Its really useless. It gives you slow times at the strip and its a pain to deal with in traffic. When I manually shift it at the track, (1 to 2 to 3, not up, up, up) I'm consistantly 1/2 second faster than using the sequential shifter.

Maybe it would have a use if there were a few hills around here, but I honestly haven't used it in months.

I might also note that my three other cars all have manual transmissions, had it been offered in the TL, I'd have bought it.

I think its a useless gimmick and probably is at least partially responsible for the tranny failures.

 

Hmm...I use mine alot...
I drive pretty hard and I can downshift into second and third easier in s/s than when normal...Sometimes the tranny logic doesn't want to shift into the lowest gear possible...Like at around 55 or 60...If I stomp it in normal, it won't go into second...It'll just go into third...If I'm driving around in s/s in 4th (I don't ever use 5th in s/s unless I've got the cruise on 85 on the interstate) at 55 or 60, I can downshift into second to get the extra pull...
My new tranny shift is s/s are much quicker and direct that the old tranny. Much. The new PCM is monumentally different IMO...

We were all talking about that at HIN this weekend. The car's new tranny is markedly better with the PCM...

 

I use SS when racing from a roll. From experience, I can tell you that it helps me leap by a car and a half on the 2002/2003 Maxima SE even though I have less torque. The SE does not want to shift and it is a common problem in that car. I also put it in SS in highway driving. I think it's one of the main reasons I am able to get 32+ MPG consistently on long trips. I love my SS and use it a lot!

 

i found the poss link to failure interesting. here's my take,if you will. these are some Q's i asked myself on this subject.

1. whats failing in our trannies?=clutch pack
2. whats worse on the clutch,pre selecting your desired gear for desired preformance or stepping on it,maxing out engine preformance/hp then letting the tranny shift and slip the clutch?=can we get a poll on this one?

 

1. Engine braking on the highway to avoid my brakelights coming on.
2. Downshifting before a turn so that I can control the gear instead of coasting in 4th and then having to jam on the accellerator and have a neck jerking pop down to 2nd.
3. Twisty roads
4. During traffic if you downshift before a gap opens you can get more instant throttle response to get into tight gaps.

 

 

I honestly don't understand why people don't like SS mode. I mean i understand its not a like a manual clutch, and it doesn't claim to be. However, any mode that gives me control of my gears is a good thing. I mean if I'm doing 80 and I want to drop to 3rd I can. Like I said, it doesn't claim to be like a manual or even give the same results, but its still better than letting the car shift itself. Just my $.02

-Rich

 

I tend to use it a lot, and mostly for a) better responsiveness in the early gears, and b) more acceleration when exiting out of a corner. I use it for -slight- engine braking on the highway (generally 5th gear down to 4th). Sometimes I forget I'm NOT in SS mode, though, and have been known to throw it from D5 into Neutral. Surprises the heck out of me when I make that mistake.

Danny

 

I sometimes want some acceleration (say a pesky Civic or a minivan is bothering me) while cruising in 5th gear but don't necessarily want the car to shift to 3rd gear so I downshift to 4th and floor it. Lol. Why make the 3rd gear do what the 4th gear can do very easily?

 

Yea, but when I want it in third or fourth, I put it in third or fourth. I just don't see the advantage of up and downing it.

 

I think your making reference to gate shifting right? From what I've heard, that can be really harsh on the tranny if not done correctly. Not really sure how but that's what i've heard anyway. I would be curious to know what exactly the differences would be between gate shifting and using SS!!

-Rich

 

From driving the car, I can see how the SS from a dead stop would yield higher ET's. The thing about the SS mode is that you have no control over the first/second shift and the computer automatically shifts at the beginning of the "red zone" on the tach (around 6800 indicated). Shifting out of first that early causes the car to fall out of the range of variable lift. If you gate shift, you can hold the car all the way to 7100 rpms indicated and shift then and the car won't fall out of Vtec. I've raced a few cars and they always start pulling ahead if I shift too early and the car falls out of lift or if we go to speeds higher than 3rd gear as the shift to 4th no matter what results in the car falling out of VTEC.

 

I get my best times when I'm in SS, and let the computer shift the 1-2 gear change by itself....The key to getting good times in SS off the line is to drive it like its in auto mode for the 1-2 shift even though you're in SS. Then, the 2-3 gear shift should be done at 7100 RPM.

14's are easily attainable stock when this is done and VSA is off

 

I think that ACura should program the SS to be more agressive, or have a buttom that lets your turn on and off the agressive SS mode. So basically regular mode would be SS as it is now, and the agressive mode would perform gear changes in half the time or less. It would be a tad more jerky, but worth it imo. Sorta how the SMG tranny in the BMW's give the driver some options on performance and comfort. I know there is a tuner who makes a tip chip for Audis....this makes the shifts way quicker. I think quick auto shifts are a good thing in a "sport sedan"

 

Racing only, maybe in the mountains, if I ever get there!
>

 

I use SS all of the time... I'm never in full auto. It's so much better to be on the highway in 5th.. then slap it down to 3rd and take off. Better then stomping the pedal and waiting for the downshift....

 

 

I really find the car from a stop is quicker gate shifting, but only for truly intending to run someone. It stays in s/s...
As far as the speed of the shifts, the new PCM with my new tranny definitely shifts quicker and smoother than the original (from when it was even new). I'm much impressed to be honest...I'd still rather have control of first like the auto RSX...

 

Unfortunately, from what I've heard; if you drive in SS mode and drive as if the car has a clutch ie, take your foot off the gas while the clutches are shifting and then apply gas when you think the gears have shifted this causes massive heat build up. Especially when shift from 2nd to 3rd and vice versa.

This causes the clutches to fail as the already inadequate oil circulating to the tranny clutches evaporates due to over heating.

I believe one of the tranny fixes from Acura was to increase the oil flow to the clutches for better cooling.

38,200 miles.. 3rd tranny no problems for the last 15,000 miles. It's the only real problem I've had with the car. I hope they fixed it finally. Cause, I'm seriously thinking of keeping the car after the lease is up.

I just can't deny the fact that the damn car rides great with the comptech springs and anti sways (yes, my original plan was to keep the car, hence the springs and sways... that was before going through 2 bad trannies... ).

Correct me if I'm mistaken...

 

ya but how about leaving the throttle as-is then selecting gear as apposed to hammering the gas and letting the tranny shift?

 

That should work just fine...