ESS system

[Boza]

Hey guys just wondering what the ESS systems is on au's never heard of it before so thought i'd find out from an au guru

[frd906]

ESS Auto i think you mean, was only on the t series cars,

BTR Electronic 4 Speed with Adaptive Shift Strategy and ESS sequential shift buttons on steering wheel. Strengthened internals with revised valving.

[Jack91]

Its like paddle shift for the auto's. Theres a uitton on eithe side of the steering wheel to change up or down gears. Pretty sure any car that had it had to sacrifice radio controls or cruise control (not enough contacts on the clock spring for everything). People have tried adapting it to non ESS AU's but Im not aware of any that have accomplished it, probably because all T-series parts are hard to find and expensive, plus the fact that it isnt just the buttons, I think the ESS transmissions got a different valve body.

[adrian k]

Yep, thats correct, its Electronic Sport Shift and was only fitted to the T series. The Momo wheels were custom built with 2 buttons of different sizes on each side of the wheel, where the little flat pad inserts can be found on std Momos. The radio controls is sacrificed for this. I think it could work on any gear box, but the T series did receive different valving etc, but this was to do with feel and performance not the ESS (as far as i know). Its takes a bit of getting used to at first, but once mastered its very good, aside from not having to take your hands off the wheel to change gears, especially handy on the track, the gear changes are fast and punchy. there are one or two guys trying to replicate the ESS system but not sure on their progress.

[Boza]

thanks for the info guys

[Ride]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

Its like paddle shift for the auto's. Theres a uitton on eithe side of the steering wheel to change up or down gears. Pretty sure any car that had it had to sacrifice radio controls or cruise control (not enough contacts on the clock spring for everything). People have tried adapting it to non ESS AU's but Im not aware of any that have accomplished it, probably because all T-series parts are hard to find and expensive, plus the fact that it isnt just the buttons, I think the ESS transmissions got a different valve body.

Actually I got it working a couple months ago in my AU II Fairmont Ghia, if I'm not mistaken I have the only non T Series with ESS fully functioning.

[adrian k]

Originally Posted by Ride

Actually I got it working a couple months ago in my AU II Fairmont Ghia, if I'm not mistaken I have the only non T Series with ESS fully functioning.

Was it difficult to get working, would love to add it to my XR8

[KR1STO]

Originally Posted by Ride

Actually I got it working a couple months ago in my AU II Fairmont Ghia, if I'm not mistaken I have the only non T Series with ESS fully functioning.

not for long!!!! haha

[fourl6]

Originally Posted by Ride

Actually I got it working a couple months ago in my AU II Fairmont Ghia, if I'm not mistaken I have the only non T Series with ESS fully functioning.

5.6L 342ci T3 V8, Meteorite, 4/4 Brembos, T3 Pursuit rims, Koni adjustables

although you claim "non T Series" your getting pretty damb close

[Ride]

Originally Posted by adrian k

Was it difficult to get working, would love to add it to my XR8

It was a bit of a pain in the ****, the hardest bit for me was the wiring since I already had all the right hardware (T3 auto gearbox, T3 ECU, T3 ESS Momo steering wheel).

Originally Posted by KR1STO

not for long!!!! haha

Might not be the only for too much longer, but was the first

Originally Posted by fourl6

although you claim "non T Series" your getting pretty damb close

Yeah there's a few bits that I have of which I've been quite lucky to source, but the idea was never to make a replica. I still consider my AU to be the Ghia that I originally bought just with a few mechanical enhancements. To be picky, the Brembos that I have were brand new to suit a FG and the Koni on-car adjustables are the Yellows which were never fitted to the T series, only the Red's were.

I've got a few more mods in the coming months to further differentiate mine and set it apart.

[falconnut]

sorry for the huge necro but was a hack ever found for this?

[Ride]

Originally Posted by falconnut

sorry for the huge necro but was a hack ever found for this?

You'll have to be more specific by 'hack'. I proved it could be done, you just need the right ECU programming, wiring and if you're picky, change a solenoid in the gearbox (from memory a certain gear sequence doesn't hold either when upshifting or downshifting)

[falconnut]

Originally Posted by Ride

You'll have to be more specific by 'hack'. I proved it could be done, you just need the right ECU programming, wiring and if you're picky, change a solenoid in the gearbox (from memory a certain gear sequence doesn't hold either when upshifting or downshifting)

sweet id love to know how to do that exactly, going to flash and mod my ecu and loom anyway for a turbo build thanks for the reply.