"but I'd rather shift with paddles like a Ferrari/F1." who wouldnt?

My neighbor likes autos for a different reason.

Thanks for correcting me, i am not frimilar with dsm autos. turning of overdrive in a dsm must be like the sport mode button on my gf's saab, right?

I heard that manually downshifting from 'd' to '2' or '2' to 'L' is very bad for the trans. Is this true?

DSM automatic transmissions are just like any automatic transmission. Your girlfriend's sport button sounds much like an overdrive button. Why does your neighbor enjoy automatics?

Manually shifting an auto is probably the worst thing you can possibly do to the transmission.

I was going to put this in the automatic transmission forum, but this is more newbie material.


I started a thread about this a few months ago, and got mixed answers. Is it okay to manuall shift an automatic transmission? Keep in mind, I mean going from L to 2 to D. I NEVER downshift manually, so don't account for that. Is it okay to manually UPshift an automatic transmission?

The reason I ask is because when my car is in "D" the throttle response is mediocre. However, if it is in "2" or "L", the throttle response is INSTANT, the car pulls much harder, and it doesn't require as much throttle to get the car moving.

So is it okay to do? Thanks...

many ppl do have mixed answers as told to someone else last night though:

-downshifting is def. not helpful at all
- as per your mods list in your profile i dont see why it would be bad, i mean thats what those parts are made for anyway, firmer shifting. do you have a trans temp gauge, thats would be one thing to keep an eye on

From what I have heard from a few mechanics and from research on my own, I would have to say that on a clutchless automatic, while you can manually shift it, you should not. It was not designed, nor was it intended to be shifted like such. The computer controls the shifting, as was intended.

But what would be the difference between whether the computer or you doing it as long as you are doing it safely?

Sorry, I wanted to add one more thing. Another reason I wondered about it is that I can spool the turbo with MUCH more control and much quicker in low or second gear as opposed to drive. I keep finding more things I like about driving in those gears and manually upshifting... I just hope there isn't something terribly wrong with doing it.

mini zilo said:

But what would be the difference between whether the computer or you doing it as long as you are doing it safely?

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Because, as stated, the transmission is not designed to work like that, with shifting through those gears.

Shigun said:

Because, as stated, the transmission is not designed to work like that, with shifting through those gears.

Click to expand...

But what does "designed" for that mean? What was made differently about the transmission for it to work with a computer? This is what I am trying to figure out.

not designed for a stock hense modified valve body, along with the mods he already has. as long as you watch the trans temp. and dont let it get extremely hot your good to go. alot of manual shifting and you will see a raise in the trans temp. see monitor it and your good.

i manually shifted my 2g gsx with shift kit, upgraded cooler and had no issues at all. and when the trans was pulled out the car a few months ago it was perfectly fine. i drove shifting for over a year. also i used redline synthetic ATF in there.

Alright thank you very much you've been very helpful.

worse than using honey for tranny fluid? im just wondering why it's bad for them, what does the tcu do differently inside the tranny when it shifts than when the cable moves?

I've got a auto 95 tsi.

how bad is it to shift manually with an automatic. (like start in low gear than go to 2nd, then move the shifter up to third and drive)


is it bad for the tranny?


what about downshifting in this manner?


is that bad?

I am not 100% sure, but as long as your not abusing it, it should be fine.
Ive driven like this in 4 cars.
My Talon.
Brothers Stratus.
My Old Civic.
And Dads Suzuki.
Nothing hapened to the trannys, but I didnt beat on the car while driving like this either.

Honestly, why dont you just let the trans do its job and shift? If your asking because you intend on using it for racing or want to shift at a higher rpm, of course it is going to decrease the life of your trans because it is that much more it is going to slip between shifts. To say it simply, just shifting that way wont hurt the trans, its when you hold it in that gear and redline it, then shift is what is going to hurt it. Sorry if thats kind of wordy, if you dont get something, feel free to ask.

