[NotYoNitro]

For those with automatic transmissions, when you do manually shift? I've been tinkering with shifting into different gears depending on the circumstances and haven't found anything useful yet. I used to use the "O/D Off" on my Focus all the time but I'm trying to get something worked out with the Nitro.

 

[McGuireV10]

Never. I had the same thing in my Benz and I played around with it for a bit, but it was never all that useful. It strikes me as just one more thing that could potentially go wrong, truth be told.

 

[dk1677]

On a few steep hills

I drop back to 2nd to save the brakes ( around town only lots of hills here) sue the tow/haul now and then on a long hill :ktoe:

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Two quick questions: What does the tow/haul mode do, and Does the SLT 3.7 have the manual shift mode, besides the 1 and 2 gear option? Like does it have the autostick? I dont think it does.

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

I would never manually shift unless I was hauling a trailer in an area with steep grades.

 

[AirJunky]

The tow/haul button disables 4th gear or overdrive in the Nitros with the 3.7 engines.
The only time I manually shift is if I'm towing up or down a hill.

 

[KenCary]

For those with automatic transmissions, when you do manually shift? I've been tinkering with shifting into different gears depending on the circumstances and haven't found anything useful yet. I used to use the "O/D Off" on my Focus all the time but I'm trying to get something worked out with the Nitro.

If your Nitro does not upshift at an RPM that is slightly higher than peak HP, then you might get a little quicker full throttle run by manually shifting.

Other than that, as others have said, drop down a gear on a steep slope or when towing. I've driven a few cars that had these "auto-sticks" and the conclusion I came to is that they give the driver some fun & sporty feel but not a huge difference on a stock car.

If however you highly modify your powertrain, hence moving the peak HP or torque up, manually shifting an automatic can become more important.

My advice, time a 0-90MPH run both with manual and full automatic shifting and see if you see a difference---- that is your answer.

 

[bch]

As I have an SLT, I don't have the option of manually selecting the gears in my auto tranny. If I had the R/T's transmission, I believe I would use that feature quite frequently, and almost always in situations where I can anticipate something that the transmission can't.

The first example is downshifting prior to ascending a steeper grade. The second, that I seem to find myself in more often than I like, is when I am behind a slower moving vehicle and there is a line of vehicles in the passing lane moving just a bit faster, but close enough together that unless I merge at their speed I'll disrupt their flow.

In the first case, some speed is lost before the transmission realizes it needs to downshift. In the second case, the only way I can get the power I need to match the passing lane's speed in the time of the gap is to floor it to force the transmission to drop down a gear (or sometimes two it seems). In both cases, what results is a fairly violent reaction accompanied by a lot of noise and a swinging tach needle. Not nearly as graceful as running the RPMs a little higher for a few seconds in these situations so that the engine is already in its ideal power band when I ask for more.

Now, maybe the 4.0L makes up for what I'm experiencing, or maybe I'm still too used to driving a manual, but I can see the benefits of having the additional control of the R/T's 5-speed auto. I'll have to try the Tow/Haul button button in these situations to see if it does what I want it to do, as AirJunky mentioned. I never saw a real good description of its purpose and don't remember if I've ever tried turning it off/on at speed on the highway.

 

[KenCary]

As I have an SLT, I don't have the option of manually selecting the gears in my auto tranny. If I had the R/T's transmission, I believe I would use that feature quite frequently, and almost always in situations where I can anticipate something that the transmission can't.

The first example is downshifting prior to ascending a steeper grade. The second, that I seem to find myself in more often than I like, is when I am behind a slower moving vehicle and there is a line of vehicles in the passing lane moving just a bit faster, but close enough together that unless I merge at their speed I'll disrupt their flow.

In the first case, some speed is lost before the transmission realizes it needs to downshift. In the second case, the only way I can get the power I need to match the passing lane's speed in the time of the gap is to floor it to force the transmission to drop down a gear (or sometimes two it seems). In both cases, what results is a fairly violent reaction accompanied by a lot of noise and a swinging tach needle. Not nearly as graceful as running the RPMs a little higher for a few seconds in these situations so that the engine is already in its ideal power band when I ask for more.

Now, maybe the 4.0L makes up for what I'm experiencing, or maybe I'm still too used to driving a manual, but I can see the benefits of having the additional control of the R/T's 5-speed auto. I'll have to try the Tow/Haul button button in these situations to see if it does what I want it to do, as AirJunky mentioned. I never saw a real good description of its purpose and don't remember if I've ever tried turning it off/on at speed on the highway.

