Gears shift at low RPM's

[Thanassis]

Hi RennTechers,

I have a 2000 Boxster with tiptronic transmission. When in automatic mode, the gears shift at about 2,000 to 2,500 RPM's. Is there a way to make the car shift higher at about 3,000? I was told there is a computer on-board that "learns" as you drive and sets the RPM's over time. Is this for real and how can it be reset?

Thanassis

[ebk5368]

I've put about 30,000 miles on an 01 tip and have the following experiance:

• For city traffic, I don't worry too much and let it do its thing. Under typical conditions it shifts at low RPM (lower than yours) and doesn't get too exited. If I keep my boot in it, it runs close to redline. I recently had a chance to run from a stop sign to 130mph plus and the shifting was probably better than I would have done as a casual amateur.

• I have noticed the shift map change to more performance oriented setting; it holds in one gear, down shifts early, shifts at higher RPM, etc. But I still haven't learned when it will make the change so I usually flip to manual if I need a specific gear. I believe there are 5 maps but I can only tell the 'basic cruiser' to 'performance' change.

• Triggers appear to be related to throttle rate of change (on-off the gas faster), throttle opening (big), steering angle (?) seems to have an affect, maybe from its PSM option, and time between throttle off and brake on (fast transition). One of the other members can probably give some input on this point.

• It has an odd habit of shifting up a gear at low RPM, low load, just when you step back into the gas. Apparently it shifted down a gear on the brakes and then decides to go back to a low rpm mode when you tip back in.

I don't know of any trick to get it back to performance shift map other than driving it hard. I've rebooted the main ECU a couple of times with a battery disconnect (working on other issues) and didn't notice any change to the shifting action. The trans controller may remember the last map it was on.

For me the tip's main problem is that it works best when driven hard, but with a fast car it's hard to keep a license while keeping the tip in the game. The rest of the time it's an average automatic. Of course where I live, with city traffic, that's not so bad.

I can't wait for the new double clutch automatic-manual.