I've looked all over this site and even asked a similar question in the 04-08 section, but figured I'd ask in here to see what could be done.

When downshifting, this truck doesn't seem to know what gear to go in. It has a little hesitation to it and not sure what gear to hit when downshifting to go around someone or slowing down to take a turn and then accelerating out of the turn.

I've only had the truck 2 weeks and its already driving me nuts. You hit the gas, expect it to go, it doesn't. It almost feels like it drops out of OD first and then decides where to go. Does that make sense at all?

I'd appreciate any help or ideas from any o the tuner folks out there. Is this something that needs to be looked at by a repair shop or is it something that a programmer can solve? I'm used to driving electronic auto transmissions and I've never known any of them to do this.

Thank you in advance

 

I almost say that you might be having an issue that is worth getting checked by a reputable Ford dealer. One quick question tho... what year truck? Is it a new 08 or an older truck?

Driving styles vary from person to person and there may be some argument that it's just the way you're driving the vehicle, but I've talked to number people whose driving styles range from slow to GO and I'm don't recall any issue similar to what you're describing.

I don't want to say that a programmer will fix you problem until we can determine what the problem is in the first place. If it's just a bad shift strategy, then that's something we can address. If it's a bad solenoid pack in the tranny, no programmer in the world is going to help that.

One thing to keep in mind is that all the late model trucks have shift torque management which reduces engine output on both upshifts and downshifts. It's possible that the hesitation you feel is perfectly normal which is why I'd recommend having Ford take it for a spin. Ideally they'd be able to tell you if what you're feeling is normal or unusual. If it is determined that the issue is in fact the torque reduction, then pretty much any programmer will be able to help you out, including the Evo and the Gryphon.

Hope this helps.

 

My 08' Screw does the same thing and has since new. I agree, drives me nuts too. I notice it most when driving conservatively. Cruising along at 30-35mph, slow to 20 for a curve and ease back on the gas to get back up to 30-35 and the truck hesitates for a second or two, then downshifts and goes. It is even more noticeable with an exhaust as you can really hear the engine hesitate when it attempts to downshift.
My work vehicle has traction control (with no shut off button... POS Chevy) so if the tires start to spin, the engine cuts power momentarily, no matter how far down you press the gas. Then, all of a sudden it powers back up, usually spinning the tires again, repeating the process until you either let way off the gas or your vehicle is now moving fast enough that the tires stop spinning. The hesitation in my truck kind of feels like that. I would take it a step further and say that it is considered normal and not a faulty part as I have read a fair share of posts describing this with our trucks.

ASEMechanic, isn't there a TSB out that addresses this?

My truck is also very slow to upshift into OD when driving aggressively. If I floor it to get up to 60, it shifts through the gears nicely (without the hesitation described above) but once I get to 60 and let up on the gas to hold 60, it takes what feels like several seconds for it to get into OD. In reality, it is likely 3 seconds, but it feels sluggish. I have experienced this OD lag issue in other Fords, old and new, as well.

PHP here I come!!!

 

Not sure about the TSB. I'll have to investigate.

The torque management on these trucks certainly is poorly thought out. Off idle hesitation and shift dive are just a couple of complaints. If this is what you are feeling, then most programmers should be able to resolve it. As I said, just wanted to make sure there wasn't a mechanical issue first.

Take care.

 

OP, my truck (2007 F150 SCrew) does the exact same thing if it makes you feel any better. While driving around 35-40, if you slightly press the gas pedal, the engine hesitates, then downshifts causing the drivetrain to jolt a little, then all is well. Also, while cruising about 35mph at a slight incline (the street I live on) the tranny gets confused...sometimes downshifts for a few seconds, sometimes lugs around 1000 RPM or so in too high of gear...anyway...the dealership was shown all of this and I was told it is the same for all of our new F150's. I just had it to Ford a couple of weeks ago and they told me it was all normal electronic throttle, tranny, etc. etc. Anyway, my Gryphon is supposed to be here tomorrow, so I can let you know how the canned tunes improve the poor shifting.

 

Electronic/computer-controlled trannys do some weird things. I used to drive Dodge trucks, and occasionally the trannys would get so confused that they would go from 2nd gear to lock-up OD. You'd swear that something broke, but they'd figure it out and start working normally again. Same with Crown Vic's (police cars). They did shift alot firmer, but if you really pushed them in pursuit conditions (the full-throttle to slam-on-the-brakes back to full-throttle stuff), they'd just pick a gear....any gear. Hopefully it wasn't 1st when you were still going 50MPH. Most people just turn the key and drive around, and are completely oblivious to the stuff we notice.

I would imagine the Edge or Gryphon manages that stuff better, I know the shifts feel better.

 

My 04 did the exact same thing until last night. Last night I installed my first tune from VMP. After that the sloppy shifting and hesitation between gears is gone. I hit the gas and it goes, if it needs to downshift it does so quickly and very snappy.

I've had the truck for a little over a year and the sloppy, indecisive shifting really got to me. After 10 miles with the new tune (only had a few minutes to drive last night) it is a new truck. It now shifts like it means it

 

BILL..........what symptoms would a "bad solenoid pack" in the tranny give me?.......please give me a very specific answer! My truck is an 08........and I have an issue that my programmer has not solved!

 

When I got my 05 way back when it had a severe hesitation when I would try to pass or accelerate hard. There was actually a TSB on it, I took it to the dealer, had to tell them about the TSB and that the truck was going to get me killed. They reflashed it and eliminated that problem, but it was still a dog. Would not downshift at various speeds. The tuner solved that.

 

Solenoid pack issues can range from hesitation during upshifts or down shift, excessive slipping during shifts, hunting, or excessive shift overlay (2 gear engaged at the same time).

Keep in mind that this is a HIGHLY improbable situation for most never vehicles. This used to be a significant problem on the 7.3L from 1999 to 2002, but I haven't really seen those issues popping up lately.

Hope this helps.

 

there is an updated calibration if your concern occurs mostly durring in town driving speeds. depending upon build date of truck though.

 

Sonic, do you have the TSB number? I can check through the library and locate it.

 

My truck hesitates terribly with light throttle applications. For example...I'm cruising on the HWY at 65 and come to a slight incline in the road. If I ease into the throttle, the truck will hunt for the right gear to drop down to. It will buck and fart until I give it enough throttle to drop down 2 gears to get it going.

I've had the truck for over 2 years and the Edge has been in there for over a year and I have just started noticing it. I'm fairly certain it did not do this when I bought it...it seems to have gotten more apparent as of late. It's pissing me off. Would I be able to change some of the Edge settings to help this? I've tried messing with the shift firmness and it feels like it gets worse with a +12. I reset the Edge back to factory settings on L2 and it still hesitates, just not as bad when the shift firmness is at +12. Next, I want to take the Edge out and run it w/o the tuner to see what that's like.

 

You don't have to take it out, just return it to the stock tune. My truck had a hesitation on stock that the Edge removed, but the Edge programs would not downshift when I wanted it to. It would accelerate, but stay in the same gear. The Gryphon custom tunes solved that for me. I punch it and instant downshifting and it takes off.

 

Jim, I know we've spoken on many occasions about the Gryphon. I just want to be sure the Gryphon upgrade will, in fact, fix this horrible hesitation of if there is more to this problem. I was wondering if the dealer would reflash the PCM for free even though I am out of warranty.

Bill, if you are still reading this thread, what's the return time for a Gryphon upgrade?