Nissan 370Z Forum  

Shift light on an AT7?

So far my (admittedly limited) experience with Auto-X is that you don't need to shift much. On the rare straight where you might top out the gear you're in, it's

Go Back   Nissan 370Z Forum > Nissan 370Z Tech Area > Exterior & Interior


Like Tree10Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-04-2011, 11:42 AM   #16 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
wstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 4,024
Drives: too slow
Rep Power: 3594
wstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond repute
Default

So far my (admittedly limited) experience with Auto-X is that you don't need to shift much. On the rare straight where you might top out the gear you're in, it's often simpler and more efficient to just bump the rev limiter for a second or two before you have to brake again anyways.

But in general, TongMan, you have to remember our auto has a manual shift option, and it's a pretty good and functional one. Unlike some of the poorly-implemented "manual mode" on some cars, ours really does give you good manual control and almost always stays in the selected gear until told otherwise (the exception is, it will auto-downshift for you if the revs drop way down close to idle in your current gear. But in any performance setting this is a non-issue, as you have no reason to let the revs get that low).
__________________
7AT Track Car!
Journal thread / Car setup details
wstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2011, 09:08 PM   #17 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
Guard Dad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 422
Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7
Rep Power: 15
Guard Dad will become famous soon enough
Default

Well! I didn't mean to pull the chain of the MT6 folks nor was I trying to start a debate as to which tranny is better. So let me try this one more time.

I would like to know if it is economically possible to add a shift light to an AT7 (I know, I know it's Satan's Tranny but I've got one and I want to make the best of it). On those occasions when I'm feeling sporty I find it difficult, at best, to watch the tach and the road (especially in the corners) at the same time. A nice, bright, properly located shift light is, for me, the best way to determine your shift point when you are in a hurry. Accordingly I would be most appreciative of any assistance that anyone might be able to offer that would allow me to achieve that goal.

I did a quick search Summit racing and the shift lights that I saw seemed appropriate for single ignition coil engines not multi coil applications like the Z.

Last edited by Guard Dad; 08-04-2011 at 09:12 PM.
Guard Dad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2011, 10:37 PM   #18 (permalink)
Base Member
 
CharleyGFX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tallahassee
Posts: 106
Drives: 2009 Pure Red 7AT
Rep Power: 16
CharleyGFX is on a distinguished road
Default

Actually it may be possible. maybe someone can come up with a chip to hijack the ECU. because I know in the 335i, you can get a JB4 chip and it allows you to hijack everything from gauges to turning signals. Example being.. your gas gauge turns into your boost gauge, turning signals will both light up(inside only) and act as a shift indicator and other neat little things..

I only know this because I know two friends who own a 335i. And thinking about selling my 7AT for one..
__________________
"If you ain't crawling? you ain't balling"
CharleyGFX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2011, 10:53 PM   #19 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
Guard Dad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 422
Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7
Rep Power: 15
Guard Dad will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CharleyGFX View Post
Actually it may be possible. maybe someone can come up with a chip to hijack the ECU. because I know in the 335i, you can get a JB4 chip and it allows you to hijack everything from gauges to turning signals. Example being.. your gas gauge turns into your boost gauge, turning signals will both light up(inside only) and act as a shift indicator and other neat little things..

I only know this because I know two friends who own a 335i. And thinking about selling my 7AT for one..
That's an interesting idea too bad we couldn't make the volt meter an oil pressure gauge!

I did find the Raptor Shift Light from raptorperformance.com which supposedly can be tied into a fuel injector wire as a trigger and then programmed for single cylinder operation. Might work.

Last edited by Guard Dad; 08-04-2011 at 10:58 PM.
Guard Dad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2011, 03:06 PM   #20 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Proshop01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 56
Drives: 2011 370Z Roadster
Rep Power: 14
Proshop01 is on a distinguished road
Default

I have a 2011 with the 7AT and it already has a shift light. Was it new for 2011? Or did it come with the Sport package.
Proshop01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2011, 06:05 PM   #21 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
wstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 4,024
Drives: too slow
Rep Power: 3594
wstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Proshop01 View Post
I have a 2011 with the 7AT and it already has a shift light. Was it new for 2011? Or did it come with the Sport package.
My 2009 7AT w/ Sport doesn't have one. Can you set the shift light RPM via the the little left side display? Where does it light up at?
__________________
7AT Track Car!
Journal thread / Car setup details
wstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2011, 08:57 PM   #22 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,668
Drives: 370
Rep Power: 974723
phunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond reputephunk has a reputation beyond repute
Default

