Transmission gear numbers on dash

[smurfslayer]

I have a really, really hard time believing this gear shift display disappearing is any kind of “feature” and is anything but a “bug”.
If the intent was to suppress the gear display in normal driving, they’d have put an option on the multi-option dash menu.

If you’re on a low speed trail section, you should’ve already selected one of the multiple off road modes in which case you won’t need to lock anything out, or manually shift unless you want to. Many people ***** about the 10 speed transmission on the road, but in M&S, Baja or rock crawl/starbucks, the 10 speed does not misbehave.

 

[HeavyAssault]

Consider that's the same basic thing that happens on my 2015 Super Duty. It's happened on many others and other model years. Trust me on the other boards when people tap the "+" accidentally we have to talk them off the edge. It's normal. No issues, no worries.

 

[smurfslayer]

I believe you, there’s plenty of us who’ve tripped over this, regular F150’s, and it sounds like s/d trucks too. I just think it’s errant behavior.

I’ve yet to hear someone consider this a feature. Maybe there’s someone out there who would.

 

[HeavyAssault]

When you say "feature" what are you talking about?

For me the disappearing gear # tells me that the PRS is not active.

 

[smurfslayer]

the disappearing gear display; it is not a feature. For me, the disappearing gear display tells me that something is missing that should be there.

 

[HeavyAssault]

Consider this: The disappearing gear display tells you that the PRS function is disabled.

If I had some sort of document that was from Ford giving specifics about this I would gladly post it up.

 

[smurfslayer]

the 2017 F150 manual has this to say:

Progressive Range Selection

Progressive Range Selection gives you the ability to lockout gears from the automatic shifting range. This may provide you with an improved driving experience (for example, in slippery conditions or when experiencing a steep grade).

With the transmission in drive (D), press the – button to active PRS. The available and selected gears are indicated on the instrument cluster.

All available gears display with the current gear indicated. Press the – button again to lock out gears beginning with the highest gear. Only the available gears display and the transmission automatically shifts between the available gears. Press the +button to unlock gears to allow the transmission to shift to higher gears. The transmission shifts automatically within the gear range you select.

2 things of note here.

in Drive, PRS is not active until you activate it by selecting the - button.

it says nothing of hitting minus twice - I have to verify this - but I recall that’s what is needed - hit minus 1x and the display disappears. hit a 2nd time, gears reappear and available are 1-9.

Raptor supplement is very similar.

I don’t doubt someone, somewhere in the halls of Ford has an explanation for this. I contend that explanation will be nonsensical, but I’m sure one exists somewhere.

 

[HeavyAssault]

Hence the BigFoot in the avatar?? LOL I like your style @smurfslayer !!

 

[FastEddie]

Raptor gen 1 behaved exactly the same way with the dash gear display. No way they continued this in a new generation truck unless it was intentional.

 

[smurfslayer]

Raptor gen 1 behaved exactly the same way with the dash gear display. No way they continued this in a new generation truck unless it was intentional.

I’m with you 85-90%.

Honestly, I think it’s a “side effect” of some function or feature that is more important or significant and they’ve just lived with it and come up with some sort of “stock” answer for customers who complain. Think of it this way

if you had to hit the light switch 2 times for it to work, would that be ok
if you had to hit the summon siri button and the first time the phone went dark (like a brick) and the 2nd time you hit the button it actually worked, would that be ok
if you summon the guide on TiVo and the whole TV goes dark, then the 2nd time, the guide is actually presented, would that be ok? Not asking if it would get fixed, as they take a while to address complaints.

My theory is that the errant behavior; that is, the disappearing gear display was uncovered in last minute QA.
-hey, have you guys noticed that when we select PRS, it takes two key ins to get it to work and when you do, the gear indicator goes away?

pointy haired boss: “Job 1 is in 4 days, you’re just noticing this now? Document it as a feature and expected behavior.”

maybe not exactly like that, but something along those lines.

Now I’m starting to want to really know.