Automatic To Manual

[Chosen1]

Hi guys,

I have a V35 2004 sedan 250gt, and I just noticed that whenever I use manual for shifting gears it always starts at 3rd gear. Even coming from full stop if I shift it to manual it always starts at 3rd. Is this normal? If not, is this a big thing that I should be concerned about? Does it need a major repair? I also noticed when in "D" (drive) gear, sometimes it doesn't have the power that you expect from first gear launch, but if I step on the accelerator a bit more it seems like it's down shifting and that's when I get the speed that I'm supposed to have from launch.

Can anyone help me please? Any suggestions and advise would be really helpful. Thanks guys!

Cheers,

Rey

[liger]

not sure about always starting in 3rd, unless you have the button next to the shifter in "snow". but when was the last time you had the auto trans fluid changed/ the transmission serviced? usually ment to be done every 20,000km/1 year .

[Nightcrawler]

Is it a CVT gearbox? If so, the repair could cost more than your car is worth

[sonicii]

^^ CVT was only available on the 350GT.

I would say it sounds more like an electronic/TCU issue causing it to select 3rd instead of 1st from a standing start. probably best to start by getting the TCU codes read.

[Kolossus]

When put into the sports shift mode my 300GT starts in 4th no matter what aswell, may be a computer related issue, and i think the sluggishness(i also believe my 300gt has the potential to be quicker off the line than it is) may be related to the electronic throttle's they have? (just a stab in the dark that one)

[pv35gt8]

Sounds very similar to the M35 Stagea, when put into manual mode will always go into 3rd, and there is also a throttle restriction from take-off.

[Chosen1]

I've done some research about TCU codes and I got this link - http://www.plymouthlaser.com/tcucodes.htm

I'll try and follow the steps, though I really have no idea yet on how to do it, hopefully it would work out for me. But if in case not, does anyone know where I can take it to get it fixed? Maybe somewhere near westside Melbourne??

[Commsman]

Sounds very similar to the M35 Stagea, when put into manual mode will always go into 3rd, and there is also a throttle restriction from take-off.

Are you refering to going into manual mode when stationary or when moving, & if so what speed? I haven't noticed that on mine, & what's shown on the display isn't necessarily what gear it is in at the time.

Also, M35 throttle restriction can be removed in 15 mins & for <$5.

[Hunter_in_a_V35_250GT]

Hey i also have same issue its weird always goes to gear three when swithching to manual and thats rolling or stationary was wondering if this was a bad thing or just how the car is

[Murry33]

Auto to manual?

Just take it to a gearbox specialist to assess the $$ damage

Edited February 10, 2013 by Murry33

[scotty nm35]

Hey i also have same issue its weird always goes to gear three when swithching to manual and thats rolling or stationary was wondering if this was a bad thing or just how the car is

Do you have a 4 speed box? Check the plate in the engine bay, it should say RE4 or RE5.

It still drops down to first when you pull the gear lever though, right?

[SMOKEYV35]

i know that on the RE5 if you're at cruising speed and knock it to manual it will automatically drop down a gear. EG. 5>4, 4>3

If it's shifting fine in automatic mode, and shifting up and down ok in manual, and the only issue is the gear selection defaulting to 3rd then i'd say the box will be fine, and it would be sensor related - perhaps the speed sensor.

I'd perform ECU reset, and if it is still displaying problem - run an OBD2 scanner across it (if you're a car guy, seriously just go buy one of these - i bought an Actron off amazon for 70 bucks delivered - unless you plan on owning cars pre 2001 for the rest of your life, you'll always have a use for one of these).

[scotty nm35]

I don't think an obd2 scanner will work on the early 250gt, only the 3.5's I think.

My re5 always drops into 4th, no matter what gear it was in.

[PN-Mad]

4 speeds and early 5 speeds drop into 3 and 4 respectively. When the gearbox was updated with the 2004.5 they changed the programming, and it drops into whatever gear you are in at the time, except 5th,where it goes into 4 th.

Right?

[scotty nm35]

That could explain it Alex, as the later RE5 boxes had the tcu in the gearbox sump.

[Deep Dish V35]

I think what the OP is trying to say is that when he bumps the selector across to tiptronic mode, it shows a 3 on the dash display.

This is normal. But this is not a true manual mode. What this means is that the car will try to be in 3rd gear as much as it can, but never go into 4th. It will take off in 2nd or even 1st if needed but once its in 3rd it will hold it there unless youre driving too slow.

If you knock it back to 2nd, the car will try to stay in 2nd as much as possible (unless it absolutely needs to be in first) but never go into 3rd or 4th.

this is why it might feel sluggish - you have chosen a default maximum gear. Tiptronic in these cars is not a sport mode, its more of a towing mode.

I often switch across to tiptronic when coming down a hill so that it holds 3rd gear ... in this mode it doesnt disengage the transmission under decelleration. it will use the engine's load to slow the car down and make it harder to creep over the speed limit, saving you from having to ride the brakes.

If you want the car to be more responsive, use the power switch and leave it in auto

[scotty nm35]

It also locks the torque converter constantly in 'manual' meaning more power. (no loss in the converter)

Unfortunately I must drive in manual mode all the time as I have lag. These boxes always want to be in 5th and take forever to change back to lower gears when in auto.

[SMOKEYV35]

i also drive in manual pretty often, for the torque convertor reason that scotty describes. It cuts down a lot of exhaust drone in traffic as the convertor isn't flaring so much. I've got paddle shifters so it isn't really hard work or anything.

Also when the mood strikes i like to engine brake, especially in hot weather, it fuels up really nice and the exhaust just pops and cracks and cackles like a V8 supercar on overrun.....makes me smile. Most likely due to my questionablly legal cats......

Not sure how great this is for the life of the box. Because of the adaptive shifting, sometimes when i'm coming to a stop and it shifts from 2 to 1 it gives a pretty big jolt to the driveline.

Next on my list will be TransGo.......(scotty? :-))

[scotty nm35]

I can definitely help with that Mat.

I too use the box to engine brake, but it wears the drum and band. I have had to replace them recently, along with the 4th and 5th gear cluches which I completely stripped of friction material. This is with a $5k built box. Tracking an auto probably isn't a smart idea...

[SMOKEYV35]

Good bloke, i'll send you a PM - just need a lead on where to source the correct Nissan matic fluid??

Yeh i try not to engine brake too often, i rarely drive it with intent, and no plans to track it. Just want the shift kit to speed up the shifts - they're embarassingly slow - especially pronounced when you've got an exhuast and you're giving it some WOT, you can literally count 'one-two' before it gives power to the next gear.

Probably getting OT here.....