Another thank you for Paul

The problem, while big to those that have it, is affecting a small percentage of trucks sold overall. There are a huge number of fortunate buyers like myself that are not experiencing the shift aberrations. Most, me included, are not dismissing your claims as incessant whining. I believe the problem exists. However the relatively small sample of trucks involved makes the solution much harder to realize. Thus Paul's request for some additional patience.

Without large numbers of trucks showing very similar symptoms, it is much more difficult to obtain the hard number data needed to determine the probabilities. When a pattern finally begins to emerge, then the real investigations can begin. Is the problem a software bug? If so it is buried in millions of lines of computer code. What are the parameters that trigger the glitch? More investigation needed. Is the problem a mechanical tolerance stacking issue, the likely culprit IMO? If so, now which direction does the software recalibration need to go? A little too tight and the code needs to be set up for that scene. A little too loose and a completely different piece of code needs to be developed. After developing code to address each issue, now there is a need to develop more code to reconcile these new additions to the code so they do not make problems of their own. OK, the coding is complete. Now the durability testing needs to be completed. Hopefully, that goes as planned. Now the new emissions compliance data developed during durability testing can be sent to the EPA for the final blessing.

No wonder it has taken too much time to get the fix if your truck is affected...but if Ford has been working as hard as they say they are, they need to have that bit of patience Paul asked for. JMO YMMV

Regards

 

I had another "jump" when I was driving about 25 mph today..

 

...and now we need to add gas engine power characteristics to the already overwhelming amount of variables being considered in the solution process...more variables, more time and another separate EPA approval...big job just got a lot bigger

 

Rickatic
This issue has been in the 6.2 section for quite a while. I was actually disappointed when it appeared thAt the tsb on Monday seemed to be dealing only with you diesel guys.
While I agree that we should be patient & really appreciate Paul's comments here - my big concern was raised in the 6.2 forum by Ractec who has been dealing with this issue.

"The problem according to Ford is "The direct clutch pack not filling with transmission fluid before the direct clutch pack is engaged." Here is my problem with that, and my logic may be flawed and I would love to hear your opinions. After looking at the cut away of the transmission and gathering as much information as possible I am afraid that every time this problem occurs it is burning the direct clutch pack. "

 

Sorry- I'm using the iPhone.
But if the above quote is valid the we could be damaging our trannys although it might not show up for many miles /years. Therefore leaving us with the cost of dealing with with this issue.

This is only my opinion & all speculative. Maybe Mark K or Paul can give us some insite on this.

 

I am positive Ford will figure out this issue but I too am concerned what these current normal driving shift problems are doing to our transmissions that we my not have to deal with until our warranty is expired.

I owned an '02 Explorer and I know all about transmission issues in those vehicles (look at car complaints #1 worst vehicle).
I don't want my super duty transmission to have the same issues.

I certainly wouldn't abuse my transmission (improper shifts) on purpose like it is doing from time to time currently.

 

I was not diminishing the trans problem for the gas trucks in any manner. The problem has never been put in the clutch pack light on the 6.7 forum before today. This is way beyond my simple mind...maybe Paul or Mark will weigh in but it appears the current solution is going to be a software/firmware update.

Regards

 

Ricatic
Didn't want to come out harsh. No worries about that. Like all of us I have worries. Being a standard/ handshaker guy I don't trust autotrans. That being said I would hope that Ford will fix this small issue before it hammers the new 6 speed which actually I like.
BTW - I pointed this out to my dealer 3 months ago & offered to put a data recorder on the truck as per Mike at 5stars idea.they didn't think it was a big deal.
Hopeful the issue will be resolved.

