[firstorbit84]

A sticker would annoy me more than the light does

 

[barch88]

A sticker would annoy me more than the light does

qft

 

[Swordsmith]

the shift light isn't a good way to drive for economy either, half the time you can shift earlier than it suggests for better results ans half the time it wants you to go too early. I would love to have a display showing simply my current gear but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that either.

I wonder if Vince at Trifecta can change when the light goes on for us, like when he changes the shift points for the auto tranny.

 

[sx sonic]

the shift light isn't a good way to drive for economy either, half the time you can shift earlier than it suggests for better results ans half the time it wants you to go too early. I would love to have a display showing simply my current gear but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that either.

I wonder if Vince at Trifecta can change when the light goes on for us, like when he changes the shift points for the auto tranny.

You can already change how early in the RPM range the light comes on with your right foot.

 

[Preloader]

No. He has told me he can't. HOWEVER, the stock ECU has unused on/off trigger points that can be controlled by RPM.

So, while I haven't been able to see any eagerness for him to do it, a trigger point could be set per a given RPM to drive an aftermarket shift light.

That doesn't take car if the shift light on the dash though. Maybe today I can try to find out which wire, if any, can be disconnected to disable the obnoxious shift indicator.

 

[ChrisJ]

If I were you I'd just give it more time. A sticker is going to look terrible and fact is after 14,000 miles I somehow learned to ignore it.

Though I am in 5th at 30MPH and 6th at not much above that as others have said there are times when you need a little more rpm to feel comfortable.

Those speeds are for an LT, an RS can go higher sooner due to lower gearing.

I bet an RS can do 6th at 30MPH. I should try it in the Cruze but I don't drive that much as its the wifes. I think the Cruze has the same gearing as the RS.