[dom08]

Hey
just wondering what the S stands for beside the D(drive) on the shift column.
03 SE

when i used it, it seems like a engine brake...
not sure what it is.

 

[Phatty McPatty]

S = Sport. Since the CVT keeps the engine RPMs as low as possible for fuel efficiency, the MO sometimes isn't as responsive as a vehicle with a traditional tranny. Shifting into S-mode will raise the RPMs in order to give you instant power (much like the effect of down-shifting a traditional tranny). It won't help your take-off, but pop it into 'S' at 40MPH and you'll feel the true power of the VQ!

Or you could simply punch the gas pedal!

Patrick

EDIT: There seems to be some disagreement on the 'D-s' purpose. Nafddur stated in a seperate thread, "You forced me to check the owner's manual and look at the controls on my car. The S mode on the auto Mos stands for second, not sport. It's purpose (according to the manual) is to improve engine braking."

 

[nafddur]

S=Second, according to the 04 Owners manual. Used instead of D (Drive) for improved engine braking. Manual then states to use L (Low) for maximum engine braking, apparently if you want more engine braking than the S (Second) position provides.

 

[dom08]

so its pretty much what you want it to be.. engine brake or a get up and go..

 

[Bunshaw]

Seems like in this case 'S' can be used for engine braking but usually when downshifting that means overall top speed is reduced so I think it's important to note here that maybe it cannot be used for "get up and go" at highway speeds.

Of course, if the 1st gen MO's only had 2 primary gear ratios and 'S' is really more of an O/D disable then ignore what I just said.

 

[Warhammer]

Either way, S increases your RPM's wich in turn will give you more HP. On the other hand, an engine wants to be at idle so it's also a good engine braking tool.

I've used S for both get up and go and engine braking. Of course, if you want to get up and go, just floor the pedal. Mine takes off just as quickly as if I were to put it over to S.

 

[9495]

My 2005 MO jumps off the line much faster in S than in D. D seems to have a bit of a delay to smooth out the acceleration right at the beginning while S gives me no delay and will snap your head back if you punch the pedal.

S also gives a faster response when accelerating at speed, like if you want to pass someone on a highway. If I need to make a quick pass (meaning I need to get around and back into my lane as fast as possible) I'll push it over to S before I start my pass and it gives me a faster response when trying to jump up in speed quickly.

It does NOT reduce your top speed, because the CVT won't let you red-line anyway, so you can be going 116mph (I think that's the limiter) and still push it over to S without any harm. For me it seems to do 2 things different than D:
1) Tries to keep RPMs about 2500 whereas D tries to keep it at 1500
2) Shorter response time changing RPMs (D tries to make it more gradual to improve the ride, S makes it quick for performance).

Oh, and of course it drops your MPG in S....

 

[g1teg]

yep, I use this for passing, and for engine braking coming down hills in cruise control.

 

[dom08]

Sweet
thanks alot guys; that helps out alot.

 

[hokey777]

I find it interesting that they would put an S which means Second. The tranny doesn't have any "gears", so how they could say that this is second is lame. :bsflag:

However, they did do the right thing, the 09 has a D for Drive, O/D OFF switch, and an L for Low. It looks like the O/D switch replaced the S: