Gear Selector Switch on Auto shift lever

[grabinov]

Electronic Range Select switch

Does anyone know how (electrically) the Electronic Range Select switch which is on the end of the Auto transmission shift lever works?

I find myself manually switching gears routinely in my auto transmission truck. As many guys mention, I often "lock" the truck in a lower gear when driving around town, then "allow" 6th when getting on the freeway, and manually shift down when slowing down a ramp. But it is inconvenient to have to reach for the switch on the shift lever when doing so, and I can't find it easily without looking down. Wouldn't it be great to have a switch on the center console right under your hand? How hard would it be to buy and wire in a second factory switch down there somewhere?

I can't even find the part number for the switch!

Thoughts?

 

[Stab]

I haven't had a problem. With my Aisin I just leave it Tow-Haul while towing & let it do its thing. I was real pleased how well the "timing" of the shift worked. Works sweet with the exhaust brake also. I thought even the + - on the stalk worked quite well. I tend to leave it one notch down into the gear display just to see what it's doing. Three different drivers this last trip @ all were impressed with shift points.

 

[Jim W]

I have a 08 Mega Cab with the 68RFE auto transmission and toggle switch just like yours. I have for years used the switch to lock out 5 and 6th gears when driving in the city and surrounding township. But on the highway the only time I lock out 6th gear is towing in the mountains as the EGT’s creep up to 1400F; I have a programmer installed. I will down shift to 5th to increase the RPM’s and lower the EGT’s but I need to watch my Boost pressure than. The only reason I lock out 5 and 6th gear in town is to keep the RPM’s in the 1500 to 2000 range when in town I just do not like the engine at 1200 RPM’s at 35 miles an hour.

I will always put the truck into tow/haul and activate the exhaust brake and usually do not change the transmission gear selector unless as I mention above towing up hill. I will let the transmission programming select whatever gear that it wants to be to do the job efficiently. This includes braking and descending hills; but if I go up in 5th I will go down in 5th. The programming of the powertrain is much more aggressive in tow/haul mode than it is when the tow/haul is not engage. The programming has been changed for the 4th gens after 2013.5 when the (for lack of a better word) two stage exhaust braking was introduced. No need to lock out the 5 and 6th gears as the transmission will select the proper gear for slowing down.

Jim W.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Turn on TH and EB it will keep the truck in the proper gear for the speed you are traveling.

 

[transe]

The switch is only serviced as part of the shift lever assembly (if the switch is bad, you have to buy a new shift lever). The switch is multiplexed with the Tow/Haul switch. That is, there is only one circuit for all three switches (Tow/Haul, ERS+, and ERS-). The resistance of the circuit varies depending on which button is pressed, so you can't simply replace any of the switches with normal on/off switches.

 

[gsbrockman]

But it is inconvenient to have to reach for the switch on the shift lever when doing so, and I can't find it easily without looking down. Wouldn't it be great to have a switch on the center console right under your hand? How hard would it be to buy and wire in a second factory switch down there somewhere?
Thoughts?

I think you should be looking at this mod :
#ad


http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...center-console-conversion-depo-headlamps.html

 

[MJWenrich]

I have noticed one more distracting factor with the switch is that it takes two taps to drop a gear. One I guess to activate the program and one to go down a gear. Then I noticed that after going back up to 6-, and traveling for awhile, I have to tap the switch twice again to drop a gear. Since I have the dead pedal lag, that sometimes contributes to my not being able to pass or enter freeway fast lanes from slower traffic. And does anyone know the difference between 6- and 6+ ? When selecting the shift program it indicates 6+ but in the light blue area it shows 6-. No difference in rpm that I can detect.

 

[grabinov]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I am trying the various combinations of Tow /Haul and the EB switch. I think the combo I like the most is Tow / Haul on without the EB switch on at all. Around town the EB just tends to slow the truck TOO fast and too abruptly. I find myself unable to roll up to a stop light.

The switch is only serviced as part of the shift lever assembly (if the switch is bad, you have to buy a new shift lever). The switch is multiplexed with the Tow/Haul switch. That is, there is only one circuit for all three switches (Tow/Haul, ERS+, and ERS-). The resistance of the circuit varies depending on which button is pressed, so you can't simply replace any of the switches with normal on/off switches.

Thanks TransEngineer. That is exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. So it would be possible to relocate the factory switch (thereby keeping resistance the same - assuming you could get it out of the shift lever!), but not duplicate the factory switch...



