Corvette C7 Z06

If you own a newer Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro or some other V8 powered GM models equipped with a manual transmission then you have probably noticed that annoying skip shift “feature” (the official name is Computer Aided Gear Selection a.k.a. CAGS). For those unfamiliar with the feature, it causes the car to force you to shift from first gear all the way to fourth gear by locking you out of second and third gear. By having drivers skip gears when the engine isn’t pushed, it helps the vehicle get better fuel economy ratings by the EPA.

But, hey you bought a car with a big V8 and you want to go through all the gears like God intended. So, just how do you deactivate the skip shift “feature”? Well, for as little as $7 you can do a hack that will make an environmentalist near you cringe.

The CAGS “feature” can be found in Corvettes from model year 1993 and Camaros from model year 1997. The earlier cars featured the six-speed manual transmission and the new seven-speed found in the C7 Corvette also has the system. Disabling CAGS is a simple plug and play upgrade which can be done in less than an hour.

For folks with 6-speed transmissions there is a hack that can cost just $7. It involves some basic fabrication and soldering and if you are willing to take your time it is quite effective.

There are also many kits that can accomplish disabling the system. These tend to range in price from $15-$30 and usually involve inserting a simple wire to the wiring harness that connects to the transmission.

To install most kits (or the $7 hack) requires that you raise the car and get under it. From there you will need to find the wires that connect to the transmission (they are at the top of the tranny near some heat shield). Before working in this you’ll want to let the car cool down as the exhaust can be very hot.

We found quite a few possibilities for kits to bypass the system. One thing to make sure of is that any kit you purchase is designed for your car. The C7 kits are not quite the same as those made for the previous generations.

If you decide to go the kit route just how do you find the right one? A Google search will provide plenty of options, but it is difficult to tell if a particular solution is any better than another.

This is where car clubs come in very handy. Even if you aren’t a member of your local Corvette or Camaro club, a quick call or email to them can be helpful. Just let them know what you are looking for and ask if they know of anyone in the club that uses a CAGS override. Normally they will be happy to put you in contact with someone to help and that person will let you know what they used and how they like it. This can save you many hours of frustration, plus you can make a friend in the process.

Overriding the CAGS system is a simple process, but you do need to do your homework to make sure you find the kit or hack that is right for you. If you have experience disabling CAGS on your car we would love to hear what method you used to override it and how you like it.