Disable shift indicator

JimmyFrack · Apr 17, 2012

I keep forgetting to post this question and I've searched around but there doesn't seem to be an answer. Is there a way to completely disable the shift indicator along with the gear indicator. Its petty but I really don't want to stare at it

chaoscreature · Jan 8, 2013

Bump for this, I am curious as well. Not important, but annoying to see the car telling me to shift into 6th at 40mph while driving up a hill...

compu_85 · Jan 8, 2013

This info comes right from the trans computer.

-J

pan a l'huile · Jan 9, 2013

compu_85, I think not.

I think the info is only calculated from engine speed and actual speed.
Try this:
While cruising, change from your gear to neutral, release clutch pedal, then use fuel pedal to find whatever constant RPM value you'd choose. You'll see the shift indicator showing the gear you'd supposed to be at that speed with that RPM.

Well maybe the TCU *IS* that one doing the math though.... I don't know.

Pan

andyg75 · Jan 9, 2013

it would be nice if it told you what gear you were currently in but never told you what gear it thought you should be in...

compu_85 · Jan 9, 2013

Oh I thought you were talking abuot a DSG.

Rauss · Jan 9, 2013

Subscribed

csandGOLF · Jan 9, 2013

Yeah...

I hate shift indicators in manual cars. If I needed a shift indicator, I would buy an automatic. I've had them in 3 cars I've owned or driven regularly and they're always wrong! I don't like driving around at 1000 RPM...

I'm doing my best to pretend that this one isn't there. At least it's not like my old 1995 Saab 900 Turbo where a yellow "shift up" light came on all the time on the dashboard- now that was annoying!

It would be nice to just have it display the gear you're in and nothing more, but I'd rather not have it at all.

JSWTDI09 · Jan 9, 2013

I wonder if it is possible to turn off this shift indicator with VCDS. My '09 does not have this "feature" so I can't test this myself. My guess would be that it might be an option in instrument panel coding. However, it may not (yet?) be documented by Ross-Tech.

Have Fun!

Don

Shaft · Jan 9, 2013

andyg75 said:
it would be nice if it told you what gear you were currently in but never told you what gear it thought you should be in...

umm it does tell you what gear you are currently in

csandGOLF · Jan 9, 2013

Shaft said:
umm it does tell you what gear you are currently in

But only when it agrees with the gear you are in at the time; otherwise it recommends a different gear.

Jedadiah · Jan 9, 2013

My 2010 doesn't have a shift indicator,which is fine by me. I hated the one on my old S-10.

Dieselducky · Jan 9, 2013

Wow can't believe they put these shift lights in....reminds me of the days when i use to drive a Pontiac Sunbird...pretty much just move the car forward and it wants you to shift LOL.

Shaft · Jan 10, 2013

csandGOLF said:
But only when it agrees with the gear you are in at the time; otherwise it recommends a different gear.

Yea I hear you. Recommends the gear for efficiency purposes or regen. You can make your own judgement, however personally I like it there. For those of us that don't have a boost gauge or EGT gauge to tell when regen's are active, my shift indicator tells me otherwise.

To each their own

andyg75 · Jan 10, 2013

Shaft said:
Yea I hear you. Recommends the gear for efficiency purposes or regen. You can make your own judgement, however personally I like it there. For those of us that don't have a boost gauge or EGT gauge to tell when regen's are active, my shift indicator tells me otherwise.

To each their own

Sure! Would be nice to know if it can be manually defeated though.

Rauss · Jan 10, 2013

My car always telling me to be in efficiency, even if it needs a regen. I force the regen when I'm suppose to be in 6 but I drive in 5 or etc...

Shaft said:
Yea I hear you. Recommends the gear for efficiency purposes or regen. You can make your own judgement, however personally I like it there. For those of us that don't have a boost gauge or EGT gauge to tell when regen's are active, my shift indicator tells me otherwise.
To each their own

tominmaggie · Jan 10, 2013

I don't like it either. I drive a 3-pedal model because I prefer to drive my car instead of letting it drive me. I've been meaning to put a piece of black vinyl tape to just block it from my view. Unless there's an easy way to defeat it electronically...Never mind, time for tape!

Softrockrenegade · Jan 10, 2013

Is the indicator in your cars in the mfd or are they separate lights ? I do t even pay attention to it on my passat (top of mfd)

BarnyardsTDI · Jan 10, 2013

A piece of black electrical tape over the indicator

Shaft · Jan 10, 2013

lol, it bothers you that much to actually put a piece of tape? LMAO

pkhoury · Dec 3, 2018

csandGOLF said:
Yeah...

I hate shift indicators in manual cars. If I needed a shift indicator, I would buy an automatic. I've had them in 3 cars I've owned or driven regularly and they're always wrong! I don't like driving around at 1000 RPM...

I'm doing my best to pretend that this one isn't there. At least it's not like my old 1995 Saab 900 Turbo where a yellow "shift up" light came on all the time on the dashboard- now that was annoying!

YES!!! THIS!!! I had a '97 900 Turbo and I was on the verge of disassembling the dash and removing that particular bulb. The shift up indicator came on in the Saab at worse times than in my TDI.

piotrsko · Dec 4, 2018

I just want to know what gear its in. I drive commercial looong throw handshakers and find myself constantly going from 2nd to 5 when I drive the Golf.

Curious Chris · Dec 9, 2018

I am having fun trying to figure out the algorithm it uses. It appears that throttle position is a key. If you are mashing it to the floor it just figures ok, he wants to go fast. But if you let off to some magic throttle position it says upshift. I ignore it most of the time and shift at 2000 rpm if I am going to be going faster.

Disable shift indicator

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Gadget Guy

Well-known member

Active member

Gadget Guy

Veteran Member

Well-known member

Top Post Dawg

Veteran Member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Active member

Veteran Member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

That guy with the goats

Veteran Member

Top Post Dawg