2009 5-speed auto transmission issue

[ParknVibe]

I just want run this by concerning my 5-speed shift stick auto transmission. I know this has been talked about before, but maybe some of you may have some updates.I normally drive in the Drive Mode. At stop, I would place the shift to the stick mode and note that the drive mode gear displays fouth gear. While still standing still, I would shift it down to first gear mode, then place it back in drive mode. Then still without moving, I shift back to stick mode, the drive mode gear STILL is set back at forth gear. Why does the drive mode stay at forth gear mode after the stop? Do you think it takes off in forth gear as well? Is this why we have pour miles per gal?

[joatmon]

You would take of from a stop so incredibly slow if it was really in fouth gear you'd think the car was seriously broken. I don;t know how those shifters work, maybe the indicator is the top gear it will go into, A lower setting would probably not allow the auto tranny to automatically upshift all the way to fourth.

[ParknVibe]

One thing I did not try (or think about trying) is to move forward in drive very slowly (no more then 10 mph say), then stop and check the gear position as I stated. Will it be in first gear or not? Did the trans reset itself at the moment I started to move? BTW: in the manual shift stick mode, it shifts as it should, provided you reset it to first gear before moving.

[_Brent_]

Just an FYI, my 09 Vibe GT does the same thing. It's probably some design to protect the transmission in case someone decided to drop into manual mode at highway speeds-otherwise you could potentially drop into 1st going 65MPH.

[NibCrom]

I sincerely doubt you could start the car in fourth. It doesn't have the torque. Something must be weird with the read out.

[trask]

Like yours, my transmission indicates 4th gear but when I accelerate it behaves the same as the drive mode but without the fifth gear, so for me it resets to first gear when I follow what you do, but the gear indicator is saying the transmission is in forth gear. When I drive in the sport mode and shift to first and then come to a stop, then accelerate it behaves as it should, and stays in the sport mode. So you are saying that your gear indicator is saying fourth gear and is indeed in fourth gear when doing what you are describing? Then it would be doing something different then what mine does.

[Paragon]

When you shift over to sport mode.. it will always set you up in 4th gear while driving. Think of it as turning off OverDrive in a car with a standard automatic. When you are at a stop and go to sport, it will still go to 4th, but that only indicates the max gear you are allowing the trans to go into. If you take off it will start in 1st and go up to 4th. It does not lock the trans in that gear. If you are driving, shift to sport, you go into 4th.. if you floor it, the trans will act as normal and downshift to gain speed but will not be able to go into 5th.I have yet to see if it will overriide and shift into a higher gear if you redline it in an easier gear.This sport feature is handy if you drive through the mountains as you can limit the max gear and get some engine brake on long downhills.

[ParknVibe]

I guess I am trying to think logical about what I think the transmission should do. ....I feel that being that the car has stopped, the transmission should of come back (reset) to first gear,....So I should see that the stick shift is in first, ready to start from that gear. But no, I must tap it down to first. But, if I leave it at fouth in the manual mode, then I am taking off in fouth!!?? I just keep thinking that I am aways driving in Fouth in "drive" mode. However. I can't tell. The bigger issue that concerns me, is how carefully I must be with the accelerator. It is very sensitive. I must accelerate very easy or else it will burn rubber! BTW, the tachometer does show the speed step down two or three times as the car accelerate from a stop in the Drive Mode. So I think it works as it should. FYI: I am not trained to use a real stick shift, but I believe, when one does stops the car, it still will be in the higher gear number? Correct? ( with a manual trans.)

[trask]

I agree with you, it should indicate the correct transmission gear. With the gear indicator showing forth gear but the transmission actually being in first gear is a bit confusing when entering the sport mode this way.

[Paragon]

Quote, originally posted by Ivibe »I guess I am trying to think logical about what I think the transmission should do. ....I feel that being that the car has stopped, the transmission should of come back (reset) to first gear,....So I should see that the stick shift is in first, ready to start from that gear. But no, I must tap it down to first. But, if I leave it at fouth in the manual mode, then I am taking off in fouth!!?? I just keep thinking that I am aways driving in Fouth in "drive" mode. However. I can't tell. The bigger issue that concerns me, is how carefully I must be with the accelerator. It is very sensitive. I must accelerate very easy or else it will burn rubber! BTW, the tachometer does show the speed step down two or three times as the car accelerate from a stop in the Drive Mode. So I think it works as it should. FYI: I am not trained to use a real stick shift, but I believe, when one does stops the car, it still will be in the higher gear number? Correct? ( with a manual trans.) Lets see.. Mentioned in my other post.. it will start you in 1st even though it says 4.If you are "burning rubber", then you have a lead footA normal automatic trans you will see the tach drop each time for each gear and also when the torque converter locks (look it up)When you are cruising and you hit the gas a little, the tach will jump up. That is the torque converter unlocking.. not necessarily changing gears. Step on it a lot more and it will actually downshift.As for a manual.. um.. it is in whatever gear until you take it out of gear. You can have it in gear and have the clutch in at a stop but generally you will put it in neutral at a stop so you do not hold the clutch in all the time.**One note. If you are in reverse (or neutral) and shift through past drive to sport mode in one easy motion, it will show "5" instead of "4".I just found this out the other day.It would be nice to have it start in 1 if at a stop but I think they did it they way it is so people don't accidently throw it in 1 and redline it not paying attention. I know I have accidently put it in sport when I was still getting used to it.

[ParknVibe]

>>>If you are "burning rubber", then you have a lead footWell the first time I drove the new Vibe at the dealer, it shot off and I learned from that moment. It is DBW (Drive by wire) and not by cable. I now have a very light foot....so light that it is hard get the car to move because of the fear of a jack rabbit start. Then when I try to drive my very old car, I feel like I lost my foot strength.Concerning the 5-speed transmission, The fact that my car wants to go...from a stop... justs makes me thinks it is starting from the forth gear (in drive mode). Taking off in the "stick" mode feels more like my old car.

[Paragon]

It starts off in 1st in sport mode. The gear indicated is just the maximum gear it will go to but will shift about as needed. The manual even states this.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by Ivibe »I just want run this by concerning my 5-speed shift stick auto transmission. I know this has been talked about before, but maybe some of you may have some updates.I normally drive in the Drive Mode. At stop, I would place the shift to the stick mode and note that the drive mode gear displays fouth gear. While still standing still, I would shift it down to first gear mode, then place it back in drive mode. Then still without moving, I shift back to stick mode, the drive mode gear STILL is set back at forth gear. Why does the drive mode stay at forth gear mode after the stop? Do you think it takes off in forth gear as well? Is this why we have pour miles per gal? 4th is the default position in mine too. I assumed it was to protect the engine in case you bump the stick over while going 70 mph. At any rate, don't take the "stick mode" too seriously. While it does give you some control over the gears, it's not total control. The car will still go ahead and shift for you, particularly if it thinks you're lugging it at too low rpm

[ParknVibe]

Quote, originally posted by ned23 »4th is the default position in mine too. I assumed it was to protect the engine in case you bump the stick over while going 70 mph. At any rate, don't take the "stick mode" too seriously. While it does give you some control over the gears, it's not total control. The car will still go ahead and shift for you, particularly if it thinks you're lugging it at too low rpmWell I brought the whole issue about the drive mode being in 4th gear because I am thinking that it must be starting in forth from a stop. Just wondering if it is the cause of poor gas mileage and very touchy acceleration. I really do not care for the stick mode either.