Here is a six step program for you.
- Realize that more throttle means the shift indicator light will come on later (with the engine at a higher RPM).
- Be very gentle with the throttle so the shift indicator light will come on sooner (with the engine at a lower RPM).
- Realize that the guy that designed the shift indicator light assumed that you would mash down on the accelerator just like you've been doing until now.
- Learn to anticipate the engine shift light. The engine shift light means - "Hey stupid, aint you ever going to shift this thing up?" It does not mean, "Ok, now it's finally time to shift up."
- Turn the radio off so you can hear what the engine is doing. If you shift too soon (at too low an RPM) and then accelerate too hard, the engine will knock and shudder. If you hear any of that starting to happen, down shift; gently accelerate to a little higher RPM; then shift up and try again.
- Install a tach so you can see what RPM you're at instead of guessing based on MPH.
- Bonus Step. Pay attention to even the slightest up or down hill slope of the road. When the road slopes down hill, there is less load on the engine and you can shift even sooner; use even less throttle. When the road slopes up hill, you'll need to shift later and it will take at least the tiniest bit more throttle to accelerate.