I have a 2016 Terrain 2.4L FWD. Cruising at 65 mph, if I shift from D to M, the trans immediately downshifts from 6th to 4th gear. On my Malibu, doing the same thing the trans remains in 6th gear. Is this normal operation for the Terrain?
2016 Terrain Manual (ERS) Mode
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Theta2Drive
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Going on 8 years with my Equinox. Have never once put it in manual mode. Have never had the need to reduce the highest gear. The Equinox shifts just fine for me going up and down hills, so aside from towing I see no need for the manual mode.
My previous car had a "real" manual mode where it would stay in whatever gear was selected. I used it in snow driving (start in 2nd gear, downshift to minimize applying the brakes, etc.) as well on occasions where I felt like manually shifting through the gears for a little fun.
My previous car had a "real" manual mode where it would stay in whatever gear was selected. I used it in snow driving (start in 2nd gear, downshift to minimize applying the brakes, etc.) as well on occasions where I felt like manually shifting through the gears for a little fun.
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Just for reference and comparison . . . our 2017 Chevrolet Colorado down shifts to 6 if "L" (ERS) driving at speed when in 8th gear (8L45 transmission) and states that it will do so in the Owners Manual. So it has the preset feature when selecting "L" when driving at speed.
In our 2019 Acadia with the 6 speed transmission and ERS, I do not recall it dropping down if shifted to the "L" position, but would have to check and see.
In wife's 2017 Chevy Sonic daily driver with the 6 speed 6T30 transmission. . . .it has a true Manual Mode ( not ERS ) that can be up or down shifted with the +/- button on the shift lever. If shifted at speed in 6th gear to "M" . .. . it remains in 6th gear, but will respond to shift commands using the +/- button.
In this car, if "M" is selected, the driver will have to remember to now shift manually because when coming to a stop it automatically down shifts to 1st gear when coming to a stop.
It's fun to use in Manual Mode, but I've used it a number of times and the engine will stay in first gear until commanded to upshift with the +/- button.
That gets a bit panicky when depressing the gas pedal and the engine will go up in RPMs quickly, waiting for the pilot driver to tell it to shift. But, it works well if wanting to optimize shift points where the little sonic engine variable intake manifold switches over to different intake runner length for optimum power. That happens at about 3,500 to 4,000 RPM and a noticeable "2nd wind" can be felt where the engine starts to pull again even more.
The '18 model is very different from the '16, including engine and trans, so I am not surprised that they don't operate in the same way.
First, let me explain what my 2012 4 cyl Malibu does, because that is my point of reference. The computer has programmed into it various parameters about what gear is allowed at what speed, even in M mode. From a stop, M mode will allow me to start off in 1st or 2nd gear. 3rd and above are not available from a standing stop. If I am going 65 mph on the hwy, in M mode and 6th gear, steady state cruising...and I have to stop due to traffic, the trans will automatically downshift at certain speeds all the way down to first. Same situation, going 65 mph, and I encounter a hill, it will hold 6th gear down to at least 55 mph (as I recall). At that point, I feel like it is lugging the engine and I downshift it myself. I have never let the incline pull the engine down so far that it downshifts automatically, so I don't know at what speed that would happen.
OK...that is what I am used to.
In the Terrain, the first time (and everytime thereafter) I am going 65 mph, steady state cruising, and I come to an incline that will induce a downshift to 5th gear while in D, and I shift to M - the thought being that the trans would do the same thing my Malibu does, which is hold 6th gear) - it instead immediately downshifts to 4th gear. That entirely defeats the purpose of what I was trying to do.
It would appear that M mode in the Terrain is designed and programmed differently than the Malibu. From what I can discern, it is more intended for towing and or mountain driving. That's OK. Just doesn't meet my needs.
So, my options appear to be 1) leave in in D and let it downshift to 5th or 2) speed up in anticipation of the incline and allow the incline to bleed off speed without (hopefully) needing to downshift to 5th.
I can tell you that in our 2008 Equinox Sport, the "Chevy" programming was to stay in the gear selected when in M mode. There was no auto-downshift when moving from D to M, it just stayed in what ever gear it was already in at the time. If you hit a steep hill and were in M6, it stayed in M6 until the RPMs dropped below a certain threshold or until you mashed the pedal to the floor. You could force/request an upshift via M mode.
