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2014 ECO automatic Manual Mode

3183 Views 12 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  NickD
I searched this topic and only found threads that were against the rules to revive,
and didn't quite answer the issue I have.

I can say that 2014 eco's downshift (easily) in any gear in manual mode, and it doesn't even display the gear change. (the previous threads answered this for 2012-2013s)

My car, for example, can be in M6 on the freeway, and ill get off the freeway and brake to a stop at the exit, and it will STILL display M6..while obviously not being in 6th gear.

Is this normal?
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I've read others with Eco automatics behave the same way(downshifting in manual mode on throttle input). The display saying M6 at a stop sign however seems wrong and if you can duplicate maybe your dealer could find a fix. Does your manual mode up shift automatically too? The reason I ask is other GM cars/trucks manual mode works differently than my cruze, where say if you lock M5 or M4 it still automatically shift everything, it will just not shift to gears above what you have it set to.

With my 2012 1LT RS automatic no amount of throttle input in any gear will cause a downshift in manual mode. It will only automatically downshift if your speed/RPM for that given gear drop to low and all gear changes are displayed on the DIC.
I've read others with Eco automatics behave the same way(downshifting in manual mode on throttle input). The display saying M6 at a stop sign however seems wrong and if you can duplicate maybe your dealer could find a fix. Does your manual mode up shift automatically too? The reason I ask is other GM cars/trucks manual mode works differently than my cruze, where say if you lock M5 or M4 it still automatically shift everything, it will just not shift to gears above what you have it set to.

With my 2012 1LT RS automatic no amount of throttle input in any gear will cause a downshift in manual mode. It will only automatically downshift if your speed/RPM for that given gear drop to low and all gear changes are displayed on the DIC.
Yes, it will upshift on its own; manual mode is 0% manual. It will stay in whatever gear I set it to in the DIC, but will swap gears just like its in full auto.

This is an all-the-time thing, it has never behaved differently.. thus, I never use it. Although I wish I could/it would at LEAST display the gear and let me change them with more control.
The eco auto programming is indeed different from the rest.

I tend to leave (put) mine in M5 since I often find myself in a 40 to 45 speed zone.
The trans is programmed for [email protected] 42 mph......so, if I drive in auto, it drops back to fifth every time I drop back to 40.....then, of course, as speed increases to 42+, it upshifts........back and forth, back and forth.....so I leave it in M5.

Starting from a light, it is in first but displays M5......it will only shift up as far as fifth......I have found this improves my 'light throttle' mileage a bit as well.

Also note, the eco does not ever display a 'upshift denied' on the D.I.C.


I've a question for the non eco members.......Do you folks have the option of a second gear start?.......the eco does not.....it will start off in first regardless of position displayed.

Rob
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The eco auto programming is indeed different from the rest.
I wish I could have it both ways, a auto/manual mode like yours where i could lock out upper overdrive gears and other times full manual mode like my RS auto. With my auto its nice to be able to get on the throttle and not cause a downshift, having this control does gain MPG(keeping the RPMs lower).

Starting from a light, it is in first but displays M5......it will only shift up as far as fifth......I have found this improves my 'light throttle' mileage a bit as well.
This is exactly how most other GM cars behave and I was shocked my cruze was so different.

I've a question for the non eco members.......Do you folks have the option of a second gear start?.......the eco does not.....it will start off in first regardless of position displayed.
I can start out in 2nd or even 3rd(I would not recommended starting in 3rd I feel this is a programming bug). Its definitely in those gears, you can feel a slight clunk and more vibration once moving to 2nd and even more again in 3rd.
I wish I could have it both ways, a auto/manual mode like yours where i could lock out upper overdrive gears and other times full manual mode like my RS auto. With my auto its nice to be able to get on the throttle and not cause a downshift, having this control does gain MPG(keeping the RPMs lower).



This is exactly how most other GM cars behave and I was shocked my cruze was so different.



I can start out in 2nd or even 3rd(I would not recommended starting in 3rd I feel this is a programming bug). Its definitely in those gears, you can feel a slight clunk and more vibration once moving to 2nd and even more again in 3rd.
I sometimes wish it was both ways as well......a second gear start is nice to have on slick, winter streets.......not the end of the world, just a bit more control.

