is it trying to be smarter than me?

[forestacademy]

So im driving home the other night in Manual mode.

I decide to find out if the engine revs high when I hit the gas while i'm shifting. Im doing about 50 and am in 4th gear, I then hit the right paddle shifter and floor it. In stead of going to 5th gear as anticipated it goes into 3rd.

Odddddd

So I try and repeat this and it does it again.

Is the car being smarter than me? Does it think I am making a passing manuver so it gives me more power not less like I asked for?

Id like some other to try this and see what happens to them.

[JanetMermaid]

As Eric says, even when in Manual mode, when you hit the shifter paddles, the Smart "takes it as a suggestion" and may or may not shift the way you chose.

[Smart Enuf]

You're activating the kickdown mode. Smart assumes you're stomping on the accelerator because you're being chased by the police, some crazy drug dealers you stiffed, or a UFO bent on exploring your primitive mating rituals. In that case, smart will assume your intent was for more power by stomping on the accelerator and that you made a mistake in your panic to outrun the bad guys when you pressed the paddle shifter.

[jetfuel]

yep....ECU sees a demand for speed based on many input factors even if it can't see the UFO....

jetfuel

[SubSlr88]

"is it trying to be smarter than me?"

I think the answer is obviously "YES!"

(Sorry, I couldn't resist. . .)

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by Smart Enuf

... because you're being chased by the police, some crazy drug dealers you stiffed, or a UFO bent on exploring your primitive mating rituals. .

As a software engineer, I think you're exactly right. Those cases should be in any contingency plan.



Personally, I'd have integrated an easter egg such that if you're at 88MPH and move the shifter up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, then hit the paddles A,A,B,B you get some sort of turbo mode or the horn plays the music from Super Mario Brothers.

[jetfuel]

...it's not trying........it is...

jetfuel

[BigWarpGuy]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

As a software engineer, I think you're exactly right. Those cases should be in any contingency plan.



Personally, I'd have integrated an easter egg such that if you're at 88MPH and move the shifter up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, then hit the paddles A,A,B,B you get some sort of turbo mode or the horn plays the music from Super Mario Brothers.

Isn't that the sequence for the self destruc ... ahhh ... boom.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

Isn't that the sequence for the self destruc ... ahhh ... boom.

"Self destruct" is right next to the "Eject" button on my dash.

[Smart Enuf]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

Isn't that the sequence for the self destruc ... ahhh ... boom.

No, as anyone who has driven on 5 year missions knows, the proper sequence is:

"Destruct sequence 1, code 1-1 A."
"Destruct sequence 2, code 1-1 A-2B."
"Destruct sequence 3, code 1 B-2B-3."
"Code zero zero zero. Destruct. Zero."

To boldly go where no smart man (or woman) has gone before...