OK.... question here to the 7AT guys from a 6MT guy...

instead of worrying about having to up-shift manually and timing with the delay etc.... why not just let the auto trans upshift itself? they dont actually shift any faster in "manual" mode anyway do they? Will someone manually shifting the 370z 7AT actually run down the 1/4 any quicker than the guy just in plain auto mode? i would figure not, and probably slower because hes not going to be able to time it as well.

i mean really, what are you trying to do? no offense, i mean i can understand downshifting the auto manually while coming into a turn or something... but when trying to full throttle accelerate.. what advantage is there to shifting it yourself?
__________________
Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph
phunk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2011, 09:53 PM   #23 (permalink)
Base Member
 
slumpey's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 80
Drives: 2011 Nissan 370Z 7AT
Rep Power: 14
slumpey will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Proshop01 View Post
I have a 2011 with the 7AT and it already has a shift light. Was it new for 2011? Or did it come with the Sport package.
Where is the shift light located on a 2011 370z with 7AT?
slumpey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2011, 10:01 PM   #24 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
wstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 4,024
Drives: too slow
Rep Power: 3594
wstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond reputewstar has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by phunk View Post
OK.... question here to the 7AT guys from a 6MT guy...

instead of worrying about having to up-shift manually and timing with the delay etc.... why not just let the auto trans upshift itself? they dont actually shift any faster in "manual" mode anyway do they? Will someone manually shifting the 370z 7AT actually run down the 1/4 any quicker than the guy just in plain auto mode? i would figure not, and probably slower because hes not going to be able to time it as well.

i mean really, what are you trying to do? no offense, i mean i can understand downshifting the auto manually while coming into a turn or something... but when trying to full throttle accelerate.. what advantage is there to shifting it yourself?
It's a valid question for drag racing, I guess. But to be honest, if my primary concern was drag racing, I wouldn't have bought a 370 (or a V6 car in general heh). There are probably some fine points to be debated even for straight line acceleration on a standing 1/4. For example, if you got too much wheelspin in first gear in regular D-mode, it might shift to second too early instead of allowing you to play the throttle and get it hooked up before shifting. Of course if you burned all of first gear you're screwed anyways, so meh. Technically there are some minor differences in how fully our torque convertor locks up and at which RPMs (between D-mode and M-mode), but they're minor. Also the car won't pick the same shift point you would. You might raise your rev limiter and be shifting higher than it would choose, or if you have a particularly flat torque curve you might even be shifting back at 7K.

But mostly people who are doing anything serious in a 370Z aren't drag racing, so yeah, we do want to control both the down- and up- shift to keep the revs in the right range, which a full-auto can never do correctly without driver input.

Because 1st gear on the 7AT goes by so fast at full throttle (it's actually even lower geared than the 6MT's first gear, even after the different final drives are taken into account), I have used D-mode for the 1-2 shift from a standing start before. The idea is start in D, floor it, let it shift to 2nd for you, and then flip back over to the paddles to take over and continue driving (e.g. the starting line of an SCCA course).

You can really only do that reliably at a standing start though. Once you're into a course and shifting on your own, there's never really a good time when it would make sense to move back to D, even temporarily. If you did and you were at any less than full throttle, the car would take over with "regular commuter traffic" shifting rules and drop you into too high of a gear for whatever you're doing, and then it gets to be a pain in the *** to switch back and get it back to the gear you should be in.
__________________
7AT Track Car!
Journal thread / Car setup details
wstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 12:20 AM   #25 (permalink)
Enthusiast Member
 
Guard Dad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 422
Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7
Rep Power: 15
Guard Dad will become famous soon enough
Default

wstar is correct. First and second fly by in the 7AT so a shift light would be a real aid.

To clarify I'm not talking about drag racing, I am talking about road, auto-x and track applications where the traffic and corners preclude staring at the tach to time your next shift.

Again, I'm not trying to pick a fight with the 6MT folks but it bears pointing out that the 7AT in the Z is not your father's Powerglide. The 7AT provides some interesting challenges and some interesting opportunities and I'm trying to make the most of what it has to offer. Why did I buy it? because it rev-matches better and shifts faster than I can and when the pinched nerve in my lower back is acting up operating a clutch becomes a real problem. So it is what it is.
Guard Dad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 12:25 AM   #26 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Red__Zed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: window seat
Posts: 28,940
Drives: Mostly on two wheels
Rep Power: 120
Red__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guard Dad View Post
wstar is correct. First and second fly by in the 7AT so a shift light would be a real aid.

