4eat technical questions

crazyhorse · #1 06-27-2012, 01:37 AM

Im asking some questions about the 4eat to determine if a paddleshift option could be "piggybacked" onto the existing tcu. As well as a 5, or 6spd tranny suits the svx, i think a paddleshift fits the spirit of the car as well.

What i need to know is how the trans shifts from drive back. IE 3-2-1. Is there a mechanical link between the shifter, and the trans, or does the fan switch simply tell the tcu a lower gear has been selected?

My thought process is, that if its just electrical, a small 12v industrial plc can be used to trick the tcu into thinking the shifter has been moved. it would be a simple plug and play solution for any 4eat equipped subie.

jetboy · #2 06-27-2012, 02:30 AM

While researching, have you considered a sequential gearbox to go with that?

crazyhorse · #3 06-27-2012, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetboy

While researching, have you considered a sequential gearbox to go with that?

Considered, yes. Feasible, no. LOL. While im working on an SVX, im looking at a marketable kit i can sell for almost any 4eat equipped Subaru. The Impreza guys would "eat" this up, pun intended lol

jetboy · #4 06-27-2012, 04:16 AM

I would probably buy one as I drive uphill a lot and 4EAT is not exactly sporty in those situations.

Why not feasable?

Lookin4SVX · #5 06-27-2012, 08:30 AM

I don't get it, we already have a downshift paddle, its the gas pedal.

I got them silly paddle shifters in the 2010 legacy, I don't think I have used them accept that first week to try them out..

P.S.
Whoever thought it was a good idea to mount the paddle shifts on the steering wheel, so they change position when your turn the wheel, is a moron.
Instead they should have been on the steering column like the blinkers, so that they don't move.
Really, what good is a paddle-shift when I'm trying to hard corner a right 90º and the up-shift paddle is in my crotch!

Conn SVX · #6 06-27-2012, 08:42 AM

I had the select shift on the Accura and it felt silly, shift and wait a second or 2 , or shift down and it won't. The 5 and 6 speed really make the car feel sporty.

icingdeath88 · #7 06-27-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Im asking some questions about the 4eat to determine if a paddleshift option could be "piggybacked" onto the existing tcu. As well as a 5, or 6spd tranny suits the svx, i think a paddleshift fits the spirit of the car as well.

What i need to know is how the trans shifts from drive back. IE 3-2-1. Is there a mechanical link between the shifter, and the trans, or does the fan switch simply tell the tcu a lower gear has been selected?

My thought process is, that if its just electrical, a small 12v industrial plc can be used to trick the tcu into thinking the shifter has been moved. it would be a simple plug and play solution for any 4eat equipped subie.

This is an idea that has been kicked around before. Did you search older threads?

I'm sure it could be done.

svxcess · #8 06-27-2012, 09:47 AM

I found the paddle shifters on my 2010 Outback to be convenient at times. When the gear selector is in the manual position [+/-] it gives me a little more control of the CVT.

However, I found the paddle shifters work when in the selector is in the auto [D] position. Sometimes while in D, I hit the downshift paddle to shift into a lower gear to slow the car without using the brake. Especially helpful when you want to downshift quickly without taking your hands off the wheelor using the brake.

After downshifting, once you give it gas, it automatically returns to D.

117,000 miles and it hasn't hurt the transmission yet.

.

Tapani · #9 06-27-2012, 10:02 AM

It's been done -

, there are several out there.... one for an example:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/...ad.php?t=93670

Tapani

icingdeath88 · #10 06-27-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxcess

I found the paddle shifters on my 2010 Outback to be convenient at times. When the gear selector is in the manual position [+/-] it gives me a little more control of the CVT.

Are the subaru style paddles attached to the steering wheel or the steering column? Do they turn with the wheel? The ones that turn with the wheel I can see being useful, the ones that are fixed (like the wife's lancer), I find very annoying. A friend has a mkv GTi, and those are small and attached to the back of the wheel. And very comfortable and intuitive I might add.

It would make me proud of subaru if they had done it the way that makes sense.

^ Good find tapani, that looks like pretty much exactly what he wants to do, on the same generation of 4eat.

svxcess · #11 06-27-2012, 01:48 PM

The paddles are attached to the wheel and move with it. Very easy to control and and access. When holding the steering wheel, a little tap with you middle finger is all it takes.

When climbing a hill with the CVT, it is much easier to downshift with the paddle than to mash the gas.

.

crazyhorse · #12 06-27-2012, 03:37 PM

Yeah, i know about the tcu flash method to create paddleshifted 4eat's. Thats not exactly a user friendly way to go about it. Like i said, im looking to make a plug-n-play setup. As for the tap and wait, the trans should respond quickly, and hold the gear regardless. It'll drive normally unless the paddles are turned on. What i need to know is if the trans is mechanically linked to the shifter in the lower gears, or not. Once i know that, i can decide if my method would be possible.

david_12121 · #13 06-28-2012, 11:56 PM

another paddle shifted automatic?! is that really what we need? in my opinion, the whole point of a paddle shifter is changing gears quicker than the other methods, and in order to do that, i would very much rather switch between 3,2, and 1, so that it feels like a stick too(little bit?)
also the 4eat, or better say my 4eat, doesn't downshift under power...maybe you can get that to work...but I personally am not willing to ruin my SVX with paddle shifters