 

ric, be careful your posts are always way too positive, take the rose colored glasses off for a minute. to say its a small sample of trucks is not accurate, we have what 30-40 guys who post regularly in this forum at last count I had 11 with problems I am sure if I counted it would be 15 just in this thread ALONE, TO SAY THAT IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE GROUP WE HAVE HERE IS WELL SHOULD I SAY NOT ACCURATE. the other thing is all of us are describing the same issues. there is a problem and its widespread if our group is having issues. if the transmission comes out of gear I am not sure a flash is going to fix that. I also find it strange that everyone with maybe an exception of two was happy with the tranny shifting when their truck was new.

my fear is that what has changed is a mechanical issue and a flash is just a bandaid.

 

I think the problem is a lot more widespread, Rick. It seems like there are more of us on here who *have* experienced it than who haven't. At least that seems true if you count those with 10k+ miles. Many (like myself) drove the truck for many miles before ever experiencing the issue. At this point, I can make it happen on cue, in the right conditions. Of course, it might just seem widespread to me since I'm one of the affected

I think the real problem lies in the fact that it seems to be a late-onset and progressively worsening condition. That presents a distinct problem since the number of trucks with 10k+ miles is a pretty small percentage of the whole. I believe Ford will find a fix, and I think it's probably more than just a software tweak, although that very well may be part of it. I just hope they do it soon.

 

At this point, we don't know if it's firmware code or hardware related.

It very well could be a coding problem where the computer module(s) make a decision about how to handle a shift based on conditions and computes the wrong decision causing the shift to neutral or high RPM revs, etc. that we are seeing.
Sometimes it self corrects, sometimes you wonder if you're about to get ran over by that 80,000 lbs semi.

And as you said, it could also be hardware and the computer modules are trying the best they can when a piece of hardware malfunctions.

I know Paul is reading these comments so I know Ford is looking at this issue.
I am also willing to have these firmware updates installed to see if the releases resolve this issue but I sure hope Ford doesn't screw us over if we have future transmission issues because of this.
That's all I ask; I'm still happy.

 

I'm going to attempt the battery disconnect, resetting the transmission learning process. If that makes it drive like it did when I first picked it up, it's got to be a software issue right? Hope to do it tonight, but this weekend at the latest.

 

Here's the thread with the post from Paul that includes the note about resetting the learning process.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9961453

 

You have a point so this will be a good test.

This issue gets worse as time goes on.
Almost as if it is learning improperly.

It was shifting well when new.
It was also shifting well after the December flash because I assume it resets the learning process.

Now 5,000 miles later it has not learned very well as it did before December (only not as bad).

My personal guess is firmware code so we'll see.

 

Guy's

I always try to be careful and accurate when I post to a problem thread but I must ask... Is it rose colored glasses or statistical accuracy? Please do not take my commentary as diminishing the depth of the issue to the guys that have these shift anomaly trucks. I am concerned about a solution but cognizant that the the number of trucks is statistically small.

The fact that there are 11 to 15 guys here with problems is not unusual. Unless you are a truck enthusiast, you do not come to places like FTE to talk about how happy you are with your truck. You come looking for ansers to questions about a problem you are experiencing. I am a perfect example of this. If I had never bought a 2004 Ford with the 6.0 diesel, I would have never found this site. Problems and the need to solve them as economically as possible sent me on a search for information. I ended up here. I spent considerable time on the 6.0 forum doing what I could to help.

Use a percentage number of your choice for this issue. Is it 1%, 5% or more. Then consider that there are more than 200000 diesel trucks with the new transmission out there running around. Add in 50000 gas trucks with the same transmission and the data gets spread even thinner. This is the reason I mention the relatively small size of the issue...of course if it is your truck...it is a big issue and I agree...and have stated so

It certainly appears that Ford has been able to assemble the many pieces of this puzzle into a forthcoming solution. My post was an attempt to use a laymen's knowledge to demonstrate just how difficult it would be to troubleshoot a problem like this one. Keep in mind, they do not have a bunch of broken parts here to look at for analysis. They have to figure this out through scanning millions of lines of code to develop a pattern before they can even begin the solution.

I just agreed with the request for a couple more weeks of patience. I apologize if I sounded uncaring....

Respectfully