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CAGS-SKIP Troubleshooting

CAGS-SKIP

This system is ONLY in manual transmission Corvettes, and is typically referred to as the skip shift, 1st to 4th lockout, 2nd and 3rd lockout, or CAGS, which stands for Computer Aided Gear Selection. This system was designed to help manual transmission Corvettes meet CAFE standards, by preventing certain gear changes under less than optimal conditions.

The skip shift system works by reading throttle position, coolant temp and other factors. When triggered during acceleration in first gear, the CAGS solenoid in the manual transmission only allows the gearshift to go from first to fourth gear.

The typical conditions for triggering the CAGS system are (different models/years may have minor differences):

• Vehicle speed between 15-19 mph (24 -31 km/h).
• Coolant temp must be above 171º F (77º C).
• Barometric pressure must be above 76 kpa (568± mmhg).
• Less than 26% full throttle.

Although it may seem practical in theory, in practice it is often quite irritating. The CAGS system often seems to be active at the worst possible time. If you're gently accelerating from a stop it will force you to shift into fourth, only to have the engine groan, and sluggishly accelerate until either your speed slowly increases enough, or you downshift to 2nd or 3rd to help the car accelerate normally. For many Vette drivers, the system activates when turning a corner or going uphill from a stop, especially in traffic, when your speed is necessarily limited. Of course, you can increase your RPMS out of the active CAGS zone to shift normally from 1st to 2nd, or shift into neutral, release the clutch to deactivate the skip shift lockout, then shift into the gear of your choice, or shift into fourth then back to second, but those unnecessary procedures are exactly why many people find this "feature" very irritating.

Elimination of the CAGS system can make life easier for you, your transmission and your engine. You won't be surprised and bothered by the often unexpected shift into fourth. You'll get complete control of when to shift and what gear to go into. Your engine will never be burdened by the increased load of too high a gear at too low a speed.

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