Secret Gear??

[Quiet Lunatic]

I'm a bit confused... When I press my gas pedal all the way on my r/t it seems that the pedal wont go any further back. But when I push a bit harder the gas pedal goes further back and the car makes a louder sound and goes faster. What is this?? Does every r/t have this?? Is it overdrive??

[bigtsr]

All Calibers built with CVT trans up to about the end of October 2006
have a detent in the gas pedal mechanism at the end of normal travel.
Depressing the pedal normally supposedly keeps the car in economy
mode,however once you go past the detent it's out of economy and
into giddy up and go mode.

[Prop1]

Yeah, it's like the old "passing gear" on an automatic.

[Quiet Lunatic]

well that makes things clear. I'm assuming this gear is meant to be pressed after going 80+ cause if I press hard during 30+ it just makes more noise and doesn't really go that much faster. Sort of feels like pressing the gas pedal in neutral.

[MetroAWD]

Watch your speedo... you may not think you are speeding up because it is so smooth, but in reality, it gets you moving in a hurry. Also, if you haven't used your CVT2 in it's AutoStick mode, you're in for some fun!!

[xcanuk]

I tried the .. 2 stage (?) gas pedal a few times, nice surprise, giddy up.
I"m still getting used to the cvt and playing with the throttle in relation to the rpm's while cruising. What I can't figure out, if I use the autostick, locked in 5th, I will rev higher than if I have it in auto mode at the same speed, almost like a hidden 6fh gear@

[NJ07RTowner]

I've noticed the same thing with our R/T. I'll be on the turnpike cruising at 85 or so and the rpm's will be reallly low while in regular mode. I then use the autostick and they rise in 6th gear. I guess it's just the CVT doing it's job and really finding the best ratio possible.

[Prop1]

The reason the rpm's rise is because the autostick is not an economy mode for the transmission. The transmission should always find the most economical ratio for a given speed based on how far the gas pedal is depressed when in auto.

[SxyCaliber]

Hmm didnt know that was there :rockon: I guess maybe next time i'm out for a days drive i'll have to pay attention more.
All Calibers built with CVT trans up to about the end of October 2006
have a detent in the gas pedal mechanism at the end of normal travel.
Depressing the pedal normally supposedly keeps the car in economy
mode,however once you go past the detent it's out of economy and
into giddy up and go mode.

[406camino]

lol!!!! actually in the caliber online training class its just a gimic....basically its to make you "think" there is a passing gear. same as how some cars with a cvt retard or kill spark for a second to make you think it is shifting when its not.
rob

dodge employee

[Quiet Lunatic]

No it's there is a "secret gear." I tried it out the other day (my wife drives my Caliber so rare when I get behind the wheel). I went from a stop and accelerated normally to about 3k rpm/35mph. Then I gave more and more gas until I hit the "wall." Acceleration was smooth and linear about 4k RPM . Then I mashed down on the pedal and the RPM shoot up to 5.5k climbing to 6k, dropping down to about 5k and up to 6k again.

My Caliber was moving down the road pretty good at this point, never redlined(I don't think it's possible with CVT) and smooth, no jerkyness between "shifts."

Maybe Mythbusters can do a piece on this.

[Prop1]

I started out from an intersection the other day and thought, what the hell, and stomped on it. Rpm's whipped up to 6 grand, and I was flying. Actually surprised the hell out of me.:woohoo:

[xcanuk]

I was shocked the first time I tried it as well.
Have to try to figure out some type of time / speed increase for this 2nd stage gas pedal. Wondering if it just hearing the engine and watching it rev out.

[406camino]

sorry guys....i might as well be adam and jamie. there is no "secret". its an electronically created "detent". done purposely to make you feel there is a passing gear. if you sleep better at night thinking you found the ultra secret srt4 wanna be hidden deep in the woods on level 13 then by all means......
if i can find the info in hard print i will post it.
rob

crap, cant find it. will post it when i can.

[Prop1]

That's ok, it's in the manual. You just have to take the time to read it.;)

[Quiet Lunatic]

Off course it's not a secret gear, I just was not aware that a CVT operated in this way. It's kind of like a guitar amp that goes up to 11.

[406camino]

Lol!!! I Love Spinal Tap!