Method of displaying a shift lever position for electronically-controlled automatic transmission

A shift control system for manually shifting an electronically-controlled automatic transmission, said system comprising:

• a manually positionable shift lever;
• a body controller;
• a transmission controller for receiving an upshift a downshift signal from said shift lever;
• a first Hall effect sensor for generating an upshift signal applied to said transmission controller when said shift lever is moved into an upshift position;
• a second Hall effect sensor for generating an upshift signal applied to said transmission controller when said shift lever is moved into a downshift position;
• said controller operating to implement an upshift or a downshift of said automatic transmission depending on which of said upshift and downshift signals is received;
• and
• wherein said transmission controller operates to send a gear position indicator message to said body controller, said gear position indicator message operating to indicate whether said transmission is in an automatic mode or in a manual mode of operation;
• and
• wherein said body controller operates to recognize that manual shift capacity is available if said gear position indicator message is received within a predetermined time.