Help! 1 to 4 shift

[skitch]

Ok Guys, My 90 model convertible has this 1 to 4 shift pattern and I really don't like it. So how do I disarm this thing?

 

[Red Vette]

Ok Guys, My 90 model convertible has this 1 to 4 shift pattern and I really don't like it. So how do I disarm this thing?

You don't disarm it, you purchase a CAGS by-pass, install it (very easy to do), and eliminate the 1 to 4. The CAGS are available both at Mid American Motor Works and Zip; I bought one from each vendor, one for my 02 and the other for my 1994. Make sure you get the one for your C4 and not the C5, they are a little different. They cost about $20 plus shipping. The CAGS eliminates the 1-4 shift, but you will still get the dash light indicator for the shift, the CAGS does not eliminate this, it just fools the computer. Hope this helps.
Barrett

 

[skitch]

Thanks Barrett, I will purchase one very soon. I just don't like being forced to go to 4 gear. The other option would be to keep it in first gear longer but I don't like that option either.
Thanks again.
Skitch

 

[Louis Bartay]

I have one on my 96 C4, but the 1/4 light will still come on but you can shift to a different gear. some owners unplug the connector, that part you buy plugs into to keep the connector clean.

 

[skitch]

It's my understanding that the plugs are located on the drivers side of the transmission, is this correct? I've saw the pictures if the plug and I believe I can get onethat will work local.

 

[89onlyZ51]

The cleanest way is to disable cags in the chip. You can leave the cables connected and also prevent the upshift light from coming on.

 

[Red Vette]

It's my understanding that the plugs are located on the drivers side of the transmission, is this correct? I've saw the pictures if the plug and I believe I can get onethat will work local.

You are correct, you attach the CAGS on the drivers side of the tranny. It is very easy to do, but look at how the plugs come apart, don't force them.
Barrett

 

[Z51JEFF]

Ive got one I never installed,who wants it?$20 shipped.On a side note,The 1-4 skip shift has got to be the biggest piece of $hit Ive ever dealt with in a car.This has got to go right up there with the aluminum Vega block,G.M. passenger diesel motors,etc.

 

[Hib Halverson]

On a 90, you don't need to buy anything, just disconnect the CAGS solenoid on the side of the trans. It's only the 96-up cars that require a "skip shift eliminator" because, when you pull the solenoid wire, the ECM sets a fault code.

After you pull the wire, you'll still see the 'one-to-four" light but the system won't work.

Or....stop short shifting in first gear. Once you do that, you'll never get skip shift.

For the most part, it's people who can't drive a manual properly that have trouble with skip shift.

 

[Z51JEFF]

On a 90, you don't need to buy anything, just disconnect the CAGS solenoid on the side of the trans. It's only the 96-up cars that require a "skip shift eliminator" because, when you pull the solenoid wire, the ECM sets a fault code.

After you pull the wire, you'll still see the 'one-to-four" light but the system won't work.

Or....stop short shifting in first gear. Once you do that, you'll never get skip shift.

For the most part, it's people who can't drive a manual properly that have trouble with skip shift.

It took awhile to get used to it but the way around it is as stated,wind it up abit but every once in a while you do get stuck going from 1 to 4.What bugged me the most was I was always looking for the light.I replaced the chip so now I dont have to deal with it.........................Thanks for the returned email awhile back on my headlight problem.I checked my FSM in the trouble shooting section but couldnt find anything about the problem Im having but Ill find the fix.I met you at one of the Corvette Dream And Drive tours years ago.It was a blast every time I went.

 

[RVN]

Or....stop short shifting in first gear. Once you do that, you'll never get skip shift.

For the most part, it's people who can't drive a manual properly that have trouble with skip shift.

I agree. The skip-shift is a non-issue. I can't appreciate the "freedom thing" reasoning. There is no reason to spend a red cent, when you can control it yourself. Shift early, shift late ...no problem. Go slower on the clutch ...no problem. Use it when you want to, don't use it when you don't ...it's a very simple shifting style. I like to start in second when I'm turning and my hands are busy. My first experience was with a '94 Z28 with a very, very stiff clutch and extremely stout factory gears. Four cars later the 2002 ZO6, a softer clutch (more torque and HP), less stout gears.

I like to shift from first to third in the 20-30 MPH neighborhoods and shift from first to third as preference.

