Folks,

I forgot how to have the S4 stick to 1st gear when moving off from standstill to give it the blast.

I remember something like shifting the auto down to 2nd and 3rd or was it the other way round?

What do I do after that?

BTW, there must be a gadget out there to make this think simpler. Also would this damage the gearbox quickly or is this a safe thing to do?

Thanks in advance.

Sy.

 

getting the S4 to start in 1st involves either:

1. Stomping with sufficient gusto on the gas pedal to provoke the trans to grab 1st.

2. Shifting (even momentarily) into "2" while at a stop, engaging 1st as the starting gear (although if you soft-foot it forward, it will shift to 2nd fairly quickly unless you keep the level in "2").

3. Various possible mods to your gearbox to make it more 1st-gear-friendly. (tighten throttle cables, adjust bowden cable, electronic kickdown bypass switch, modified gearbox guts)

 

Sorry to be a pain but I'm lost.....

 

Stop.

Put stick in 2 position.

Go.

When you want to shift to 2nd, bump the stick from 2 to 3 back to 2. This gives you a quick shift to 2nd and holds it. When you are ready for 3rd, move to 3 et al.


Don't forget to bump it, or it will stay in 1st all the way to redline, then shift on it's own.

 

1st method: 2nd gear, 'pedal to the metal' and change up like a normal car via rpms.
2nd method: leave in drive (D) and 'pedal to the metal' and leave the auto to 'kick down' to 1st and chance as per the auto box program
3rd method: Fit a kick down switch or other mods. Numerous threads written on this so do a search.
4th consequence: Save up you money as you will be renewing your rear tires pretty regularly and the fuel consumption will go up.

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto

 

Yep - if you leave it on "2" and hit redline, it will go into 2nd gear automatically. But when you it redline in 2nd, you'll have to shift into 3rd manually. Otherwise you'll hit the rev limiter - which is not pleasant. Ask me how I know...

 

With tranny in "D" or "3" the car will start in 2nd unless enough throttle is used to make it kick down to first.....with the tranny in "2" it will start in 1st in and hold first until at least 5000 rpms even off throttle (think under braking) or at least mine will......with the 2.20 gears 1st is good for well over 50mph....which is lots of fun around town....BWAAAHHHH

 

I see....thanks for that (PS. whats bumping?)

BTW, why would it shift to 2nd from 1st when the revs hit redline? I thought by selecting 2nd at standstill and keeping the stick at 2nd and flooring it will stay in first no matter what the rev speed is or have I lost it again?

Do you need to press the T handle button to do all of this or can you just shift without pressing the button?

Also is this safe for the transmission?

Finally, by leaving transmission in first and flooring it, what sort of power are we talking here, what I mean is what do I expect?

Cheers bud

 

Hi Syed,
When stopped select 2 and then back to 3.
Car will hold 1 until rev limiter or you flick the shifter from 3 to 2 to 3.
It will then hold 2 until the revlimiter or you shift again.
This is why the auto is far far more superior to the "wooden spoon in the pudding basin pos 5 speed".
I am not biased in any way at all 8>).
Heading for Blighty on Friday.
Roger

 

I don't want to highjack the thread but why does my '87 always start in 1st when I know it's completely stock? It's an early '87. I didn't realize it until the subject came up here a few times that autos start in second.

 

Does this apply to all years automatics? Jason

 

Mine only does that in the 2-3-2 nudge. If I do that, I get the usual quick shifts.

Now on the '90, the bowden cable has been tightened a whole lot and all I have to to do is poke 1/3 throttle from a stop and it gets 1st. It also shifts later (3-4 grand) at same throttle input but runs the gears very well.

As to the question if this is hard on the tranny's. I sure hope not, it's the way I drive the '88 everyday.

 

I installed the kickdown bypass switch and lave it on all the time except when its raining (or when my wife is going to drive).

It really wakes up the car with the supercharger, always starts in 1st, and I can always redline it if I want

 

Joe
Early 87's did start in 1st all the time.....it was a mid year change to start in 2nd...

 

Jay,

By selecting "2" on your gearshift at a stop, you will begin in 1st gear and if you leave it there, the gearbox will automatically move up to 2nd gear at a high rpm, and then hold 2nd forever.

Bumping the selector to "3", and then back to "2" informs the gearbox to go from 1 to 2 at a time of your chosing, instead of when it wants to.

If you leave the box in "2" it will hold that gear and not let go. You will need to move to "3" to go to third gear.

The 928 has enough torque that selecting "2", taking off hard, and then going "3-2" momentarily for a shift gives you good acceleration, followed by you moving to "3" when you want that gear.

Hope this helps.

Honestly, depending on your tires, just mashing the throttle works decent too, although you will shift 1-2 at around 5k rpm, well before redline (but it's a glorious slide into 2nd using the torque converter in the meat of the motors powerband).