CAGS stands for "Computer Aided Gear Selection". This is an annoying little system that forces you to shift from 1st to 4th gear. Under certain circumstances, the Vette will not allow you to shift from 1st to 2nd, but will force this somewhat unnatural shift pattern. This is actually a clever way to make the Vette's fuel economy seem better than it actually is, when the Vette is put through standard EPA testing.
The 1st to 4th shift will be active whenever all of the following are true:
In reality, this does not change the fuel economy at all, and if you're smart you'll probably choose to bypass it. It proves to be an annoyance that lugs the engine down to 700 RPM's at times, with resulting poor performance. You're better off without it. But don't complain -- if GM had not installed it, you'd be paying a HUGE gas guzzler tax ontop of all the other taxes you already pay. Thanks GM !
Click on one of the two pics at right to get a nice pre-made bypass kit, consisting of a "bypass harness", and a "plug". The bypass harness will attach to the C6 wiring harness. The plug will clip onto the transmission. Costs are about $20 at either store. Check the shipping charges also.
First, jack the car up safely. If you're not familiar with how to jack up the C6, read the Jack page first. BE CAREFUL!!! If the 3600-pound Vette falls on top of you, it'll be a closed casket service for sure. If you don't feel you can very very securely raise the car, don't do this -- take the bypass kit to your mechanic who can do it on a lift instead.
Now you'll have to slide under the car about 4 feet from the rear of the car, until your mid-thighs are about touching the end of the driver's side tail pipes.
All the action here is on the DRIVER's side of center, so you will want to slide in from the rear, on the DRIVER's side. You won't be able to reach what you need if you approach from the passenger side.
Use a flashlight, and look up until you see this big silver thing with the "DEXRON III" sticker on it -- you can't miss it. This is the transmission.
On the left (driver's side) of the transmission, you'll look for a wiring harness covered in a black plastic loom. At the end of that harness you'll find a blue/white plastic locking clip. This is what you'll unplug to do the "CAGS bypass".
This is just a white plastic clip. To disconnect this, you'll have to use two hands. With one hand, pull the white clip outward, while with the other hand you pull on the blue piece to unplug it from the transmission.
This picture shows the wiring harness now unclipped from the transmission. I have just pulled the blue connector (*) from the copper colored connector (*) on the transmission.
The + marks a nice convenient place where you can run a zip tie to secure your wiring later, so that it does not contact the exhaust and melt.
Your CAGS bypass kit should contain a new blue plastic plug. Take this and plug it into the copper-colored connector on the transmission.
Your CAGS bypass kit will also contain a longer black "bypass harness". Plug this into the Corvette's wiring harness, which you left dangling previously. Just plug it in until it clicks into place and is nice and tight.
Now just wrap one or two zip ties around your CAGS wiring harness, and secure the whole mess to the little tab on the transmission, so that your wiring will not stray over and touch the hot exhuast pipe only a few inches away.
Now go test it out, and reward yourself with a nice cold beverage.