How to better first gear performance

[Rey]

Most cars these days start in second gear. This includes Hyundai and Mercedes. You can engage first gear manually if you wish. First gear is a very low ratio gear that tops out quite early.
Some owners are now considering a rear diff. change to lower the gear ratio. In my opinion, this will make first gear almost useless.
My opinion again, the Hyundai 8 speed transmission has great gearing. Low is very low for good performance. A lower first gear might be a "wash" because of decreased traction. High gear performance is designed for fuel economy, which is best at 1800-2000 rpm - that works out to 75-80mph.
I think it is cheaper and better to concentrate on reducing low gear torque management. Virtually all modern transmissions reduce torque in lower gears. This is simply done by reducing the opening speed of the throttle body. Your throttle body is electrically controlled and it is a simple matter for manufacturers to program a delay.
Perhaps the best and maybe the only way to work around the manufacturer's throttle body program is through a Sprint Booster.
Bear in mind that the thesis of torque management is for increased transmission life. A Sprint Booster per se will not reduce transmission life, BUT continuous heavy usage will no doubt have an long-term adverse effect.

 

[carguy75]

Good points. I considered the rear diff lower gear ratio change to try work around the torque management software that may exist. However, I have never tried torque-braking the engine since the sluggish low-end performance could be from the torque convertor stall speed. I installed a Sprint Booster, however the power from a dead stop is still a bit sluggish until about 2k rpm. Torque-braking the engine may help with gaining better off-the-line performance from a stand-still by applying the engine torque closer to when when the torque convertor lock-up. However, I do not want to stress the transmission by torque-braking the engine unless I am doing it for some timeslips every so often at the drag strip, but not on the street.

 

[Suburbazine]

The Genesis only commands a 2nd gear start in Snow mode?

Put a diagnostic tool on it in any of the normal modes (eco, normal, sport) and it starts in 1st gear.

 

[Rspected]

Idk what you're on about in the first sentence but I have a loud exhaust on mine and can literally hear it run through all 8 gears starting at 1 from a red. 2012 R spec sedan. And I have a sprint booster on it set on red (aggressive) #6. Might even go up to 9 soon but not trying to destroy my trans. This setting seems to be the best for getting immediate throttle response and torque. I just made a video I posted in the performance mods section that shows the install procedure for the BTR ECU/TCU tune. Would highly recommend that for increasing HP, torque and trans response and capabilities. I had all my mods done before I got the tune and I experienced a noticeable increase in overall performance and there was definitely an increase in torque throughout the powerband. Also get a good set of tires on some wider wheels (stocks spin cause they're only 8" and cant get any grip not to mention the shit conti tires.) And you'll be good to go.

 

[R Spect 12]

Most cars these days start in second gear. This includes Hyundai and Mercedes. You can engage first gear manually if you wish. First gear is a very low ratio gear that tops out quite early.
Some owners are now considering a rear diff. change to lower the gear ratio. In my opinion, this will make first gear almost useless.
My opinion again, the Hyundai 8 speed transmission has great gearing. Low is very low for good performance. A lower first gear might be a "wash" because of decreased traction. High gear performance is designed for fuel economy, which is best at 1800-2000 rpm - that works out to 75-80mph.
I think it is cheaper and better to concentrate on reducing low gear torque management. Virtually all modern transmissions reduce torque in lower gears. This is simply done by reducing the opening speed of the throttle body. Your throttle body is electrically controlled and it is a simple matter for manufacturers to program a delay.
Perhaps the best and maybe the only way to work around the manufacturer's throttle body program is through a Sprint Booster.
Bear in mind that the thesis of torque management is for increased transmission life. A Sprint Booster per se will not reduce transmission life, BUT continuous heavy usage will no doubt have an long-term adverse effect.

You are so right. I melted my transmission with a sprintbooster after 7 days use. Trying to sell it now..

 

[Trip3’s]

You are so right. I melted my transmission with a sprintbooster after 7 days use. Trying to sell it now..

What do you mean you “melted” your transmission? What symptoms did you notice? How hard did you drive it?

 

[TinsleyC]

Most cars these days start in second gear. This includes Hyundai and Mercedes.

I tested my 2019 G80 3.8 and it definitely starts in 1st gear.

What I did was manually put the car in 1st and noted the RPM at 20 miles per hour. Then I did the same in 2nd gear.

At 20 MPH in 1st I was running 3500 RPM, and in 2nd I was at 2250 RPM - approximately. Then I put it into automatic mode and started out - it was clearly in 1st gear. I did it a couple of times to make sure.

So we can scratch the '17-'19 G80's from the list.

 

[BlancaGenny]

I've driven all Genesis cars hold the G90. I can tell everyone that these cars do not start in 2nd gear. Worked at Hyundai for awhile and became quite close with service managers/techs. Snow mode might be different. I can't confirm whether it starts in 2nd or just cuts power tremendously for optimal traction.

 

[TinsleyC]

But I did learn something, I can manually put it in 2nd to start off, and it'll do it. I think that's basically what the snow button does.

 

[edizzle89]

If the ecm is slowing the throttle plate movement then a sprint booster wont fix that, a sprint booster just adjusts the ramp rate of the throttle so that it will open more quickly or with less pedal movement. but if the ecm tells the throttle to move slower in 1st gear then it wont make any difference going WOT with a sprint booster vs. WOT without a sprint booster, it will still slow throttle movement regardless of pedal input.

In the Chevy world the torque management can only be defeated/turned off with a tune. probably the same case for our cars.

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[AgentSmith007]

But I did learn something, I can manually put it in 2nd to start off, and it'll do it. I think that's basically what the snow button does.

