Transmission question

[Photi_G]

I have a 2008 Milan with the 2.3L Duratec and the FNR5 automatic. Lately, on a backroad near my house, I came to a complete stop, and drove off with the shifter in the "L" gate. According the to the manual, the L gate holds gears until higher RPMs, and leaves the torque converter locked during deceleration to make use of engine braking. That's exactly what it did, but I was under the impression that it would shift after a certain point. The needle on the tach reached 6700rpm, and I was still in 1st. In another instance, I was climbing a hill in 2nd, and shifted into L. As expected, it held 2nd until I shifted back into D, at which point the tach was at 5800 revs and I was going 55mph.

 

My question is, Is it supposed to just hold whatever gear you're in when in L, or is it supposed to upshift? It kind of got me thinking that maybe this is just a disabled version of the SelectShift gates that became available in the 2010 V6 models. If so, is it possible to add a SelectShift-type apparatus to the FNR5?

[FusionDiffusion]

From the manual:

 

L (Low)

This position:

• Provides increased engine braking during downhill/mountain driving.

• Provides extended shift scheduling, allowing both upshifts and

downshifts, at a higher overall RPM to provide optimum engine

braking.

• Is not intended for use under extended or normal driving conditions

and results in lower fuel economy.

 

So it looks like it should still up shift. It might do it at the redline though. Did you keep pushing the pedal to see if it would shift or did you back off?

 

I don't think SelectShift can be retrofitted. Getting a calibration that works with your equipment is probably the hurdle.

Edited April 26, 2012 by FusionDiffusion

[Photi_G]

So it looks like it should still up shift. It might do it at the redline though. Did you keep pushing the pedal to see if it would shift or did you back off?

 

I don't think SelectShift can be retrofitted. Getting a calibration that works with your equipment is probably the hurdle.

 

Funny thing is, the Milan's tach doesn't have a marked redline. I absolutely floored it in first, and like I said, 6700 revs and no shift (the tach maxes out at 7k). I'll try it again tomorrow morning on a side-road. I just don't want it to blow a head gasket or something if I over-rev it.

 

I wasn't hopeful about the SelectShift thing. I just thought about it and figured I'd ask anyway.

[FusionDiffusion]

Redline is 6750 I believe. The electronic throttle will prevent you from passing that so you shouldn't really do any damage unless you drive around at the redline for more than a minute.

 

If you had it floored I guess it won't upshift then. You could try just holding it at half throttle to see if it makes a difference, but probably not. Maybe the speed at which you engage it also makes a difference (try going into L at 60 mph, slow down to 20, then try to accelerate back up to 60 at a moderate pace).

[schatzmask]

My experience with this shift logic is that when in L the transmission won't upshift, it will go to redline and stay there on the rev limiter. It will downshift automatically as speed decreases however, but then won't upshift when accelerating. IMO worst feature of an otherwise pretty good car, as it totally spoils spirited driving when a driver needs to intervene on the automatic shift logic.