320 CDI, Kick down, is it slowing me down?

[tinker]

The amount of time it seems to take my car to kick down then accelerate when I boot it makes me wonder if removing the kick switch from the accelerator pedal may improve things. Has anyone done this, are there any implications?

 

[BlackC55]

That pedal is an electrical switch. Without it, it will not kick down properly.

 

[whitenemesis]

Instead of relying on kickdown, why not nudge the gear selector left in preparation to making your manoeuvre?

 

[BlackC55]

... or re-map it

 

[davidjpowell]

and hold it to the left it selects the most optimum gear for acceleration.

 

[whitenemesis]

and hold it to the left it selects the most optimum gear for acceleration.

That's the next level of vroom!!

 

[mymini007]

and hold it to the left it selects the most optimum gear for acceleration.

Now this I did not know, I find the 7g box to be a little ...... slow to react as well, so if i am going to overtake I will shift manually.

 

[b1g1an]

It's a great function, grab the left paddle...bang...warp speed.

Kickdown, on mine at least, dumps you in a gear with mid revs which is nice for grunting past things in one gear whereas this goes for the top end and max personal pleasure.

 

[mymini007]

It's a great function, grab the left paddle...bang...warp speed.

Kickdown, on mine at least, dumps you in a gear with mid revs which is nice for grunting past things in one gear whereas this goes for the top end and max personal pleasure.

I dont have paddles, but if I do the same on the lever, will that do it?

 

[whitenemesis]

I dont have paddles, but if I do the same on the lever, will that do it?

Yes, same function as paddles, push left to drop a gear, push left and hold to drop to the gear giving best acceleration. Pull right (i.e. towards you) to go upi a gear, pull and hold to clear any range restriction.

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Yes, same function as paddles, push left to drop a gear, push left and hold to drop to the gear giving best acceleration. Pull right (i.e. towards you) to go upi a gear, pull and hold to clear any range restriction.

Useful tips. I was aware of nudging the auto gear lever left or right to drop or go up a gear, but the holding business is new to me. All MB auto boxes do this?

To clarify, what do you mean by "pull and hold to clear any range restriction" ? Do you mean push to the right and hold? What does it do?

 

[renault12ts]

To the right for top gear, to the left to change down, to the left and hold to achieve the lowest possible gear for the speed you are travelling.

 

[V12]

Same as pushing the pedal to the floor and engaging the kickdown switch, but with the lever method you can get ready for a burst of speed.

 

[whitenemesis]

Useful tips. I was aware of nudging the auto gear lever left or right to drop or go up a gear, but the holding business is new to me. All MB auto boxes do this?

To clarify, what do you mean by "pull and hold to clear any range restriction" ? Do you mean push to the right and hold? What does it do?

Sorry, yes pull the selector to the right (towards you) and hold. This will allow the box to change up as required rather than only up to the gear shown in the cluster, set when you pushed and released the selector left.

 

[evdok]

You will find that if you put your foot down just before hitting the switch it will change down & accelerate quicker.

 

[tinker]

The cars had a remap. Basically I want full throttle but no gear change, I think the engine has the torque to do this and get away from the clumsy and slow gear change down.

The accelerator has a pot on it for normal op but it also has a button type switch that's made when the pedal hits the floor (well the switch).

I will disconnect it and do some some tests between say 50 and 70 and see what the results are.

 

[BlackC55]

It may go into limp mode.

 

[whitenemesis]

That'll slow it down somewhat ...

 

[BlackC55]

That'll slow it down somewhat ...

 

[whitenemesis]