manually shifting an automatic?
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JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 63
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From: Abbotsford
manually shifting an automatic?
Somebody told me that it's bad for the transmission to manually shift it. My response was why did they put paddle shifters in the srt8 grand cherokee then?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 157
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From: Martinsville, VA
Are you talking about the 12's? I don't think its bad for them they don't shift the exact second you click it usually a second or two lag. and it will still go down to lower gears from what you choose just not the higher ones.the only thing I would see is if you are just riding in second gear redlining the engine but that's the driver not the the trans.
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 99
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From: San luis az
Originally Posted by loader963
Are you talking about the 12's? I don't think its bad for them they don't shift the exact second you click it usually a second or two lag. and it will still go down to lower gears from what you choose just not the higher ones.the only thing I would see is if you are just riding in second gear redlining the engine but that's the driver not the the trans.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 27
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From: Deptford, New Jersey
I had all manual cars before buying my jeep (only got auto as I didnt wanna wait for dealer to get manual in stock) but i am pretty impressed to say the least. That said i have not done much manual shifting on the highway due to the lag talked about previously. I think in a Jeeps case its more or less for towing and the obvious off roading. But thats is just my two cents and is it the same tranny as the srt8? would think the performance model auto would have more gears?
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 516
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From: Sacramento, People's Republic of California
My only real pet peeve with that transmission is the manual feature. Not because it is available, but because it does not work very well. For one it is way too touchy when shifting into drive, if stick is not kept perfectly straight, you will find yourself in manual mode with it redlined in first gear. Took me a couple of weeks to train myself to check the gear display before moving forward. My other problem with it is, at least in mine, you can't really downshift unless going from 5th to 1st is your idea of downshifting. Other than that I love this engine and tranny combo.
Last edited by RedRockJeeper; Jun 10, 2012 at 04:24 PM. Reason: misspelled words
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JK Super Freak
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda, FL.
There is no mention in the 2011 or the 2012 owners manual about not shifting the auto trans manually.
2012 manual has a section on how to manually shift the new auto trans.
.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 419
Likes: 2
From: Indy
It's more about holding a low gear then manually shifting
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) feature actually only allows you to shift down or hold a lower gear. It seems quite a few people think that it is a stick shift replacement which it isn't. It only shifts up if it wants to.
I can think of a few times I would consider using the Electronic Range Select
I can think of a few times I would consider using the Electronic Range Select
- Going down a very long decline in a low gear - There is a Hill Desent Control button, from what very little I have read about it, it seems to use the breaks. Using the engine gears to control speed will help you save your breaks from over heating, and it will help in maintaining control vs sliding.
- Down a gear and or parking break if a cop is behind you and your speeding a bit and don't want to hit the breaks
- You want to pass someone quickly
- Knowing that your going to want to be in a lower gear when you get to the bottom of a ditch to get back up
- Towing stuff
- To take off really fast like you were going to drag race someone
2012 Owners Manual: The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the driver to limit the highest available gear when the shift lever is in the DRIVE position. For example, if you shift the transmission into 3 (third gear), the transmission will never shift above third gear, but will shift down into second and first gear normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in the DRIVE position, the transmission will operate automatically, shifting between all available gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will downshift the transmission, activate ERS mode, display the current gear in the instrument cluster, and maintain that gear as the top available gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the shift lever to the left (-) or right (+) will change the top available gear.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again displayed in the shift lever position indicator in the instrument cluster.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in the DRIVE position, the transmission will operate automatically, shifting between all available gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will downshift the transmission, activate ERS mode, display the current gear in the instrument cluster, and maintain that gear as the top available gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the shift lever to the left (-) or right (+) will change the top available gear.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again displayed in the shift lever position indicator in the instrument cluster.
Last edited by Rooster76; Jun 10, 2012 at 05:14 PM.
JK Jedi
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 1
From: Gray, GA
You can shift up or down at any time using the stick. The transmission will not shift up higher than wehre you are in the gears. Now that I ahve 37s on mine, it likes to get in top gear and run like 1400 rpms. I dont like that, so I will tap to the left and drop to 4. When teh rpms are back up I will tap to the right back into D. I also use it to shift from 3 to 4 as it will not shift on its own until about 2800 rpm. That is too high for me. Just my description of what I do with mine. I am not a mechanic nor do i read the manual