Your thread titles suck. It's very hard to get an idea what you're getting into when you clicking one of your threads.

Manual shifting won't hurt the tranny but it is pointless unless you are needing it to hold a gear for engine braking or to climb a steep grade.

I wouldn't downshift an auto, never worked good when I tried it. Also trying to drive it like a manual tranny in time would start hurting your tranny. IPT built my auto tranny for me you can look them up, Im sure they can answer all your auto questions with the pros and cons doing so. IPT Performance Transmissions Torque Converters and Transmission Parts for Ford, GM, Chrysler, and Import vehicles

No pain but then no gain either. If you're in a hurry just hold the throttle down and the tranny will shift at 7000 RPM every time.

Unless you have been driving like a blue hair the DSM auto will downshift under braking and will be in the right gear when you get into it again.

After 320,000 miles in two different auto Talons I find that the car obeys the slightest tip of my right foot. The transmission adapts to my driving style and has never missed a shift.

I hated automatic DSM transmissions and performed many auto to manual swaps, but recently I decided to get a fully built IPT auto tranny, high stall TC, and a Road Surge shift box. I love this auto transmission more than any other manual I have ever driven, besides a dogbox. Why do I like the autos some much now, because they can hold an unbelievable amount of power and will not fail like my manual trans, I can build more boost than with a anti-lag system.

If you want to manually shift the auto, look at getting a shift box. It shifts at full line pressure, saving some wear in the tranny.

It is very bad! It builds INSANE heat in the tranny! Heat is what kills tranny fluid and causes gears to weld themselves together!

Auto trannys are designed to shift themselves, Yess you can Up shift it. But you are hurting it badly by holding it in each gear longer than it was designed for. Say hello to a full on melt down!
Now you can help it by installing a Very good tranny cooler! This will extend the life of a manully shifted auto tranny, and in some cases keep it from melting down. But do this at your own risk.
As one guy posted above IPT has kits that will allow you to do what your wanting to do. but with out it your going to destroy that tranny. Ive seen it Way to many times to even tell you about. Just dont do it.

No you cannot down shift a auto! it will destroy it so fast its not even funny!

There are whats called auto and manual valve bodys and combos of the 2. You have a full auto valve body! Use as it was intended.
If it will not shift on its own you have solenoids sticking an it needs to be pulled apart, repaired and cleaned.

Selecting the next higher gear in the stock DSM auto transmission does not "direct" the tranny to shift to the next higher gear; it merely gives permission to up shift at the right time.

If the car up shifts as soon as you tell it to then that was a late shift. If the car does not up shift as soon as you select a higher gear then you might as well have left it in drive.

The automatic transmission needs to be driven differently from a manual. Learn it and you will love it. I have upgraded my Talon to the IPT rebuild with a high stall billet torque converter behind the 2.3L stroker. It makes a great daily driver.

Not to revive the oldest thread but no one has answered why the L & 2 have much more power then D. My 2g almost feels like empty horsepower in drive (low throttle). When in L (same throttle) the car has much more torque.
When flooring it, I dont know if there is a difference but city driving it feels so much firmer...

L is first gear, and 2 is second gear..Drive will shift by itself depending on throttle position.

memturbo said:

Well I would put in a manual if any junk yard in my area sold or had a awd turbo with a manual .But around here you would be lucky to get parts for a domestic car !
And buying online the shipping would kill me and I live in the city and a new ordinace was
passed that you cant work on your own cars at your house .
The minimum fine for that is $200.00 + your car would be towed if it sets for more than 2 days . I recently was fined $180.00 for a car that was not on my yard it was abandoned
in a vacant lot .Since I lived beside the lot they assesed me the fine .
Anyway does anybody have the diagram to connect the toggles to the tranny ?
It would be most helpful,Thanks

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Just here to say that putting a manual in a car that was made for an automatic is as easy as unbolting the old out and bolting the new in, theres much more to it and usually easier to just get a different car that is a manual