To clarify I'm not talking about drag racing, I am talking about road, auto-x and track applications where the traffic and corners preclude staring at the tach to time your next shift.

Again, I'm not trying to pick a fight with the 6MT folks but it bears pointing out that the 7AT in the Z is not your father's Powerglide. The 7AT provides some interesting challenges and some interesting opportunities and I'm trying to make the most of what it has to offer. Why did I buy it? because it rev-matches better and shifts faster than I can and when the pinched nerve in my lower back is acting up operating a clutch becomes a real problem. So it is what it is.


For most AutoX, you won't need to shift. I've only ever run one course that required changing more than that 1-2 shift at the start.


For everything else, my thought would be to go by feel. I don't use the shift light in my 6mt. I know when I need to change gears, and I do it. It shouldn't take much practice to be at that point.
Red__Zed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 07:22 AM   #27 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Proshop01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 56
Drives: 2011 370Z Roadster
Rep Power: 14
Proshop01 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slumpey View Post
Where is the shift light located on a 2011 370z with 7AT?
The light is right below where it says "RPM". I am not sure if it is adjustable.
Proshop01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 08:13 AM   #28 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Proshop01's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 56
Drives: 2011 370Z Roadster
Rep Power: 14
Proshop01 is on a distinguished road
Default

So I finally found it listed in the owners manual...page 295.

Upshift Indicator.jpg
Proshop01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 08:14 AM   #29 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
ChrisSlicks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North East
Posts: 6,203
Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6
Rep Power: 653
ChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond reputeChrisSlicks has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Proshop01 View Post
The light is right below where it says "RPM". I am not sure if it is adjustable.
On the manuals it is adjusted through the DIC pod on the left, I imagine it would be the same for the auto's that have this feature. It starts flashing a few hundred RPM before the set point and then goes solid. 1st gear goes by so fast in the auto that it might not be a useful indicator.
__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms
ChrisSlicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 08:25 AM   #30 (permalink)
Track Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Katy Texas
Posts: 552
Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe
Rep Power: 16
Dark Sarcasm will become famous soon enoughDark Sarcasm will become famous soon enough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by phunk View Post
OK.... question here to the 7AT guys from a 6MT guy...

instead of worrying about having to up-shift manually and timing with the delay etc.... why not just let the auto trans upshift itself? they dont actually shift any faster in "manual" mode anyway do they? Will someone manually shifting the 370z 7AT actually run down the 1/4 any quicker than the guy just in plain auto mode? i would figure not, and probably slower because hes not going to be able to time it as well.

i mean really, what are you trying to do? no offense, i mean i can understand downshifting the auto manually while coming into a turn or something... but when trying to full throttle accelerate.. what advantage is there to shifting it yourself?
when im under full throttle in my AT, the trans shifts WAY faster in manual mode. My 7AT will go from 1st to 2nd faster than I could shift it was a manual. Barking the rear tires, under full throttle, in manual mode is not unusual. There is a slight, 1/2 second delay from the time I hit the paddle till the shift. Its the same at higher
gears on the highway, the upshifts are very quick in manual mode.

My brother in-law has an 05 Vette with paddle shifters. I drove it when he first got it. He explained the paddle shifters are more for holding it in gears around corners, not really for fast upshifts. The Z trans is different. He drove mine and couldnt believe how fast it changes gears in manual mode.

This isnt a manny vs. auto thread, but for you MT guys out there that havent driven the paddle shifters yet, I highly suggest you try them out. It may not be what you want for your own Z but I think you will be impressed with the 7AT performance.
__________________
wax
Dark Sarcasm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Z1 Motorsports JDM Fog Light Light Installation Kit (Starting @ $18.00 w/ out Light) Dustin@Z1 Body Interior/Exterior 4 11-04-2016 06:16 AM
Up shift indicator light prg New 370Z Owner 33 12-24-2015 05:39 PM
Shift Light Straight6z Engine & Drivetrain 27 03-25-2014 01:37 PM
LED Lamp in Dome Light to Illuminate the Stick Shift? optiontrader Nissan 370Z General Discussions 19 08-30-2010 02:52 AM
shift light indicator mattkim85 Nissan 370Z General Discussions 4 01-27-2009 04:54 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2