Why can't you downshift manually in the SLT 4spd auto? Does it not have multiple low ranges? I am used to 4spd automatics that have the classic PRNL2D OD selections

In my other automatics, I manualy shift as you suggest and they are not "autosticks"

Maybe I am missing something and the Nitro 4spd is so computer controlled that you can't manualy drop a gear as I can in my 97 Chevy Suburban.

Ken

 

[BearlyNitro]

Automatic Trans comparison

For those with automatic transmissions, when you do manually shift? I've been tinkering with shifting into different gears depending on the circumstances and haven't found anything useful yet. I used to use the "O/D Off" on my Focus all the time but I'm trying to get something worked out with the Nitro.

Well, as the owner of two Nitro's, the wife's 4x4 SLT, and my 4x4 R/T, I have had the opportunity to compare both very extensively.


:Racing:

I manually shift both Nitro trucks every time I drive them, but that is because I live in the mountains. For the 3.7L 4-speed auto SLT, I use the tow/haul switch when driving up and down the mountain to prevent the overdrive 4th gear from being used coming up and to slow the SLT on some corners going down. There are a couple of tight corners that a more conservative driver could use 2nd gear to slow the car, but never downshift with the auto unless you have first slowed the car to an acceptable speed first. I know the roads here so well that I anticipate the corners well in advance and slow without having to use the brakes most of the time. So, other than using the tow/haul button when driving up and down grades that the overdrive gear is not appropriate, I don't shift the 4-speed manually hardly at all. The R/T's 5-speed automatic is a completely different story. I DO manually shift it all the time to keep the engine in a better rpm range on hilly roads around town and of course I also use it going up and down the mountain. I can attest that manually shifting an R/T can save you lots of gas if you know how to do it right. Like I have mentioned on other threads of this forum, I am getting an average of 21mpg with my R/T.

I have not checked the wife's SLT for a couple of weeks, but the last time I drove it for a long trip that included driving from our home at 6,800 ft. elevation, over the 8,400 peak and down to the flat lands and back up, I was able to average over 20mpg. Okay, I am kinda bragging, as I am proud that I can get better mileage than most people because I work at it.

Happy driving, and if you have an R/T, shift that 5-speed! :ura1:

 

[bch]

Why can't you downshift manually in the SLT 4spd auto? Does it not have multiple low ranges? I am used to 4spd automatics that have the classic PRNL2D OD selections

In my other automatics, I manualy shift as you suggest and they are not "autosticks"

Sorry, I was referring to downshifting at speeds around 50-60mph. I'm not sure of the top-end for the selectable 2nd gear (~40-45mph maybe with the 4speed auto) but it's out of range for my purposes.

Yes, the 3.7L's auto does have PRND12 selections available, and a tow/haul button to turn off overdrive.

 

[KenCary]

Sorry, I was referring to downshifting at speeds around 50-60mph. I'm not sure of the top-end for the selectable 2nd gear (~40-45mph maybe with the 4speed auto) but it's out of range for my purposes.

Yes, the 3.7L's auto does have PRND12 selections available, and a tow/haul button to turn off overdrive.

OK that makes sense.

I also noticed that most of these autosticks don't let you take off in 2nd gear which is sometimes useful in slick conditions---- although with modern traction control, it may not be needed. I remember the old Fords would let you take off in 2nd.

This is all just curiosity for me as I odered mine with the stick, but someday I may have one of these trannies in something else I drive that does not offer a manual option.

 

[AirJunky]

Downshifting to 2nd at 50 mph would be turning some RPMs, ie; 5000 or more. And the systems threshold is somewhere in there, which means it won't do it. Just turning the Tow/Haul off, which drops it from 4th to 3rd, makes it jump to 3500 RPMs or so.

Our Pacifica has the auto stick option & frankly it's stupid. I've used it trying to be "sporty" & the bottom line is your still driving a station wagon & there isn't anything sporty about it. It does some good when towing though, especially thru long mountain passes. We pulled a boat from Minnesota to Washington last summer & used it a lot.

 

[Guest]

I was pleasantly suprised when the Nitro let me take off from a light in second gear yesterday. My other auto-stick does not allow that but it is nice when you need it.

OK that makes sense.

I also noticed that most of these autosticks don't let you take off in 2nd gear which is sometimes useful in slick conditions---- although with modern traction control, it may not be needed. I remember the old Fords would let you take off in 2nd.

This is all just curiosity for me as I odered mine with the stick, but someday I may have one of these trannies in something else I drive that does not offer a manual option.