Transmission Update!

[df4801]

The tranny is one of the best features in this truck. Can't believe how it almost always picks the right gear and is seamless. I almost didn't buy because of the "reported hard shifts" but I have no idea what they were talking about. Build date March.

 

[kandewinn]

The tranny is one of the best features in this truck. Can't believe how it almost always picks the right gear and is seamless. I almost didn't buy because of the "reported hard shifts" but I have no idea what they were talking about. Build date March.

Does not sound like you've driven it far or long at various accelerations in Sport Mode. They definitely shift harder under light acceleration in Sport. Seems to be smoother under harder acceleration in Sport.

 

[Miker397]

I like sport mode shifts, it's supposed to be sporty, but I see how some think it's too hard if shifts. I'm wayyyy more annoyed with the frequent but not always ridiculous gear holding sport mode does. Accelerate hard to 45mph speed limit and then it just holds 3rd at 5000 rpm for 10 seconds. Absolutely too long, the thing drops gears and shifts so well, stop the annoying gear holding. Baja mode is way worse than sport on this, but at lease Baja is "extreme" mode so sure, that's understandable.

 

[df4801]

Does not sound like you've driven it far or long at various accelerations in Sport Mode. They definitely shift harder under light acceleration in Sport. Seems to be smoother under harder acceleration in Sport.

I've driven it in both modes. I like the shifts in sport mode when I want to be sporty and I like the smooth normal shifts when I don't.

It sounds like you want to keep it in sport mode even when just putting around but then don't like the sport shifting. Try shifting back to normal mode when driving normal.

 

[kandewinn]

I've driven it in both modes. I like the shifts in sport mode when I want to be sporty and I like the smooth normal shifts when I don't.

It sounds like you want to keep it in sport mode even when just putting around but then don't like the sport shifting. Try shifting back to normal mode when driving normal.

Nope, I too enjoy normal mode on most days. Only when i feel "frisky" do I put it in Sport mode. Too old to keep it in Sport every day. But I did run it in Sport for a few days to see if the trans "Learned" my driving style in sport mode. Enjoy!!!!!

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------

I like sport mode shifts, it's supposed to be sporty, but I see how some think it's too hard if shifts. I'm wayyyy more annoyed with the frequent but not always ridiculous gear holding sport mode does. Accelerate hard to 45mph speed limit and then it just holds 3rd at 5000 rpm for 10 seconds. Absolutely too long, the thing drops gears and shifts so well, stop the annoying gear holding. Baja mode is way worse than sport on this, but at lease Baja is "extreme" mode so sure, that's understandable.

Next time it holds a gear on you, just hit the mode switch into Normal and then back to Sport real quickly, Trans will shift with the mode change.

 

[smurfslayer]

I like sport mode shifts, it's supposed to be sporty, but I see how some think it's too hard if shifts. I'm wayyyy more annoyed with the frequent but not always ridiculous gear holding sport mode does. Accelerate hard to 45mph speed limit and then it just holds 3rd at 5000 rpm for 10 seconds. Absolutely too long, the thing drops gears and shifts so well, stop the annoying gear holding. Baja mode is way worse than sport on this, but at lease Baja is "extreme" mode so sure, that's understandable.

Mike - I’ve had that too from Lucille, but ... it’s only been while caning her. Either after WFO throttle condition or passing some prissy priussy with prejudice.

Though it’s different than I’m used to, if I have to jump back in it because the Priussy in front of the original sub speed limit going hypermiler decides to obstruct me, I can dispatch them more quickly.

I’ve been giving sport mode a try for the last few trips and have learned a little more about sport
10th only engages at about 65mph, but will hold down to 60 mph on level ground in sport. I tend to drive a little more decisively with the throttle, and I’ve given sport a pretty good test and if it’s highway driving it doesn’t make a bunch more difference until you need to pass, merge from an exit or similar. in sub-highway speed though, where most of my driving is, I’ve been getting 1.5 -2 mpg better than normal/eco mode driving in sport over the course of 2 tanks of gas. hmm...

I also appreciate that gear holding on back roads where I don’t want the truck just jumping up to 7 - 10.

 

[SilverBolt]

In sport mode can you toggle up/down through the gears with the paddles? I would think if it is holding a gear after you left off the throttle you just bump the paddle up a gear or two?

 

[GizmoVance]

I like sport mode shifts, it's supposed to be sporty, but I see how some think it's too hard if shifts. I'm wayyyy more annoyed with the frequent but not always ridiculous gear holding sport mode does. Accelerate hard to 45mph speed limit and then it just holds 3rd at 5000 rpm for 10 seconds. Absolutely too long, the thing drops gears and shifts so well, stop the annoying gear holding. Baja mode is way worse than sport on this, but at lease Baja is "extreme" mode so sure, that's understandable.

Sport mode is insanely awesome. I can't think of anything I'd want it to do other than HOLD that gear after I've jumped on it. Why? Because I want those suckers (turbos) READY TO GO without having to spoil up. I've tried pushing hard in Normal and MAN, if you wanna feel how anemic that 3.5 6-cylinder is, then try performance driving in that mode and you'll become a LOVER of Sport!

I've had several Turbo motors, from Datsuns to Mercedes and I can honestly tell you that Ford really did a great job with this mode to make the "Automatic Trans" perform the way I'd want if it was a Manual.

Introspective Qualification: The most radical car I had, was a Saleen 351R with a Supercharged 351 and a 5-speed. Having the instant response of a blown 351 and manual trans allows you to spin the tires at 80mph. So, yes, there's a huge difference in a turbo'd 6 auto. But, I'm pretty darned impressed, and think you will as well if you analyze exactly what the computer is "guessing" what you are trying to do.

All this said, I elected to do a PCM reset today so that I can make sure my "Adaptive Driving" computer is learning what I am doing, with the fuel I'm running.

My $.02 worth. YMMV. ;-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Miker397]

I totally agree this transmission is fantastic, and I mentioned how I'm shocked how well the truck moves in 8/9/10 gears -- I thought those would be dogs and terrible for torque but the truck does fantastic with them. I think normal mode is very smooth and the gear shifting is good. I like how sport hits every gear, I like the crispness of it and how responsive everything is for such a heavy truck...BUT the gear holding sucks.

Yes, I get why they did the sport gear holding (3rd and 4th gear only AFAIK) for when you have continuous open roads and corner after corner you want to stay in the high rev range, but it's terribly implemented. First of all, it only comes on sometimes, depending on throttle on takeoff, initially speed, and also what speed you let up. If you stay on the gas until about 70mph then it's past 4th and doesn't gear hold, but usually strong acceleration until say 45mph-50mph and you're stuck revvvvvvvvvvvvvvving for like 10 seconds. Toggling to normal at this point is ridicluously cumbersome. I am OK with baja mode doing this, but sport mode, which is used on the street, is way more times than not, not going to take advantage of keeping 3rd or 4th at 5k rpm forever. Furthermore, this is a turbo engine that makes peak torque much lower in the rev band so it doesn't need to stay that high. For a frame of reference, my Ferrari cruises at 4k+ RPM and revs to 8,500, so I'm familiar and used to high RPM usage. It's just not right in this truck the way it holds.

On another note, I love the idea of the paddles and think they are implemented well, but using them gets old really fast due to the shear number of gears. It's a constant game of changing gears so unless you are really in the mood and have the right occasion, it's pretty tiresome.

 

[BajaFred]

I found the tranny was much better after I disconnected the battery for 30 minutes to do a reset