911 Automatic

[Dan Sorenson]

My 99 911 C4 tiptronic automatic shift into 1st gear. When I back out of the garage and put the car into drive it will start out into 1st gear. Is this normal? When driving the car and you come to a stop it will start in 2nd gear is this the normal shift for the car ? Can the car be programmed to start up in 1st gear all the time? I have found that it will not like a down shift into 1 gear and some times it will seam on start up that it is in limbo not wanting to be in first or 2nd gear you have to let off the accelerator just a little and it will catch up. I would just like to know if this might be a issue with the transmission/ ? No real way to check the fluid level. I do have a scanner for the car and it sometimes comes up with a open torque converter sensor?
Dan

[jwgn777]

When you start you 996 when the engine is cold you transmission will be in first gear. This is normal until it reaches operating temperature. From there on the transmission will start off in second gear in automatic mode unless you command it to first gear through the manual program tiptronic switches on the steering wheel in the manual mode. Or by pressing the accelerator at least 3/4 of its travel towards the floor. At certain speeds the tiptronic program will not allow you to shift down or up. This will prevent engine and transmission damage. i.e If you are driving at 40 MPH you can not down shift in first gear.