I know next to nothing about automatic transmissions other then the extreme basics so as usual please bear with me. I have a 1996 351W with an E4OD w/ 125k. The torque converter and fluid/filter was replaced in the tranny about 1.5 years ago.

If I give it a 'normal' amount of acceleration from a dead stop it seems to shift from thrid to fourth to soon. It only spends like a second in third gear before making the switch. What happens is fourth gear is then geared to low and I sometimes need to hit the gas to kick in the kickdown to get the truck moving.

Also, it seems to require me to push the gas pedal quite a bit for the kickdown to take effect.

Now, if i give it very light acceleration or if I'm going up a hill it seems to shift from third to fourth the way it should.

No check engine lights, no other issues I can think of that would be related. Other than this the tranny appears to work properly. Any ideas?

 

your tranny needs to be rebuilt i just had mine done and it aint cheap.

 

I would not jump to any conclusions yet. Many times you can have a stored code without a Check Engine Light on. You did not mention if your truck was a light duty or a heavier GVW model so I cannot say for sure if you can check for codes yourself OBD-I versus OBD-II.

Many times the torque converter lockup in third gear is confused for a fourth gear shift. Sometimes it feels like we have a 4 or 5 speed transmission! I would say you have no real problem, only Ford's idea of what the transmission shift/torque converter lock sequence should be.

Check for codes first, then report back.

 

Naturally the sticker on the door is gone but I'm 99% sure it is not a HD-class truck. OBD I

OBD I will spit out an error code for the transmission?

 

Sure does. The computer (Powertrain Control Module) controls engine and transmission functions for the E4OD and 4R70W transmissions. The older AOD/C6 and all manual transmissions are not controlled by the PCM.

 

For the time being just turn your OD off until you are at a speed you want OD to be used. Then turn it back on.

 

Did you ever figure out your issue? I'm having the same exact problem .

Thanks

 

The problem is that this is the way it's programmed. The software in the computer controls all of this, and in those years it is a known problem that the shifts are too early. You need a custom chip to change it. Or you could turn the OD off until you're ready for it to shift to overdrive.

 

Mark, is this also applicable to the very early model years of the E4OD? I have a 1990, and it seems to shift early into 4th as well, especially when it is cold. Thank you!

 

Yes, it is a problem in all E4ODs.

 

My ats does same thing

 

What is your tire size? large tires change the effective ratio of the entire drive terrain. That 4th "gear" is the electronic overdrive.

 

Of course, it does. All shifting is commanded by the PCM, not the trans. No matter who builds the trans and no matter what they put in it, it shifts when the PCM tells it to shift.

Why do you put quotes around gear? All gear ratios and the torque converter lockup are commanded by the electronics. Fourth gear has a ratio of 0.71:1, which makes it an overdrive ratio. It is no more electronic than any other gear in the transmission.

 

Mark, I would like to take this time to thank you for sharing your knowledge of the E4OD. I've learned a lot from your input. Thanks!

 

Mine does this as well (no surprise). More noticeable with the engine build, because it doesn't fall off a power cliff at 4000 RPM like the stock setup did. So when it shifts up under WOT conditions prematurely, you really notice it. It does this with the 2-3 and 3-4 shift. I lock it out (OD off or manual 2nd) when I want to hold a gear (like going up a long grade with a headwind). Otherwise it hunts for gears. Most of the time driving around empty, it's not an issue. At high altitude and working it, that premature upshift drops the engine out of peak power and I lose speed until it downshifts, makes good power so then it accelerates, PCM commands an upshift, out of power band, loses speed, downshift, etc etc until the load is removed. It will do that with my foot to the floor for the duration of the load (usually a hill/pass) if I don't intervene.