Tow Haul Mode Upshift
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Freshman User
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From: Wisconsin
Tow Haul Mode Upshift
I have a 2012 ford f350 SRW 4x4 with the 6.7L. I was wondering if anyone else has had the problem I have just started to have. When going downhill in tow haul the truck at first will hold you back then all of a sudden it starts to up shift at 20 mph it reaches 6th gear pretty quick. I talked to the dealer and they suggested I was pushing the shift buttons, but I am not. They told me to drive it till next week and then they will see if there are any codes in it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Don..
Official Ford Rep
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I have a 2012 ford f350 SRW 4x4 with the 6.7L. I was wondering if anyone else has had the problem I have just started to have. When going downhill in tow haul the truck at first will hold you back then all of a sudden it starts to up shift at 20 mph it reaches 6th gear pretty quick. I talked to the dealer and they suggested I was pushing the shift buttons, but I am not. They told me to drive it till next week and then they will see if there are any codes in it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Don..
I'll be happy to loop in your regional customer service manager on this. Send me a PM with your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, mileage, and servicing dealership; I'll get the ball rolling.
Crystal
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click on their user name and it will bring up a drop down menu. Select "Send a Private Message to Ford Service"
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Greenwood, SC
I'm not getting what you're trying to say. Do you have a trailer in tow? Is it heavy?
What are engine rpms when you begin descent? What are rpms when it shifts?
It will up shift towards a more normal gear when you touch the throttle.
If you are coasting downhill in 2nd gear and you are not gaining speed with a trailer pushing you and truck speed is slowing or stopping it probably dis engages the engine brake strategy.
There may be a low speed threshold where the engine braking stops working.
If you don't have a trailer the truck may very well know it and fail to understand why you want to engine brake.
I've never used the downhill engine brake tow/haul mode going slower than 30mph so I can't give you my experiences there. I do know it works quite well with a heavy trailer, engine rpm at 3100, and a speed of approx 50mph. Lighter trailers, slight grade, and low rpms all are ingredients for the system to not work well.
What are engine rpms when you begin descent? What are rpms when it shifts?
It will up shift towards a more normal gear when you touch the throttle.
If you are coasting downhill in 2nd gear and you are not gaining speed with a trailer pushing you and truck speed is slowing or stopping it probably dis engages the engine brake strategy.
There may be a low speed threshold where the engine braking stops working.
If you don't have a trailer the truck may very well know it and fail to understand why you want to engine brake.
I've never used the downhill engine brake tow/haul mode going slower than 30mph so I can't give you my experiences there. I do know it works quite well with a heavy trailer, engine rpm at 3100, and a speed of approx 50mph. Lighter trailers, slight grade, and low rpms all are ingredients for the system to not work well.
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From: Maryland
Nope, the tow/haul works the same with or without a trailer. It also doesn't care how slow you are going. If you gain speed beyond its capacity to hold back and rpm are pushed high enough it will upshift, but that isn't the case here. Even if I am traveling less than 20 mph it will hold its gear as long as that speed is within the rpm range for that gear. Tow/Haul should not upshift under normal circumstances unless it is either turned off or buy using the throttle to accelerate and take the load off the transmission.
At first I thought maybe the OP might have a short in the shifter stalk that could be turning tow/haul off, but the light stays on. Maybe it is a programming glitch. Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be one of those ghost type electrical issues that the dealer can't figure out.
At first I thought maybe the OP might have a short in the shifter stalk that could be turning tow/haul off, but the light stays on. Maybe it is a programming glitch. Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be one of those ghost type electrical issues that the dealer can't figure out.
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Have you tried manual mode?
All that really does is give you some control over the automatic system.
If there's an issue, it may force an upshift to sixth in that mode too, which is not normal.
Sometimes a manual downshift will go ignored (gear # flashes) but I can confirm you can slow down to a crawl doing it manually.
I rarely use [D] when towing and while it can hold at high rpm's as long as the go pedal isn't touched, I don't think I've ever tried it with slower speeds so can't comment there.
If I touch go in [D], it jerks, upshifts and becomes all sorts of stupid, which is why I typically live in [M] for towing.
In my opinion, for the dealer to insist you're pushing buttons and sending you on your way is silly (of them).
All that really does is give you some control over the automatic system.
If there's an issue, it may force an upshift to sixth in that mode too, which is not normal.
Sometimes a manual downshift will go ignored (gear # flashes) but I can confirm you can slow down to a crawl doing it manually.
I rarely use [D] when towing and while it can hold at high rpm's as long as the go pedal isn't touched, I don't think I've ever tried it with slower speeds so can't comment there.
If I touch go in [D], it jerks, upshifts and becomes all sorts of stupid, which is why I typically live in [M] for towing.
In my opinion, for the dealer to insist you're pushing buttons and sending you on your way is silly (of them).
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From: Wisconsin
No I put it in tow haul going down the snow covered hill (no load, luckily) to help hold me back because as soon as I hit the brakes for any amount of time the anti locks start kicking and it's not cool sliding down this curvy hill not in control. It just started to do this last Saturday, it had worked like it's supposed to up until then. I usually get it to drop into 2nd at the top and crawl down the hill touching the brakes now and then, so as not to go for a "ride". Now just as I start the steep part it lets loose and up shifts all the way to 6th in just a few seconds. Maybe tonight I will try putting it in manual mode and see if it holds like it should. Thanks for every ones help. Don.
Post Fiend
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From: Greenwood, SC
It's very possible that the vehicle stability control senses wheel dragging on a slippery surface and takes control of everything.
The traction control and stability control are very sensitive, try turning them off (requires a long hold on the button and will automatically come back on next time you start the engine.)
Good luck
The traction control and stability control are very sensitive, try turning them off (requires a long hold on the button and will automatically come back on next time you start the engine.)
Good luck
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Maryland
That is definitely a piece of the puzzle that we weren't privy to before! I've never experienced it, but it makes sense that the traction control system would not want the engine/transmission holding back if the wheels are slipping.
You aren't clear on whether you are still experiencing the same effect on dry roads.
You aren't clear on whether you are still experiencing the same effect on dry roads.
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From: Wisconsin
I never thought of that either. We don't have any dry roads right now(hills). I put it in manual last night and it held in gear without a problem. It stays and shifts fine when I'm on the flat. Thanks for the help, Don.