The Skip-shift feature was introduced with the T56 in all cars. The ECM monitors throttle input, engine load, and speed. During normal driving, when leaving an intersection or otherwise starting out, the ECM blocks 2nd gear forcing you to shift from 1st into 4th. This feature enables the vehicle to get better mileage. This is done with a solenoid mounted under the shifter assembly in the tail section. The ECM triggers the solenoid. The ECM so precisely controls fuel that you can lug the crap out of the engines without problems.

To go into 2nd gear normally in a stock vehicle, the engine must be loaded more than 25%, or the throttle more than 25% applied. There are "skip shift eliminator" kits that use a coil and resistor to fake the computer into thinking the solenoid coil is active.

However since you are most likely not using the stock ECM and EFI, you will not have to worry about the feature.

Scott

The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me