Hi

Took delivery of a new 500 yesterday. Really happy with it. However, I noticed that on the display there is a "shift" light. It looks as though it prompts you when to shift up or down, presumably for optimum performance?
Problem is that it seems to be really keen for me to always change up. For example, doing approx 35 mph it wanted me to change to 5th! I was also trying to get it to ask me to change down by slowing down but staying in a high gear and it was reluctant to do it? Is this normal or do you think it needs to be re-calibrated?

Any advice is gratefully received. Cheers!

Tafferel said:

Hi

Took delivery of a new 500 yesterday. Really happy with it. However, I noticed that on the display there is a "shift" light. It looks as though it prompts you when to shift up or down, presumably for optimum performance?
Problem is that it seems to be really keen for me to always change up. For example, doing approx 35 mph it wanted me to change to 5th! I was also trying to get it to ask me to change down by slowing down but staying in a high gear and it was reluctant to do it? Is this normal or do you think it needs to be re-calibrated?

Any advice is gratefully received. Cheers!

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In the gentle words of The Fiat Forum... Read your manual, thats what it is for...

It's designed for economy (and therefore better emissions), hence why it wants you in a high gear.

There must be a fine line between keeping emissions/revs/fuel consumption down low and needed to accelerate for longer therefore using more fuel.

D4nny8oy said:

It's designed for economy (and therefore better emissions), hence why it wants you in a high gear.

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Yeah, I get that but it never tells me to change down even when I try and provoke it i.e doing 15mph in 5th!!

Sounds a good idea if it worked for changing down too

Tafferel said:

Yeah, I get that but it never tells me to change down even when I try and provoke it i.e doing 15mph in 5th!!

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What does the manual say about it?

D4nny8oy said:

What does the manual say about it?

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Nothing, as far as I can tell

deano87 said:

There must be a fine line between keeping emissions/revs/fuel consumption down low and needed to accelerate for longer therefore using more fuel.

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Yeah I never know which is better, I settle for quickly getting up to speed (without hammering the revs) - and then sitting there in as high as possible - I often do 5th gear through 30/40mph roadworks

what model are you driving?

does it have sport mode?

it WILL tell you to shift down if you start off at too low a speed in 2nd...

however the pattern you mention is, im afraid, how it wants you to drive, with very early change ups- however if you are 'pressing on' it will leave the 'shift up' light out for longer as it recognises the need for acceleration..

you will notice that if the shift up sign comes on, you can make it go out by pressing on he accelerator....

if you are tootling round on a light throttle but in a lower gear, it will want you to change up sooner as it recognises your not in a particular hurry and this then saves fuel...

there is nothing wrong with your shift indicator, its doing what its supposed to....

(ps i do have one too)

What model is this on? I don't have on my 1.4 sport, is it only on the new version? or is it an option from the menu?

The only model I've seen this on is the Abarth and I'm fairly sure it didn't tell me to shift up until the last minute when I test drove it. Which is the way it should be.

i hate when they add more features to new models, my car feels old

it's a new feature on all the new start stop models

Tafferel said:

Nothing, as far as I can tell

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Not even page 15?



It's not much, but does clearly state it's set for optimum fuel economy and tells you to shift 'up' and 'down'.

what is autoclose by the way?

durukan said:

what is autoclose by the way?

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Am I going to have to copy/paste every poxy page?

D4nny8oy said:

Am I going to have to copy/paste every poxy page?

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https://www.fiatforum.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=12

Hannikins said:

it's a new feature on all the new start stop models

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Yes we certainly have it on my wife's 1.2 pop - but then she disagrees with it anyway -" I've been driving for 30 years and don't need that silly thing telling me when to change gear!"

Peter