That's exactly what I do when I have to drive in snow. At the red traffic light, while stopped, I put transmission into manual mode, shift to 2nd gear and when I get green light I gently push the pedal and Genesis starts driving in the 2nd gear.

In the auto mode it starts in 1st gear and if I am not gentle with the pedal I get a lot of that orange ESC warning blinking light in the cluster.

 

[TinsleyC]

If you press and hold the Drive Mode button, it goes into Snow Mode. I thought it made the car start in 2nd gear, but some (in other threads) say it does not.

From 2019 G80 manual -

 

[AgentSmith007]

If you press and hold the Drive Mode button, it goes into Snow Mode.

My Genesis is 2011 4.6 and I don't have those modes that G90 has. I only have automatic, manual, and SprintBooster modes.

 

[R Spect 12]

What do you mean you “melted” your transmission? What symptoms did you notice? How hard did you drive it?

Melted. More accurately...Grenaded. I never took it to the track or put sticky tires on it either. I just made a few pulls from a stop with the sprint booster turned up in the red mode on a regular street along with a couple more pulls rolling.. that transmission is it's not intended for ultra quick throttle response combined with 4200 + pound car and 429 horsepower. Especially the 2012 version.. which was the first year Hyundai made that transmission. When I say melted or grenaded I mean clunk, bam, shatter, boom gone, done, history. I had to replace the entire transmission.. all because I thought a $300 part would turn my peppy luxury sedan into a full on sports car LOL.

 

[TinsleyC]

Daayum! That's crazy...

 

[Trip3’s]

Melted. More accurately...Grenaded. I never took it to the track or put sticky tires on it either. I just made a few pulls from a stop with the sprint booster turned up in the red mode on a regular street along with a couple more pulls rolling.. that transmission is it's not intended for ultra quick throttle response combined with 4200 + pound car and 429 horsepower. Especially the 2012 version.. which was the first year Hyundai made that transmission. When I say melted or grenaded I mean clunk, bam, shatter, boom gone, done, history. I had to replace the entire transmission.. all because I thought a $300 part would turn my peppy luxury sedan into a full on sports car LOL.

Wow! I have a 2013 r spec and have used the Sprint Boost for a couple of months and no problems. This is the first time I have heard of a trans blowng up from a SB. How much did it cost to replace the trans?

 

[R Spect 12]

Wow! I have a 2013 r spec and have used the Sprint Boost for a couple of months and no problems. This is the first time I have heard of a trans blowng up from a SB. How much did it cost to replace the trans?

I got lucky and found a wrecked low mileage R Spec at a salvage yard close to my home.. got a good deal too. Install wasn't bad either, cause I had my local guy do it. Normally at any dealership you're looking at 4 to $5,000 installed and that is a refurbished transmission. I wound up spending just $1600. The transmission I installed has less miles on it than my car does and is in excellent condition. I still have the sprint booster.. it serves as a $300 paperweight.

 

[edizzle89]

Wow! I have a 2013 r spec and have used the Sprint Boost for a couple of months and no problems. This is the first time I have heard of a trans blowng up from a SB. How much did it cost to replace the trans?

A sprint booster does not add any HP, it only increases the ramp rate of the throttle movement vs. pedal movement. And without a tune the torque management will still prevent too much power down in 1st gear regardless of a SB or not.

Like mentioned in a previous post WOT is no different between a SB and no SB, just happens slightly quicker with SB but if you mash the throttle from a stop even without a SB you're talking milliseconds of difference to get to WOT, and will probably already be at WOT before the torque converter even hits stall speed. R Spec 12's trans probably already had existing issues and pushing it hard finally did it in, the 2012 cars are known for trans issues.

 

[R Spect 12]

T

A sprint booster does not add any HP, it only increases the ramp rate of the throttle movement vs. pedal movement. And without a tune the torque management will still prevent too much power down in 1st gear regardless of a SB or not.

Like mentioned in a previous post WOT is no different between a SB and no SB, just happens slightly quicker with SB but if you mash the throttle from a stop even without a SB you're talking milliseconds of difference to get to WOT, and will probably already be at WOT before the torque converter even hits stall speed. R Spec 12's trans probably already had existing issues and pushing it hard finally did it in, the 2012 cars are known for trans issues.

The 12 R Spec trannys were definitely suspect yes. It probably already had issues yes. However...you said :

" WOT is no different between a SB and no SB, just happens slightly quicker with SB but if you mash the throttle from a stop even without a SB you're talking milliseconds of difference to get to WOT"

The amount of torque unleashed when the SB is on level 9 race mode is substantial..it gets the power right to the tranny...fasssssst. When you "mash" (lol) the pedal without the booster, the throttle body still opens slowly.. albeit to WOT.. it lags. It's not even close to the same effect. Sorry... buy a SB install it and feel the diff. Ill sell you mine ! LOLOL

 

[edizzle89]

T




The 12 R Spec trannys were definitely suspect yes. It probably already had issues yes. However...you said :

" WOT is no different between a SB and no SB, just happens slightly quicker with SB but if you mash the throttle from a stop even without a SB you're talking milliseconds of difference to get to WOT"

The amount of torque unleashed when the SB is on level 9 race mode is substantial..it gets the power right to the tranny...fasssssst. When you "mash" (lol) the pedal without the booster, the throttle body still opens slowly.. albeit to WOT.. it lags. It's not even close to the same effect. Sorry... buy a SB install it and feel the diff. Ill sell you mine ! LOLOL

I have a sprint booster in my 02 4.6, i've felt the difference. At the end of the day the ECM will control how fast and how far the throttle will move (unless you have a tune), so with the torque management still active in 1st no amount of assistance from a SB will let the throttle move faster/further than the ECM tells it to.