I am fond of the ability to leave it in M5 though and I think it upshifts just a touch sooner.

Thanks for responding......one of those questions I've been wanting to ask for, like, three years.

Rob
Thanks for responding......one of those questions I've been wanting to ask for, like, three years.

Rob
The funny part is I've also been wondering about the ECO automatic behavior as well because from other user posts over the years it sounded like the ECO automatic did not work like mine. I posted a question 3+ years ago to see if anyone could confirm the differences in the programming but all I got was cricket sounds.
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The eco auto programming is indeed different from the rest.

I tend to leave (put) mine in M5 since I often find myself in a 40 to 45 speed zone.
The trans is programmed for [email protected] 42 mph......so, if I drive in auto, it drops back to fifth every time I drop back to 40.....then, of course, as speed increases to 42+, it upshifts........back and forth, back and forth.....so I leave it in M5.

Starting from a light, it is in first but displays M5......it will only shift up as far as fifth......I have found this improves my 'light throttle' mileage a bit as well.

Also note, the eco does not ever display a 'upshift denied' on the D.I.C.


I've a question for the non eco members.......Do you folks have the option of a second gear start?.......the eco does not.....it will start off in first regardless of position displayed.

Rob
Thanks, good to know my car isn't messed up.

So are you saying only the overdrive gear can be "locked out"?
Because obviously, my car will upshift once it detects im off the throttle slightly or gets close to redline.

It was just really weird and honestly a little disappointing when I first used the manual mode.
Leaving it in M6 and basically having it behave like full auto without even displaying the gear changes .. is a drastic difference from my G37, which holds gears bouncing on the rev limiter all day and rev matches on downshifts.
Thanks, good to know my car isn't messed up.

So are you saying only the overdrive gear can be "locked out"?
Because obviously, my car will upshift once it detects im off the throttle slightly or gets close to redline.

It was just really weird and honestly a little disappointing when I first used the manual mode.
Leaving it in M6 and basically having it behave like full auto without even displaying the gear changes .. is a drastic difference from my G37, which holds gears bouncing on the rev limiter all day and rev matches on downshifts.
Depending on what you selected, ie, M1,M2,M3,M4,M5,M6, the car will start out in first and advance only to the gear selected.

For example, if M3 is selected it will shift, first, second, third, and hold third regardless of speed up to RPM cutoff.

Rob
Really love the six speed manual transmission in our 2012 2LT, but can't buy this anymore. So when this one goes, goodbye Chevy. Like having complete control of which gear I am in.

Ha, ever drive one of these?



Really not much choice with gears, only two of them for forward speeds, but did have a reverse, that was nice for Chevy to offer this. Use to call these things turtletorque. Just about every combination since then.

Sill have to have at least one AT vehicle, in this stupid state can't even pass a drivers test without an automatic, will flunk you if you take your right hand off the steering wheel to shift gears for a second. But can get around this by starting off in second gear and leaving it there.

Can get by with taking off in first gear with an AT on ice, but need a very delicate light foot on the throttle. A lot of these newer AT's are shifting up at way too low of engine speeds, idiot programmers never heard of excessive engine loading that burns more fuel if they would stay in a lower gear longer.

Just seems like in these newer vehicles, a silly-con diode is attempting to replace the brains of the driver.

Oh, that 52 Chevy hardtop was a very sweet looking automobile, could drop an Olds with a four speed hydramatic transmission in it,then you really had one hail of a car. But those a$$holes in Washington DC made this illegal today.
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Woah, really? I gotta try that out today..

So youre saying if im in first, itll HOLD it?? Thats pretty uncommon for cars these days, at least non-sporting models.

If my car is like that then.. MPGs shall suffer =P
Really love the six speed manual transmission in our 2012 2LT, but can't buy this anymore. So when this one goes, goodbye Chevy. Like having complete control of which gear I am in.
Wait, what? Love the 6MT, U have the 6MT but dont have complete control of which gear youre in? :signs053:
Wait, what? Love the 6MT, U have the 6MT but dont have complete control of which gear youre in? :signs053:
6MT in the 2LT ain't available anymore, do like the added bit of luxury in the 2LT that the Eco and 1LT ain't got.
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