I noticed when using command shift she always pulls away from a standstill in 2nd gear, it does this effortlessly but I just wondered why? Current: MY11 SD4 HSE / Sterling Quartz 2010 caravan

Previous: MY11 TD4 GS / Bailey Bordeaux 2002 caravan

I think it may have to do with 1st gear being a low ratio to compensate for not having a selectable low range, I suspect it’s normally only available when using special programmes.

correct about the 1st gear being low ratio. but you dont need special TR programs to select 1st gear

in command shift just tap it into 1st gear then tap up/down the gears as required

(how many times can i say 1st gear in 3 lines of text )

Franklinp99 wrote:

I noticed when using command shift she always pulls away from a standstill in 2nd gear, it does this effortlessly but I just wondered why?

When you are on automatic mode, Drive or Sport, when the car comes to a stop, it will always select 1st gear.
To switch it to manual mode, as all know, you need to enter Sport and then to move the stick towards (+) OR (-).
If instead of pushing the stick towards (+), you pull it towards (-), it will remain and start in 1st gear.
This on first selection of manual mode.
Subsequently, when on manual mode, the car will not go to 1st gear when it changes automatically down through gears (if you don't do it), when you came to a stop.
It will stay in 2nd gear as the lowest gear. Unless, of course, you will pull it towards (-) when stationary.

Another interesting thing is this:
When you are on manual mode, if you are insisting on not changing the gear, when the engine RPM will become to high, the car will still change up, near the red zone, to protect the the gearbox and the engine.
BUT
When you start to roll, on manual mode, if you press (+) several times in a quick succession, the car will change automatically up, at RPMs like the ones in automatic mode, as soon as the RPM allows.
Example: Manual mode, 1st gear, car stationary. Start to roll and quickly press (+) 3 times. The car will change as soon as possible, like in automatic mode, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 and will stay in 4th.

Sorry, I became a little off-topic, considering the OP observation/question...

We always learn from you Alex.

Thank you for the explanation Alex. I had noticed when using Command Shift it selects second gear. I therefore assumed it also selected second as a preference in auto (In all this time I have not counted or monitored the auto changes to establish which gear, I just drive it )

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Bob,

Of course if you used Alex's instrument cluster software flash you’d always know what gear you’re in

A word of warning and a sort of "don't try this at home" story. Back in the 90's when I had company cars I had a Citroen XM turbo automatic. Very nice car etc. I was cruising down the motorway one quiet night on a long downward slope and for some reason I decided to knock it into neutral to see if it would gain speed etc. When the experiment was over I put it into Drive at about 70mph and all hell broke loose. The revs went into the red zone and rapid series of gear changes followed. It had obviously gone into 1st then rapidly into 2nd, then 3rd etc as it worked it's way up the box. It then settled down but a few weeks later it started to have problems shifting between gears. I took it into the dealers who eventually had the box out and sent it a specialist but it was never the same again. This might be different on newer autos but I won't be repeating that experiment any time soon. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

The FL2 autobox calculates which gear is best to select when putting in drive from neutral.
I've tested this a couple of times, like you said, putting it into neutral during cruising at different speeds and then back into drive.
It correctly selected the optimum gear for that speed and the RPM returned properly to a decent value after a smooth engagement.

Alex,

That was really very courageous of you to test the gearbox like this

Franklinp99 wrote:

I noticed when using command shift she always pulls away from a standstill in 2nd gear, it does this effortlessly but I just wondered why?

"As a matter of interest, when I upgraded from an SE to a SD4, I found the throttle and 1st/2nd gear changes so sensitive and uncomfortable in slow moving heavy traffic; the auto constantly going up and down at minor speed differences with the wretched hesitation. So to overcome that I always drive in manual command shift so that the gears don't fall below 2nd which makes for much smoother cruising at 5-10mph. Thereafter I only have to change up manually, it still changes down automatically. Once I leave an urban area or reach 25ish then I change back to full auto."

Thanks for that tip - will try that out.  2013 SD4 SE (hers)
2013 SD4 HSE (mine)
Ex: 2008 D3 V8 HSE
EX: 2000 D2 TD5

Simon J wrote:

Bob,

Of course if you used Alex's instrument cluster software flash you’d always know what gear you’re in

I'd love to have this too, but like you, don't have tools or nerve to try it.

Anyone out there could help? Andy
Freelander2 HSE (59 Plate, MY10 spec)

Paul4751 wrote:

Franklinp99 wrote:

I noticed when using command shift she always pulls away from a standstill in 2nd gear, it does this effortlessly but I just wondered why?

As a matter of interest, when I upgraded from an SE to a SD4, I found the throttle and 1st/2nd gear changes so sensitive and uncomfortable in slow moving heavy traffic; the auto constantly going up and down at minor speed differences with the wretched hesitation. So to overcome that I always drive in manual command shift so that the gears don't fall below 2nd which makes for much smoother cruising at 5-10mph. Thereafter I only have to change up manually, it still changes down automatically. Once I leave an urban area or reach 25ish then I change back to full auto.