Jerky automatic transmission shifting

[Marc Collins]

I hear ya - I am also confused because I swear this did NOT happen (auto upshift with nannies on, with lever in manual mode) the last time I tried it. I have wondered if it's maybe because I used the paddles a few times in manual mode, which kind of gave the ECU the go-ahead to do some shifting again? Need to try manual mode with nannies on, ONLY using the shifter.

If you can document the exact behavior in different modes and combinations and report here, it will help others with the manual shifter. It isn't so obvious or intuitive. Even less so with the electronic shifter that has no "manual" position.

 

[Scott Curry]

I'm a little confused when you say manual mode are you talking about just using the paddle shifters after deactivating stability and skid? I think they're kind of useless to be honest it'll just shift anyways if you don't and that's bullshit, it also dropped back into drive constantly while I'm using the paddle shifters like what the hell? I want full access to these damn gears. I want to be able to take it up to red line, instead it shifts about 200 RPMs before red line while nose diving which doesn't make any sense to me I'm not even at red line and it's already going into limp mode thinking I'm not going to shift.

 

[Marc Collins]

I'm a little confused when you say manual mode are you talking about just using the paddle shifters after deactivating stability and skid? I think they're kind of useless to be honest it'll just shift anyways if you don't and that's bullshit, it also dropped back into drive constantly while I'm using the paddle shifters like what the hell? I want full access to these damn gears. I want to be able to take it up to red line, instead it shifts about 200 RPMs before red line while nose diving which doesn't make any sense to me I'm not even at red line and it's already going into limp mode thinking I'm not going to shift.

There are three things that affect manual operation:

1. Do you have a manual shift lever that you pull to the side to shift, or an electronic one (drive-by-wire) that does not have that function?
2. Which drive mode are you in (Sport, Comfort, etc.)
3. Which TC mode are you in (normal, short push or long hold)?

There are many combinations of these that each may or may not affect shifting behaviour with the paddles (e.g., when or whether the car up-shifts at/near red line when you do not ask it to).

 

[turboAWD]

Manual mode on GT/GT1 (with the manual shifter) is done by putting the shifter to the left into manual position. You can then shift up/down using either the paddle shifters OR the gear shifter - similar to most older-style shiftable automatics. Very similar to my 2005 Legacy GT automatic, for example, the Q50 7-speed auto, VW DSG/Tiptronic, etc, etc.

The GT2 has a "fancy" electronic shifter that's supposed to be more like Audi/MB/whatever - I think it's crap, and it has caused a few accidental shifts into reverse or neutral as well. This is one reason I specifically got the GT1 instead of the GT2 - more control over shifting when driving hard.

I think the GENERAL behavior is:
-use the paddles from "auto" mode to start manual mode. If you hold the up paddle for 3+ seconds, it will take you back to auto mode ("D").
-if you stop driving aggressively in paddle-started manual mode for 30+ seconds (or come to a stop or maybe < 4 mph or something) it will go back to "D"

With GT/GT:
-if you put the shifter into manual mode (will have to test again), by default, it stays in manual mode, but will upshift at red-line and downshift if coming to a stop. Also maybe if rpm get too low. However, should still stay in manual mode in general (i.e. will only upshift one gear at a time, no fuel economy shifting, etc)
-if you put shifter into manual mode and disable nannies, will get full bounce-off-red-line behavior
-not sure what happens if you are in manual mode with nannies on - may depend on paddle usage or not. Need to verify.

At least, that's my current mental model - there are some unverified modes.

 

[Scott Curry]

Yeah I have the GT2, so there is only drive reverse and neutral that I'm aware of. I do long hold on the nannies removing stability and traction literally right when I get in the car every time. from there you just go to drive and I guess you use the paddles when you want to use the paddles outside that it just keeps reverting back to drive which is total bullshit. Not understanding why they would think the GT2 would be for the lazy weenie driver not be more aggressive wanting a real manual mode. Would have been real nice if they would have just put a 6-speed manual with a clutch and everything.

 

[Marc Collins]

Yeah I have the GT2, so there is only drive reverse and neutral that I'm aware of. I do long hold on the nannies removing stability and traction literally right when I get in the car every time. from there you just go to drive and I guess you use the paddles when you want to use the paddles outside that it just keeps reverting back to drive which is total bullshit. Not understanding why they would think the GT2 would be for the lazy weenie driver not be more aggressive wanting a real manual mode. Would have been real nice if they would have just put a 6-speed manual with a clutch and everything.

It only reverts if you are in Comfort (and probably ECO) drive mode. If you are in Sport, it should not revert. This is the way all other cars work that have drive modes or a physical lever. If you hit paddles while in Drive in normal operation, it assumes it was for a temporary purpose (to pass someone or a big corner or hill or whatever). If you want to use manual shift for real, you have to somehow tell the car that's what you want. A movable lever or a drive mode is the way. It then stays in manual mode until you tell it not to (by changing the lever position or drive mode).

 

[MerlintheMad]

-if you put shifter into manual mode and disable nannies, will get full bounce-off-red-line behavior
-not sure what happens if you are in manual mode with nannies on - may depend on paddle usage or not. Need to verify.

I almost never take the TSC off (correlates with launch control, which I do even less than remove TSC). So, I cannot state if doing so eliminates the automatic upshifting even in manual gate (mode). Now you've made me curious to try: to see if "She" will let me do my own upshifting clear to redline when I turn everything else OFF.

 

[KiaStingerNewb]

I'm noticing the jerking here and there, but more annoying is under WOT it doesn't seem to always find the correct lower gear. Like sometimes it pulls like a freight train, then other times say I floor it from 50... and it doesn't freaking move. This is even with the JB4 now. Why the hell is the transmission so dumb lol? The ZF doesn't have this issue.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm noticing the jerking here and there, but more annoying is under WOT it doesn't seem to always find the correct lower gear. Like sometimes it pulls like a freight train, then other times say I floor it from 50... and it doesn't freaking move. This is even with the JB4 now. Why the hell is the transmission so dumb lol? The ZF doesn't have this issue.

Paddle shifters are your heavy lifters.

 

[Metalmania82]

I've been using the flappy paddles since day one once I figured out that the auto mode is ritarded. I use comfort, custom, and sport with t/c off (short push of button). I feel like the whole driving experience is better. More control of what the car is doing, plus, it sounds better with JT intakes, TiAL BOV, borla cat-back and rear cat delete.

 

[CeramicGT001]

Manual mode on GT/GT1 (with the manual shifter) is done by putting the shifter to the left into manual position. You can then shift up/down using either the paddle shifters OR the gear shifter - similar to most older-style shiftable automatics. Very similar to my 2005 Legacy GT automatic, for example, the Q50 7-speed auto, VW DSG/Tiptronic, etc, etc.

The GT2 has a "fancy" electronic shifter that's supposed to be more like Audi/MB/whatever - I think it's crap, and it has caused a few accidental shifts into reverse or neutral as well. This is one reason I specifically got the GT1 instead of the GT2 - more control over shifting when driving hard.

I think the GENERAL behavior is:
-use the paddles from "auto" mode to start manual mode. If you hold the up paddle for 3+ seconds, it will take you back to auto mode ("D").
-if you stop driving aggressively in paddle-started manual mode for 30+ seconds (or come to a stop or maybe < 4 mph or something) it will go back to "D"

With GT/GT:
-if you put the shifter into manual mode (will have to test again), by default, it stays in manual mode, but will upshift at red-line and downshift if coming to a stop. Also maybe if rpm get too low. However, should still stay in manual mode in general (i.e. will only upshift one gear at a time, no fuel economy shifting, etc)
-if you put shifter into manual mode and disable nannies, will get full bounce-off-red-line behavior
-not sure what happens if you are in manual mode with nannies on - may depend on paddle usage or not. Need to verify.

At least, that's my current mental model - there are some unverified modes.

Still learning my car after 8 months I guess aha...I have a GT1 and always move it over into manual mode & use the paddle shifters. I didn’t know I could also flick the shifter up/down in manual mode to do the same thing as the paddles and I tried on this mornings commute...it’s a nice change up and prefer it when driving on the highway/in traffic, the paddles are obviously the better choice for windy roads.

