Maybe someone can help me figure out the first to second Tip mode behavior of my A6. Usually when I execute a partial-throttle launch of my 4.2 in Tip mode, it stays in first for only a second or two before changing to second. As far as I know, this behavior is normal. But three times now, I have managed to pull 5000 in first at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle, before manually tipping into second.

Wednesday morning I started the car, drove down the hill (1.3mi) in full-auto, then flipped it into Tip as I approached the final (steep and sharp) curve, then tipped it back to third, then second. After the curve I tipped it into third for the short straight before reaching a major road. Approaching the intersection, I tipped back to second, then (seeing a solid stream of traffic), back to first (without thinking -- and it WENT INTO FIRST although I was still traveling at 10-15mph). After stopping and waiting 4 or 5 seconds for a break in the traffic, I accelerated smartly, expecting an almost instantaneous change into second. But IT STAYED IN FIRST until I tipped it into second. At the next light the takeoff was normal -- almost immediate auto change into second (in Tip).

Thursday morning, I repeated the sequence and managed to tip it into first again at 12 mph as I approached the intersection. Since there was no cross traffic, I didn't stop, but accelerated through in first and watched the tach get to 5000 at less than 1/2 throttle before I tipped it into second.

Friday, there was lots of traffic, but slow, so I changed down to first on the move again then eased into a break at very low throttle and stayed in first as we all slowly accelerated. At around 5000 I tipped it into second.

It was wonderful to feel in full control of the Tip, without its auto first/second behavior. Does anyone know why I managed to get this behavior (engine barely warm, moving downhill as I changed down...), and if there is any way to repeat it at will? Perhaps a Tip Chip could be made to allow full Tip control?<p>2000 4.2
Casablanca White / Melange
PSL, ESP, Xenon, Cool

 

Is the reason you got this to happen. I'm surprised the TIP even worked though. Basically, when the tranny is cold, the computer shifting is disabled, and it just shifts hydraulically. So the shifts are vastly different. Audi will tell you that during that period, the TIP function doesn't work.

Go figure.

 

Steve is correct!! Upshifts (read high gear usage) is retarded with cold engine.

 

the shift to second happens quickly. Under heavy acceleration you can hold first.

rmg
Audi A6 4.2
Black / Van. Onx

 

I agree. But in this case first stayed there even under light acceleration. I wondered if it happened because I downshifted going downhill and the "brain" thought that I needed the downshift to reduce speed with...<p>2000 4.2
Casablanca White / Melange
PSL, ESP, Xenon, Cool

 

It's designed to rev the engine a little higher before shifting when cold, to heat up the catalytic converter faster and reduce emissions. My '94 MB C280 and my [former/ totalled] 98 A4 2.8 Avant did the same thing.

 

I doubt this explanation slightly since it doesn't account for the shifts being often rough. But Audi says the same thing. Anyone know why this is needed on the 2.7T since it has four catalytic converters including two small "light-off" converters just aft of the turbos? These are supposed to warm up almost instantly to cut emissions.

 

you should feel a click in your foot when pushing the accel. far enough down to stay in first for a launch or for a down shift from second. There are no chips as of yet that eliminate this feature of the first to second shift at 2000 rpm.

 

Normal behaviour is that the Tip will NOT change gears for you, unless:
- you get to about 6'300 rpm (in which case it upshifts)
- you get below about 1'600-1'800 rpm (in which case it downshifts)
- you use the kick-down feature (i.e. press the accelerator beyond the first resistance point), in which case it downshifts on you, provided this does not send the engine above 6'300 rpm

In practice, and for 1st / 2nd gears, it means that if you press the pedal to the metal, the Tip will down shift you to 1st, and this up to speeds of about 35 mph (55 kph) - try it, the shock it gives to the car certainly feels funny.

Still, with a 4.2, I don't think you would ever need to down shift in 1st gear with Tip - you have way enough torque even at low rpm and low speeds and can probably always go in 2nd gear or higher.

A.

 

Yes, that's certainly a good description of how my Tip behaves normally. Usually, a take-off at partial throttle causes the one/two shift after one or two seconds, at around 2000rpm. I was just wondering why the Tip allowed me to stay in first all the way to 5000rpm with fairly light acceleration, but only under the circumstances I described (engine barely warm, moving downhill as I changed down to first, then accelerating to 5000). I certainly wasn't using the kickdown (I think).<p>2000 4.2
Casablanca White / Melange
PSL, ESP, Xenon, Cool