Confused About The Shift Range

[_tjp_]

I tried fooling around with the shift range feature on IS350 during my test drive. But I couldn't quite figure it out. I forgot to ask the salesman about it when I returned. The manual that is posted here just mentions how to set it.

Can someone explain exactly how it works? Is it supposed to limit the top gear? It didn't seem to do that for me.

Thanks.

[bartkat]

I tried fooling around with the shift range feature on IS350 during my test drive. But I couldn't quite figure it out. I forgot to ask the salesman about it when I returned. The manual that is posted here just mentions how to set it.

Can someone explain exactly how it works? Is it supposed to limit the top gear? It didn't seem to do that for me.

Thanks.

Are you talking about the orange ring that lights up on the tach? If so, all it does is light up. It can be used as a shift light if you set it at the RPM you wish to shift at, then shift when it lights up.

If you want to limit the highest gear, put the shift lever in "S", to the left of "D". and then use the paddle shifter to set the top gear. That will show up on the display between the speedo and tach.

[_tjp_]

Not the orange ring, but the "high gear limit". That's what I don't completely understand how it works.

As you mentioned, if I select a gear. Lets say 4. What exactly does that do. Does that mean the car will shift normally on gears 1, 2, 3, 4 and then not shift above 4? Will it stay at the rev limiter in 4?

I seem to remember during my test drive that the car would still continue to shift to a higher gear but I could be wrong.

Are you talking about the orange ring that lights up on the tach? If so, all it does is light up. It can be used as a shift light if you set it at the RPM you wish to shift at, then shift when it lights up.

If you want to limit the highest gear, put the shift lever in "S", to the left of "D". and then use the paddle shifter to set the top gear. That will show up on the display between the speedo and tach.

[bartkat]

I know it doesn't shift above the set top gear because I use 4 quite often when tooling around town and I have left it in 4 and gone for several miles down the highway at 70 - 80 MPH and the car never shifts to a higher gear.

If you are in "S" mode and put the trans in 4 it will not shift above 4. You can see that by putting the display on "gear postition" and it will show the actual gear number that the car is in at a given time.

Of course since at WOT you're still in 3 at above 100 MPH, you may hit over 120 MPH in 4 before you ever get to redline. Gear 4 is direct, while both 5 and 6 are overdrive gears.

[_tjp_]

Thanks Bartkat.

I get it now. This seems like it will be a handy feature when you want to do some "spirited" driving.

I know it doesn't shift above the set top gear because I use 4 quite often when tooling around town and I have left it in 4 and gone for several miles down the highway at 70 - 80 MPH and the car never shifts to a higher gear.

If you are in "S" mode and put the trans in 4 it will not shift above 4. You can see that by putting the display on "gear postition" and it will show the actual gear number that the car is in at a given time.

Of course since at WOT you're still in 3 at above 100 MPH, you may hit over 120 MPH in 4 before you ever get to redline. Gear 4 is direct, while both 5 and 6 are overdrive gears.

[bartkat]

Thanks Bartkat.

I get it now. This seems like it will be a handy feature when you want to do some "spirited" driving.

I know it doesn't shift above the set top gear because I use 4 quite often when tooling around town and I have left it in 4 and gone for several miles down the highway at 70 - 80 MPH and the car never shifts to a higher gear.

If you are in "S" mode and put the trans in 4 it will not shift above 4. You can see that by putting the display on "gear postition" and it will show the actual gear number that the car is in at a given time.

Of course since at WOT you're still in 3 at above 100 MPH, you may hit over 120 MPH in 4 before you ever get to redline. Gear 4 is direct, while both 5 and 6 are overdrive gears.

If you want to experience the redline cut off, try gear 2 and run it up. Won't be going so fast. :D

I like the feature. I use it a lot just gearing down for redlights and stuff and on a twisty road, it's real handy. You can also change gears by pushing the gear shift lever forward and back in "S" mode.

[_tjp_]

Bartkat,

Jeese, I wished I had played with this more when I did my test drive. One more question.

What happens if, lets say you set the range to be at 2 (in Sport mode of course). Then when you start off, you shift from 1st to 2nd. The car will hold in 2nd. Then using the lever you shift to 3rd. Does your shift range now move to 3? Will the car hold in 3rd gear now?

Thanks Bartkat.

I get it now. This seems like it will be a handy feature when you want to do some "spirited" driving.

I know it doesn't shift above the set top gear because I use 4 quite often when tooling around town and I have left it in 4 and gone for several miles down the highway at 70 - 80 MPH and the car never shifts to a higher gear.

If you are in "S" mode and put the trans in 4 it will not shift above 4. You can see that by putting the display on "gear postition" and it will show the actual gear number that the car is in at a given time.

Of course since at WOT you're still in 3 at above 100 MPH, you may hit over 120 MPH in 4 before you ever get to redline. Gear 4 is direct, while both 5 and 6 are overdrive gears.

If you want to experience the redline cut off, try gear 2 and run it up. Won't be going so fast. :D

I like the feature. I use it a lot just gearing down for redlights and stuff and on a twisty road, it's real handy. You can also change gears by pushing the gear shift lever forward and back in "S" mode.

[bartkat]

Yeah. The gear you select will be the highest gear it will shift to. Say you select 3 and then come to a stop. The car will always downshift according to speed, but it will not upshift past the selected gear number. The car will take off in 1, shift to 2, shift to 3 and not shift any higher till you either use the paddle shift upshift or the shift lever upshift.

IOW it will hold a selected "highest gear' and not upshift further. However, it will downshift as needed automatically.