 

[KiaStingerNewb]

Yea I accidentally discovered shifting pushing stick vs paddles. It's way quicker to me since I'm a 1 hand on steering wheel kinda guy

 

[John Whalen]

I have two stingers an 18 gt2 and a 19 gt1. The 18 has rough shifts at low speed more so when the engine is cold. The 19 is perfect. I'll mention it next oil change could be a I have the leak because I didn't notice it when I got the car last Spring.

Also notice the 19 is much more likely to downshift. I've verified on same stretch of road same speed floor it the 18 doesn't downshift but the 19 does.

Also notice the 19 is screwed together better. No rattles while the 18 has plenty of rattles. Both have about the same miles. Moral of the story don't buy 1rst year cars

 

[MerlintheMad]

Howdy, John. I don't get the moral of your story. Here's the moral of the story as I see it: win some lose some. Most of us first year buyers won big time.

 

[John Whalen]

Howdy, John. I don't get the moral of your story. Here's the moral of the story as I see it: win some lose some. Most of us first year buyers won big time.

You do get it but feel it was worth it to be in the car a year earlier. Your choice of course. I'm just jealous my wife copy cat has a better car

 

[Marc Collins]

You do get it but feel it was worth it to be in the car a year earlier. Your choice of course. I'm just jealous my wife copy cat has a better car

The transmission difference may be down to the reprogramming TSB for the mechanical shifter cars. You are familiar with that, I assume, from this thread. I never understood why it would not be applied to all cars, but then after reading about the taming of the behaviour in various modes, I was glad I didn't get it. They may still be working on something for the electronic shifting vehicles. KIA is not known to be quick to resolve these sorts of things.

Are there any 2019 GT2 owners with the low-speed clunking? I have a mild form of it just when the car is warming up from cold (say close to freezing or below), but will put up with it rather than have the aggressive downshifting tamed (which many other people do not like, of course, and prefer a more luxurious/sloppy transmission action).

Would be good to figure-out if the transmission behaviour difference is 2018 vs 2019 or GT1 vs. GT2 or a combination of both.

 

[Tonkabob]

The transmission difference may be down to the reprogramming TSB for the mechanical shifter cars. You are familiar with that, I assume, from this thread. I never understood why it would not be applied to all cars, but then after reading about the taming of the behaviour in various modes, I was glad I didn't get it. They may still be working on something for the electronic shifting vehicles. KIA is not known to be quick to resolve these sorts of things.

Are there any 2019 GT2 owners with the low-speed clunking? I have a mild form of it just when the car is warming up from cold (say close to freezing or below), but will put up with it rather than have the aggressive downshifting tamed (which many other people do not like, of course, and prefer a more luxurious/sloppy transmission action).

Would be good to figure-out if the transmission behaviour difference is 2018 vs 2019 or GT1 vs. GT2 or a combination of both.

I have gt2 and have had some strange trans behavior at 25 degrees. The car was warm, had some wheel spin and then trans seems to slip and then bang the in gear i a bad way. Went away on next restart and warmer weather. I think the wheel spin helped confuse things.

 

[G-260004]

Hey guys - I didn’t go through all 9 pages here but I have a 2019 GT1, had it for 6 months, just hit 2000 miles. Recently it’s developed a VERY pronounced/jerky DOWNshift from 2nd to first as you’re coasting/light brake to a stop. Much worse when cold but never fully goes away. TSB/reflash? Is there a procedure to reset the shift points or is that dealer only? Thanks

 

[I Stung U]

I noticed from 8 to 7 to 6 downshifts are o.k. manually and auto.. but 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 a wee bit rough and 3 to 2nd noticeable not so smooth !
Will this work in and be smoother or just the design is not as refined as it could be ?

 

[Duox]

When the car shifts gears, how much of a thunk is acceptable? Depends on the throttle, but I'll hear a noise and feel it in the transmission when accelerating. It is not a problem now, but certainly not pleasant.