Garth S

Wanted to try out the Kick-down bypass? - delayed because or the thoughts of what type of switch, where to put it, how to fish the wires through, soldering, etc. - and in the end, is it worth it?
I've managed to be sidtracked by some of these things - then reading in a post on a related topic was a comment about putting a jumper permenantly around the switch (via Mpesik): Why not do a quickie trial to see what it is like?
The plug on the kickdown switch located behind the throttle is a simple 2 pin, pull off type. The best jumper is a piece of 14g wire with the bared ends turned back over the insulation: The 'U' shape is stuffed into the plug, and tucked behind the switch: Done -5 min max.!! photo attached with a 'jumper' beside the switch.
How it performes perhaps depends on the set-up of your car: for me,('88 S4 auto) the results were stunning. The car is much more lively - and in cruise mode, perhaps down shifts too easily: but when play time arrives, hold on. On back country roads, most cars get passed by being slow out of corners - a push of the throttle catches first to max ~90kmph/bang- second to 130kmph - bang - you get the idea
This works! Permenant installation will be a slide switch mounted mid right thigh on the upper edge of the carpet below the shifter - my thumb can slide that when near the shifter.
Invest 5 min. if you haven't yet tried it.

Big Dave

My switch sticks out just below the window switches, from behind the side panel on the center console:

Brendan

I added mine to the ash tray/lighter socket. I dont mind it there.

jaimesy

Have been thinking about this too.
So what happens if the switch is kept "on" while driving...then it constantly tries to shift to a lower gear?
Wont that create some "surprise" shifts when you dont want it to?
So hence installing a toggle switch is best?

Hmmm....what if it was just a push button, would it only downshift while it is pressed, and upshift again when the button is released?

Rob Roy

I run with mine on all the time - except when it is raining, or when the wife drives the car. You can learn fairly quickly where the downshifts are.

Steve 88

Garth's Quickie is the single most significant upgrade I have made to my shark.
I tried it soon after I bought the car and haven't ever taken it off. When other adjustments are made in concert with it (e.g. throttle and trans linkages) it does not affect calm driving. But when you are feeling friskie it quickly downshifts to make the car livelier.

Worked great on my '88 S4, but not on a 86.5 that I tried it on.

928nut

I did the "permanent jumper fix" on my '79 this spring and it is staying put. I haven't noticed any drawbacks to having it on all the time. Well, the gas consumption suffers a bit because you tend to drive harder.
If you accelerate gently there is virtually no difference, however, step on it a bit harder and it "kicks in" well before 3000 RPM, so you have a much livelier car - the smile never comes off. May not work the same on newer cars.

928nut

Cliff Ruckstuhl

I have not done this yet but would drivng the car like a 4 speed with doing the shifting be the same thing or am I missing something?

Cliff 87 $4 Murf # 44

jpitman2

I mounted a momentary switch under the rubber face of the left foot rest at the top. Normal foot position, nothing; roll the foot forward, makes switch, down she goes, as long as you have some throttle in there. When it reaches normal change up point for the amount of throttle, it changes up.
jp 83 Euro S AT 51k

928ntslow

jpitman2 has the best possible set up. I did this on my 82 years ago and it is the only way to do a kick down. You guys with the toggles are gonna fry your tranny before it's time is due. A momentary switch is EXACTLY what the kick down switch is. The by-pass just allows you to kick it in without having to stomp the pedal to the floor. Dead pedal mount is where it needs to be for the left foot, right above where your toe normally is.

IcemanG17

I gotta try one of these...seem like alot of FUN....

Is the kickdown only for the tranny....or does it effect the LH-EZK too?

oups59

I did mine yesterday. But I will have to wait until spring to give it a try

I placed it on the brake handle cover. The hole was there already but just a bit to small for my SW. I use a dremel to enlarge it.

The results looks good.

Slantnose!

Did mine the same way.

Cliff Ruckstuhl

Again would it be the same as driving the car like a 4 speed by doing the shifting my self????? By running the car to a higher rpm before shifting????

Cliff 87 $4 Murf # 44

jpitman2

Sort of like manual shifting, except for the following:-
- upshift point after kickdown is defined by throttle position, load etc as usual, not by lever movement
- with a foot operated momentary, you can keep both hands on the wheel
- number of gears it goes down is also defined by throttle position
Dont forget you can adjust the throttle cable a fair bit to produce changes to suit your basic driving style, and modify this with the KDB switch.
jp 83 Euro S AT 51k