 

[Hib Halverson]

It took awhile to get used to it but the way around it is as stated,wind it up abit but every once in a while you do get stuck going from 1 to 4.What bugged me the most was I was always looking for the light.I replaced the chip so now I dont have to deal with it.........................(snip)

I forgot to mention that skip-shift elimination can also be acomplished with a calibration change. The cal guy I use, Ron Zimmer (Z-Industries) along with Marc Haibeck can provide them.

What many people do not understand is that skip-shift is mainly a strategy to "beat" government noise regulation.

Because of GM's flim-flam of media back in the late 80s, most understand skip-shift as a fuel economy strategy. While, it does make a small contribution there, the main reason it was developed in 1989 was as a way for the 2nd gen ZR-1 to get through the pass-by noise tests required by the Feds and some states. Generally, the test requires one to start out in first gear, shift to the "next highest gear" then pass-by the microphones at wide-open throttle with the car's sound under a certain dB limit.

An enterprising GM development engineer, faced with putting much more effective mufflers on the ZR-1 and accepting a noticeable performance loss, came up with mechanically forcing an upshift to fourth gear, ie: making the "next highest gear" the much higher fourth gear rather than the slightly higher second gear. The test requirements did not specifiy whether the next highest gear be temporary or permanent.

The end result was the car could go past the mics at WOT/low rpm in fourth rather than WOT/high rpm in second, thus making a lot less noise and passing the test.

The lesson in this little story is you can hate your skip shift, but you need to love it, too, because, since 1989, it's brought us more powerful Corvettes than would otherwise have been allowed.

 

[Louis Bartay]

I had no idea, figured it was for gas milage. Learn something new every day.

 

[Scottsredvette]

Now that was an interesting bit of history. Thanks for sharing that!!!

Scott

 

[Z51JEFF]

Now that was an interesting bit of history. Thanks for sharing that!!!

Scott

Very interesting indeed ,I always thought it had to do with the CAFE jobbers,which after buying the car and realizing,go faster,wont have to deal with it didn't make much sense.

 

[JimBobC4]

So am I correct in reading that I can just disconnect the CAGS on a 1995 LT-1 ?

I have read conflicting ideas on this during the past.

 

[Louis Bartay]

So am I correct in reading that I can just disconnect the CAGS on a 1995 LT-1 ?

I have read conflicting ideas on this during the past.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you unclip the connectors you can shift as you please. But the open ends will get road grime so buy the jumper kit. I have and the light comes on but I can shift so second not 4th.

 

[Hib Halverson]

I had no idea, figured it was for gas milage. Learn something new every day.

Uh well...skip shift does, indeed, improve fuel mileage if the car is driven in a manner that it enables on a regular basis, however, the main reason why skip shift was developed in the first place was pass-by noise, not CAFE. Consider mileage a "secondary" benefit of the system.

So am I correct in reading that I can just disconnect the CAGS on a 1995 LT-1 ?

I have read conflicting ideas on this during the past.

On a 95, you can disconnect. On a 96 you have to add an "eliminator" device that fools the ECM into "thinking" it's there because 96 was the first year skip shift would turn the SES light on if it was disconnected.

Now, 95s, which had partial OBD II capibliity, may store an OBD II code if CAGS is disonnected, but OBD II codes do not turn the SES on for MY95. In fact, the OBD II codes are only accessible using a scan tester. So, you still can just pull the plug off the trans.

 

[RVN]

Uh well...skip shift does, indeed, improve fuel mileage if the car is driven in a manner that it enables on a regular basis, however, the main reason why skip shift was developed in the first place was pass-by noise, not CAFE. Consider mileage a "secondary" benefit of the system.

I considered mileage second ...first was saving my ass in a '94 Z28 in inclimate weather (wet blacktop) before traction control came into play. Many times.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Sorry, but that makes no f**ing sense or indicates you may lack understanding of how your car works.

If anything, what "saved" your 'ass" was lifting off the gas and pushing the clutch before you moved the gearshift, because skip-shift isn't enabled until you physically move the shifter out of first and into the neutral gate. By the time that happened, what wheelspin had been occuring had already stopped.

What saved you was either luck, the fact that the vehicle was actually not "out of control" or (maybe) your driving skill being better than you think.