Greg (GSBrockman): Yup! I just saw that mod on the CumminsForum and was thinking the same thing! Have you driven a 1500 like that? When the truck is in drive with the floor shifter, do you just tap the gear lever to select gears up or down? That's pretty cool...

I think you should be looking at this mod :
#ad

 

[gsbrockman]

When the truck is in drive with the floor shifter, do you just tap the gear lever to select gears up or down? That's pretty cool...

Yeppppp....it looks like you tap left to downshift.....right to upshift....just like my wife's 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited HEMI 4x4.

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/4...shifter-center-consol-shifter-conversion.html

#ad

 

[grabinov]

Turn on TH and EB it will keep the truck in the proper gear for the speed you are traveling.

You know until now I had not tried running the Tow/Haul WITHOUT the Exhaust Brake, but I have been since this discussion and I DO like it. the truck will hold a gear longer when upshifting and, most importantly, it will hold a gear at constant throttle, rather than pushing up to 6th at the first sign that you've reached your desired speed. Without the exhaust brake it brakes some via downshifting, and that's enough without the harsh effect of the exhaust brake at low speeds.

I like it...

 

[Cummins12V98]

I noticed the toggle shift on the 11 was more responsive, easy to shift with just a touch. The 15 you have to PUSH it. Anyone else have that problem?

 

[Larry Willard]

I noticed the toggle shift on the 11 was more responsive, easy to shift with just a touch. The 15 you have to PUSH it. Anyone else have that problem?

I noticed the same thing, sometimes it doesn't seem to respond at all for several pushes, and other times it will drop more gears than desired. I keep thinking it would be better if we could have kept the one in the '08.
Larry

 

[GTOWag]

I noticed the same thing, sometimes it doesn't seem to respond at all for several pushes, and other times it will drop more gears than desired. I keep thinking it would be better if we could have kept the one in the '08.
Larry

Can anyone tell me if the + - switch is lighted when the lights are on? I find the switch hard to find when driving at night and wondered if the switch is supposed to be illuminated and possibly mine is not working?

 

[Ram4Sam]

No light......your truck is fine.....

Sam

 

[Larry Willard]

Not lighted, but I don't have a problem finding the button without looking, just seems like doing it all the time a natural feel for it develops.
Larry

 

[grabinov]

Can anyone tell me if the + - switch is lighted when the lights are on? I find the switch hard to find when driving at night and wondered if the switch is supposed to be illuminated and possibly mine is not working?

It's funny, during the night you can't find it, and during the day you can't look at it for fear of burning your eyes on the reflection from the chrome ring on the shift lever. Between that and the chrome center console release latch, it's a wonder I haven't gone blind. Don't get me wrong, I've loved my Rams since 94, but how is it ok to put reflective chrome in an interior! Another example of an idea that shouldn't have left the drawing board...

 

[moparnut72]

On my truck I find that it needs a firm push to activate my wishes. I wish it were a bit quicker though. I use it quite a bit because we have grades with a lot of switchbacks, so I like to keep the trans from shifting up and down. Speaking of the EB, if I have to stop, put the trans in park to check the load or whatever, when I go again the EB will not function even though the light is lit. If I turn it off and back on it will work sometimes and sometimes not. Sometimes I have to stop and shut everything down and restart thus rebooting the computer. I hate doing this as the turbo is hot and still turning but I do it as quickly as I can. Has anyone else experienced this?
kk

 

[GTOWag]

Thanks Larry and Sam

If I had better feeling in my right hand fingers (numbness), I guess it would be easier for me. At least I know my truck is OK. Thanks again.

 

[kthaxton]

It's funny, during the night you can't find it, and during the day you can't look at it for fear of burning your eyes on the reflection from the chrome ring on the shift lever. Between that and the chrome center console release latch, it's a wonder I haven't gone blind. Don't get me wrong, I've loved my Rams since 94, but how is it ok to put reflective chrome in an interior! Another example of an idea that shouldn't have left the drawing board...

lol! Talk about coincidence, not 30 seconds ago I just mentioned this same thing in the "Next Generation Changes" thread!

 

[TCollier]

Mine activates with a single press of the "-" at what ever gear I'm currently in. I don't have to mash the heck out of it like others are having to do. About the same amount of pressure as the steering wheel buttons.