Is this bad for the A4 transmission?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 198
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From: Toronto, Ontario Canada
Is this bad for the A4 transmission? So, i decided to let my uncle try out my car. He's been a mucle car fan for years and he's never realy gotten to try driving a 4 gen camaro. So, taking that he's my uncle i had no problem with it. We just went down the block real quick. Here's the problem though. As he drove he started in 1st gear, then shifted to 2nd gear and then shifted to drive. I heard that this isn't the best way to drive an automatic. I just throw it in overdrive and let it be. Any insight would be great. 
Its not going to hurt anything, even with the shifter moved from first to second, the trans still shifts itself. The only things putting it in 1 does, is guarantee it is starting in 1st and not 2nd, and (if you have a shift kit) holding it in 1st till after you manually move the shifter out of 1
Where you hurt an A4 transmission isn't by shifting it up from low speeds, but when you're going at higher speeds, and manually shift it down without giving it throttle.
I'm probably the worst about doing this, and I have been through a couple rebuilds (going through another right now). That would be the one thing I'd suggest you don't do if you're trying to save a stock transmission.
I'm probably the worst about doing this, and I have been through a couple rebuilds (going through another right now). That would be the one thing I'd suggest you don't do if you're trying to save a stock transmission.
Originally Posted by white1
Its not going to hurt anything, even with the shifter moved from first to second, the trans still shifts itself. The only things putting it in 1 does, is guarantee it is starting in 1st and not 2nd, and (if you have a shift kit) holding it in 1st till after you manually move the shifter out of 1
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Thats what I said I thought. Oh well didnt mean to confuse anyone. I know in the newer trucks with stock settings and no shift kit it will shift into 2nd even with the shifter in 1, but I didnt know about the cars. Thats why I added that about the shift kit.
I did look in my ATSG and when you put it in 1,3, or OD it starts in 1st. When you put it in 2, it goes to 2nd just FYI.
I did look in my ATSG and when you put it in 1,3, or OD it starts in 1st. When you put it in 2, it goes to 2nd just FYI.
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Which is why I will always pop it down to 3rd, keeping my foot on the gas, before flooring it from a roll. If i'm in any other gear (low speed) I leave it in OD and let it do its thing.
Sure it takes a second to do this but its worth it in the end.
Sure it takes a second to do this but its worth it in the end.
BlackHawkT/A.......
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
Originally Posted by SDB
BlackHawkT/A.......
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
I'm doing a roll race from 25mph-125mph. What gear should I start out in?
Originally Posted by SDB
BlackHawkT/A.......
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
Don't WOT from OD, just do it from D. When you WOT from OD, its very very hard on the tranny, at any speed. My tranny builder just informed me of this again a few days ago.
SDB
Originally Posted by SDB
Oh, OK...got it...
from ANY speed, just put tranny in 3rd/D and hit it...don't try to shift it yourself, you will only go slower and possibly hurt something
SDB
from ANY speed, just put tranny in 3rd/D and hit it...don't try to shift it yourself, you will only go slower and possibly hurt something
SDB
From all the info I have gathered here from the pro builders, you don't want to go into or out of OD at WOT. At the same time, it's better to leave it in OD (D for Pontiacs) when drag racing. So if you are in 4th, drop it down to 3. However if you are already at low speeds (gears 1 2 or 3) leave it where it is (OD).
Make sense? Sounds confusing but its fairly straightforward...however it can get even more complicated. One of the builders on here even said that the safest way to go from 4->3 is to double clutch it, meaning go to neutral first, give it a rev and then go to 3 much like a manual transmission.
I haven't done that and I can imagine it would be a major pain doing it every time...
I asked my friend that works in GM's Powertrain Division on autmatic trannies about not downshifting from OD. He says:
"That is complete and utter bullshit. We test these things in every possible scenario to handle combinations of downshifting, braking, accelerating, all at different tilt angles, line pressures and temperatures. You can stomp on the gas petal in OD and whatever gear it shifts into, based on the programming and sensors, will be able to handle the torque of the stock motor."
He also said "There's people out there that ARE auto tranny specialists and know what they are doing, and there's WAY MORE people out there that work on transmissions that have no idea what they are doing - they are following a recipe without knowing what the changes they are making actually do. Be careful on who you use."
He is working on their next automatic and is a highly regarded mechanical engineer.
Jim
"That is complete and utter bullshit. We test these things in every possible scenario to handle combinations of downshifting, braking, accelerating, all at different tilt angles, line pressures and temperatures. You can stomp on the gas petal in OD and whatever gear it shifts into, based on the programming and sensors, will be able to handle the torque of the stock motor."
He also said "There's people out there that ARE auto tranny specialists and know what they are doing, and there's WAY MORE people out there that work on transmissions that have no idea what they are doing - they are following a recipe without knowing what the changes they are making actually do. Be careful on who you use."
He is working on their next automatic and is a highly regarded mechanical engineer.
Jim
