2.7 TDV6 - Pause a while then go

[101RRS]

I have had my RRS TDV6 for just on 2 years and have covered 34,000km in that time. Over all it has been quite reliable with a few fault messages that come up from time to time but all have been cleared except for the EGRS which have been replaced. This is the only major non service work that has been required.

One thing that does annoy me with the 2.7 is the pregnant pause that you get when you slow for traffic lights and roundabouts but do not stop and then try to accelerate away and there is no go for a second or two and as you tend to put the foot down trying to get some zoom zoom, when everything does come together the car takes off like a rocket on a launch pad. Really dangerous when trying to get into a stream of traffic.

Now most 2.7 drivers are familiar with this issue and it has been discussed on here before.

In my view, while there may be a little turbo lag compounding the issue, most is related to the programming of the gearbox. When in D or S I have noticed that when slowing down the gearbox changes down bit while the car is still moving at about 30kph the gearbox does not go below 3rd and it is only when coming to a stop that it changes down to 1st but if you slow to about 20 or 30 then decide to take off the gearbox is still in 3rd and cannot decide what to do for a while, then changes down and off you go. I might add that if you are in Command shift and controlling what gear you are in there is no issue and the car is fully responsive.

So has anyone found out if there is a way to get around this little issue with 2.7 equipped vehicles.

I might add that on the road kickdown is fine, and when you slow down and actually stop and take off, everything is fine - it is just when you slow down to stop but decide to to take off before you stop that the issue arises.

Thanks

Garry

[Celtoid]

It's been well covered but no fix suggested. It's not only the 2.7l, as the 3.0l is just as guilty....it's all about the auto. And when it lights up...it (the engine) can be a handful.

I either anticipate or slip into sports at busy intersections.

I've also got a feeling that the auto doesn't go into first very often in mine, I think it takes off in second. When I drive it in manual, first is a very short change.

[AnD3rew]

It is a feature and I don't think it can be fully cured, but there are a few tricks which help a little, the main one is being aware of it and driving with that knowledge in mind.

But two things I do which help. Firstly I pretend I am in a manual and knock the selector over to sport whenever I will need to accelerate quickly I do this in pretty much every situation where in a manual you would drop down a gear.

The second one is that I never press the accelerator to the floor when I want a lot of go, I find going about half to three quarters of the way until you feel the surge start and then bury it if you need more. Don't know if this is just my imagination but I'm pretty sure this gives better results.

[camel_landy]

Give it a try in 'Sand' mode and see if it makes any difference.

M

[Fatso]

Not sure if have ever noticed this , RRS appears to me to drive the same as my falcon which i think has the same auto box with no issues as above .

[Graeme]

I try not to be in engine over-run where fuel is cut when I might want to accelerate by touching the throttle just enough to keep fuel flowing as the vehicle slows.

[Redback]

I do the same Graeme, always keep some throttle, it's almost like riding a 2 stroke motorcycle.

Baz.

[101RRS]

Thanks for the comments - yes there are strategies to deal with it and I also use them but time to time you do get caught out. When I have loaned my car to other people, their standard response that my car has something wrong with it and it is dangerous.

I have had a couple of close calls where there was no go and nearly T boned - likewise when power comes on there is the issue of coming close to cars in front. I have a BAS remap so launch is a bit faster than normal and with my remap acceleration is faster in drive than sport so Sport Mode is now somewhat redundant in my car - certainly to 100kph.

Some one has mentioned getting the gearbox software updated - has anyone tried this and does it work.

Cheers

Garry

[roamer]

It is an adaptive gear box,
you may pussy foot around too much,
lend it to the 20 year old down the road for a week
and see how it goes when you get it back

[TerryO]

It is an adaptive gear box,
you may pussy foot around too much,
lend it to the 20 year old down the road for a week
and see how it goes when you get it back

Not as silly as it sounds, after I have towed the van some distance especially in hilly terrain where you have to sink the welly a bit when I unhook it there is no hesitation at all, in fact the old girl goes like stink for a number of days.

As for software updates for the auto, our D3 had all the updates done 12 months ago and yes it changed the way the auto changed gear, but it did not get rid of the hesitation.

The answer is simple Garry, drive it like you stole it! ...

cheers,
Terry