Hi All!

Merry Christmas, I hope everyone reading this has enjoyed time with family and friends.

As a family, we have been away over the Christmas period and travelled home today, not far, only around 100 miles. We hit quite a bit of traffic along the way which meant our speed was fluctuating quite a bit and we spent a lot of time between 20 - 40 MPH. More than ever, this seemed to be a real problem for the car (and gearbox) and the painfully dreadful ‘suicide pause’ has driven me mad!

My question is, can this be improved at all? Whether that be through a service, software or reset? Are there any factors that can help? In some situations that pause can be frightening. I understand that changing down gears manually or having the car in Sport can help but is there anything more permanent?

Thanks as always!

Excuse my ignorance, but was is "suicide pause"?
It sounds scary - but I have never heard of it..

Suicide Pause was how it was described to me, and from my experience with it the name suited the feeling so I have continued to call it this.

This was the reply I initially had when I asked about the issue……

“The gearbox tries to stay in a high gear (presumably an emissions thing) which means it can often be at too high a gear when slowing down and then asking for a bit of throttle. Back in the day it was called the suicide pause because it happens at roundabouts and the like when you decide to go for a gap and nothing happens until the gearbox decides what to do with itself.

I usually use the paddles and manually change down on approach to a roundabout where I think I'm going to need some throttle response.”

However, after my trip yesterday and after experiencing the issue a lot more than just at roundabouts, I want to explore possible remedies if they exist.

I hope that helps

That's the only thing I will not miss on my recently sold Sport. Roundabouts were a nightmare
In the middle of no mans land with someone bearing down on you, full throttle then after what seems like an age, it decides to take off like a rocket, then on the brakes otherwise your into the car in front of you.
I did hear of a software tune but did not pursue it. Range Rover Sport (gone): Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe: 992 Porsche Carrera 4S: Range Rover Fifty P400e

I try not to floor the accelerator but only go say 2/3 then lift off and then floor the accelerator - works perfectly. Sounds a bit slow when you read the action but when doing it, it almost sounds logical.

I have have my car for 15 years and covered 250,000km - the pregnant pause has always been there -some say it is a fault but it is not - it is poor ECU programming of the gearbox from new with the result that when the accelerator is floored the ECU thinks it has the power to carry the gear which is not the case. ECU realizes and then changes down but can cause a pause - by only putting 2/3 down first, the ECU realizes it does not have the power and changes down - then full power can be applied. This process can speed up driveway to being almost instantaneous - rather than a second or two of nothing. 07MY RRS TDV6
Arctic Frost
Aspen Interior

I just use the paddles and change down as I approach the roundabout. It's annoying to have to do this but it does solve the issue for me.

I think remaps deal with the problem by simply plumping up the torque curve so that there's enough grunt available lower down so there is less need for the box to change down. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Mine picks up instantly in all situations .I suggest you check/change the gearbox oil/filter Always listen to old people or when they die you will live on in ignorance.
The avatar is a picture of the man with a big cock.
Learned to 4x4 on 100 mile beach and Frazer Island QLD
Dont spend money on old cars you will never get it back

I just put the gearbox into Sport mode. That cures it for back to back roundabouts and such. I did a gearbox flush last year and it made little difference. 2018 Telsa MS
2012 Range Rover Sport HSE+
1990 Porsche 944
1985 LR 90 Soft top V8