In our 2015 Terrain (3.6), D to M automatically forces a downshift. M in the "GMC" programming seems to be about the highest gear the transmission will allow and will freely down/up shift as needed. Very different from how the Equinox was programmed. You cannot force/request an upshift via M mode, only a downshift.
My 2020 Volvo behaves like the "Chevy" programming. No change in gears when changing to M mode and unless RPM conflict, M mode honors the requested gear up or down.
Now why would you ever use M? Most of the time for me it is related to mountain driving. Uphill, putting it into 4 or 5 to prevent the trans from hunting for gears constantly. Just put in M4 and hold a steady speed without it shifting every 2-3 minutes up and down into 5th and 6th when it can't hold its speed on the next grade change. Downhill, putting it into 4 or 5 to hold your speed at the speed limit instead of riding your brakes all the way down. A lot of the downhills, you can put it in 5th and you stay at 65mph the entire time. Steeper grade or 55mph, use 4th. Not in the mountains?? I still do this in traffic so we aren't shifting constantly. Stop and go traffic will go 1-3 constantly even though you never made it over 10mph. Just put in in 1st and crawl, no shifts, no brakes, much smoother.
In our 2015 Terrain (3.6), D to M automatically forces a downshift. M in the "GMC" programming seems to be about the highest gear the transmission will allow and will freely down/up shift as needed. Very different from how the Equinox was programmed. You cannot force/request an upshift via M mode, only a downshift.
My 2020 Volvo behaves like the "Chevy" programming. No change in gears when changing to M mode and unless RPM conflict, M mode honors the requested gear up or down.
Now why would you ever use M? Most of the time for me it is related to mountain driving. Uphill, putting it into 4 or 5 to prevent the trans from hunting for gears constantly. Just put in M4 and hold a steady speed without it shifting every 2-3 minutes up and down into 5th and 6th when it can't hold its speed on the next grade change. Downhill, putting it into 4 or 5 to hold your speed at the speed limit instead of riding your brakes all the way down. A lot of the downhills, you can put it in 5th and you stay at 65mph the entire time. Steeper grade or 55mph, use 4th. Not in the mountains?? I still do this in traffic so we aren't shifting constantly. Stop and go traffic will go 1-3 constantly even though you never made it over 10mph. Just put in in 1st and crawl, no shifts, no brakes, much smoother.
In both 3.6 equinox and 10 traverse, if im in D, and need to pass, i shift to L, it drops 2 gears.
Rpms go up, and gas pedal response is immediate.
Once done either manually shift to 6 or back to D.
On the traverse being in L6.
Turns off hill descent. Which keeps the computer from downshifting wheb it senses you press the brakes.
That is, on downhills, you pick up speed with the engine rpms remaining stable.
In D, you gain speed, the trans downshifts, rpms go up. Like compression braking..
5k
I dont think thats available on the equinox.
But great feature on the traverse.
Rpms go up, and gas pedal response is immediate.
Once done either manually shift to 6 or back to D.
On the traverse being in L6.
Turns off hill descent. Which keeps the computer from downshifting wheb it senses you press the brakes.
That is, on downhills, you pick up speed with the engine rpms remaining stable.
In D, you gain speed, the trans downshifts, rpms go up. Like compression braking..
5k
I dont think thats available on the equinox.
But great feature on the traverse.
Seems to me ... this is the way it should work ... under "Normal" conditions ... that being ... when you just want to take Manual Control of the Transmission (within certain conditions, of course).
Now, if you're trying to stop the vehicle because you don't have any Brakes (or limited Brakes), then that should be implemented as a Safety Feature, with separate access.
Fixed the title - thanks for the correction.
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It's basically a lockout mode, similar to the old 123 on the older automatics we grew up with. The maximum gear allowed is the number shown. This is done to prevent overheating of the transmission when towing or during bad weather when you want more torque and less "floating down the road in super eco-mode barely connected to anything double overdrive". Everything else about it is 100% automatic - just with those upper (mostly useless) gears removed from the equation. Note - when towing, remove overdrive gears and for hills, drop it one more notch. The real danger in towing isn't "OMG - It downshifted! Extra noise and drama!" (no actual wear) but it upshifting out from under you and suddenly you are going 80 down a steep grade with zero engine braking. Most automatics will religiously like a Cardinal on Palm Sunday upshift every single chance they can get to save you that precious .00001 mpg. Wear, lugging the engine, or whatever you are hauling or towing isn't remotely a concern. Remember that 800-1200rpm is basically zero torque, which is what keeps you stuck to the road and in control.
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