Anyone else find this super annoying?

LouN · Sep 20, 2013

Gen V -

If you are (I believe), between 16-18 mph in first car locks out shift to second gear. Owners manual states this is for fuel saving measures. You are supposed to shift into fourth at this point, but in reality gear is too high and car bogs down. A quick shift to third resolves this, but it is a very cumbersome process. Anyone else have this experience? Any way around this, or way to disable?

Nine Ball · Sep 20, 2013

Just about every 6-spd manual car (Camaro, Corvette, Viper, etc...) has had that "skip shift" feature for over a decade now.

It is annoying. Give it slightly more throttle, and it will never happen. No grandma driving allowed

On other cars, it could be disabled with a simple resistor plugged into the transmission skip-shift solenoid harness. Not sure if the Gen V still works that way, haven't tried it. I just take off a little quicker.

I also learned yesterday that I can take off in 2nd, if I want to.

Fatboy 18 · Sep 20, 2013

Its the skip shift that I believe you are talking about, Its all to do with engine revs, yes if your traveling at slow speed and low revs the car will go from 1st to 4th locking out 2nd and 3rd. This is the same on the other Gen Vipers. A simple blip of the gas pedal to increase the revs will allow you use of all gears or if it really annoys you, you might be able to get a skip shift eliminator. I'm not sure if the Gen V has the same plug system as the earlier Gens, it would be worth talking to someone like Woodhouse Dodge to check on your options.

Here is a link to the part that is used to stop the issue on earlier models
http://www.roeracing.com/productcart/pc/Skip-Shift-Eliminator-for-92-06-Vipers-200p1200.htm

By fitting something like this it may affect your warranty, so check first.
Good luck
Mark.

plumcrazy · Sep 20, 2013

dont drive like an old lady and you will never have that issue

SilveRT8 · Sep 20, 2013

I hit the rev limiter more than the skip shift !

Voice of Reason · Sep 20, 2013

If you're trying to shift below 2k rpm you're shifting too low, just increase your 'going easy on it' threshold for each gear to 2500 rpm and you'll be good.

MtnBiker · Sep 20, 2013

Gen IV the Mopar PCM eliminates skip shift. They'll probably offer one for Gen V soon.

Lespauldude · Sep 20, 2013

plumcrazy said:
dont drive like an old lady and you will never have that issue

What Plum said..........

strykergts · Sep 20, 2013

Nine Ball said:
No grandma driving allowed

Tell that to the old bag in the prius that I always seem to get stuck behind at stop lights. This is the only time I ever have the issue. The only sure fire solution is to stay in first until the skip-shift light goes out in this situation. On my old Z06, all I did was replace the skip shift fuse with a blown smart glow fuse. It was just enough to trick the computer into thinking it was still working. I wonder if it works the same in the viper?

Brian GTS · Sep 20, 2013

IMO, the Gen V skip shift is less intrusive that past generations. In 3K miles, I've only had this happen twice. Just get used to winding her out a tad more. Soon it will become second nature and you'll never know skip shift exists.

ViperSmith · Sep 20, 2013

Yes, I find it terribly annoying. I hit it mostly around town in the 30mph zones. More so coming off traffic lights in traffic.

If I am getting to highway speeds i'll go from 1st to 5th anyway

Jack B · Sep 20, 2013

It is fed mandated. Shift at over 18 mph and it won't happen.

AZTVR · Sep 20, 2013

Jack B said:
It is fed mandated.

I would think that it is more likely to be a clever engineering solution to get a lower fuel consumption in a specific EPA test. Unfortunately, it is annoying in real world driving situations involving stop and go "rush hour" traffic.

Paul Hawker · Sep 20, 2013

This has been in all Vipers for years.

You can trick it a bit by double clutching or pausing a few second while in neutral to allow the gate to open.

These things are indeed annoying, but believe they save +/- $1000 in the gas guzzler tax, and allow the Viper to not affect the Corporate fuel economy federal mandate too much.

It usually take some time after a new engine is release for somone to release a fix. Early generations had simple plug in by-passes, but as the systems have gotten smarter, they have also gotten harder to trick.

Even when the yellow upshift light comes on, it sometimes still engages the skip shift.

apeas2 · Jun 10, 2015

Does anyone know if there is a skip shift solenoid for the gen V? Can I use the one from the gen IV? Thanks!

Bobpantax · Jun 10, 2015

The Arrow controller eliminates the skip shift. See the sticky thread on the controller. It is a subforum of the Gen V forum.

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/672218-Arrow-Race-Controller-preliminary-observatuions.

apeas2 · Jun 10, 2015

Bobpantax said:
The Arrow controller eliminates the skip shift. See the sticky thread on the controller. It is a subforum of the Gen V forum.

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/672218-Arrow-Race-Controller-preliminary-observatuions.

Thanks, I am not sure I want to do the controller, but was wondering if someone has tried the skip shift solenoid from a gen IV, or if there is one for a gen V? Thanks!

apeas2 · Jun 10, 2015

I am going to try this one and will report back after I get it. Thanks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261860626367

98RT98 · Jun 10, 2015

I have a skip shift in my 2008 ACR

Gregnice · Jun 11, 2015

Arrow PCM module FTW! I had mine done by my dealer (Tomball) so never experienced the skip shift. Had that on my Z06's which drove me nuts. The extra HP and decel burble are also really nice advantages to the PCM. I highly recommend it.

zombiesnake · Jun 11, 2015

my 09 challenger lets me turn it off through the dash controls. idk if its like that on the vipers

Steve M · Jun 11, 2015

The Gen 4 skip shift disable plugs (just resistors) only work for the 2008 cars. In 2009 (and 2010), they implemented a check to make sure the skip shift solenoid was functioning properly, hence why you can't simply install a resistor (it'll set a code if you do).

There are two options for disabling it on the 2009s and 2010s - HPTuners or the Mopar PCM (with or without the Arrow reflash). The 2008s add the additional option of being able to disable it with a simple resistor/plug.

I'm assuming the 2013+ cars are similar in that they can only be disabled through changes to the software itself.

johniew398 · Jun 12, 2015

I rarely notice it on my TA.

ViperPete · Jun 12, 2015

Now that I know how to avoid it, I almost never experience it.

Anyone else find this super annoying?

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