I’m interested in ordering a new F550 chassis cab. However, before ordering I would like to know if the neutral @ idle feature of the 10 speed transmission is operator selectable, and more importantly, deselecable. A sticky thread in this forum discussing what’s new in 2020 has the following information:

• Operator Selectable Drive Modes Available in 10R140 in Super Duty Applications
  • Normal Mode: (Default)
  • Slippery Mode: (In lighter vehicle/transmission applications described as Grass/Gravel/Wet/LightSnow Mode) Intended to limit wheel spin, operates in conjuction with brakes and electronic stability controls, less aggressive shift and throttle input reactions
  • Deep Snow and Sand Mode: Agressive reaction to throttle inputs, allows wheel spin, holds gears longer, intended to power through difficult spots
  • Tow/Haul Mode: Operates similar to previous years, reduces gear hunting on light or undulating grades, downshifts more aggressively, permits individual gear shifting
  • Commercial Vehicle Mode: Limited to Chassis Cab models only (stated to be a Ford Marketing decision). Automatically shifts transmission into neutral when idling at stop lights, and automatically shifts back into drive again on throttle input. Similar in principal to genuine Allison commercial automatics (2000/3000/4000 series) that have Neutral on Stop capabiity to reduce fuel wasted from higher idle speed required to keep engine from stalling in Drive
  • Off Road Mode: Limited to Tremor only. Includes sensor to seek and destroy Ram Power Wagons within vicinity. j/k! I didn't pay attention to what this mode does, but will update later

As indicated, a commercial vehicle mode is listed as operator selectable. Unfortunately, the sticky thread is labeled unofficial. So, my question: can any 2020 owner verify that the neutral @ idle option (via the commercial vehicle mode) is actually operator selectable/deselectable? If this mode is not selectable/deselectable, can anyone verify that FORScan can be used to disable the neutral@ idle feature?

Thanks!

 

I just ordered a 2022 F-550 and I'm curious about the same thing. I can't find a definitive answer anywhere. Can someone please chime in?

 

BUMP.

I would love to know this as well. I hate the neutral idle feature on my 2022 F350 chassis cab.

 

Any news on how to disable this?

 

As I was the author of the sticky, written before the 2020 models were in full production, I should probably clarify the wording, which now appears confusing with the benefit of 3 years of ownership experience.

The "Commercial Mode" is a misnomer, uttered by a Ford rep who was attempting to distinguish the difference between the neutral idle mode availability in chassis cabs, versus in pickups, similar to the Tremor also having a "Mode" (rock crawling) that was not available in, say, chassis cabs.

But in fact, the Neutral Idle mode is native to the chassis cab 10R140. There is no selectable or deselectable "Commercial Mode." I parroted the wording of the Ford rep, who no doubt knew the scope of model and feature availability of the transmission, but was merely scrambling for a way to phrase a distinction on the spot before an inquisitive media. Words can have multiple concurrent meanings, and in this case, the meaning of "mode" in the context of "commercial" applications was not a selectable mode, but rather a calibration modality reserved for chassis cab applications.

Neutral Idle on stop is not supposed to operate if the transmission isn't already warmed up, or if the vehicle is on a grade.

There may be other driver selectable modes where Neutral Idle will be less likely to occur (such as Tow/Haul mode), but there is no direct selectable option to disable Neutral Idle specifically, and there is no driver selectable "Commercial Mode" as my quote previously and inadvertently implied.

From personal experience, the way that I drive, I never notice the neutral idle functioning. But the way that the regular operators of the chassis cabs I have ordered drive, they notice it all the time, and they ask me what the heck is wrong with the truck. (They don't like any delay when they launch from a stoplight, which to them is a dragstrip tree). I don't do jack rabbit starts, I learned not to over 40 years ago, when I was first in line at a stop light, the light turned green and I took off, only to be greeted by someone who ran their dead red light. Ever since then, I linger for a few seconds after the light turns green, and look regardless. Hence the transmission shifting back into gear is imperceptible to me. I do lift my foot off the brake to extinguish the brake light so that the drivers behind me recognize that I saw that the light turned green and am not distracted on the phone. I'm just a slow starter. The inconvenience of a traffic accident at an intersection delays the day for several hours. I'd rather endure a delay of a second or two.

 

I've become used to it, I release the brake and wait for the trans to engage before throttle input. It is now a non issue and is seamless with my driving, don't even notice it any more.
Pretend it's a big rig and you're letting out the clutch

 

I tow heavy 99% of the time and mine has a big delay going back into gear. Sometimes it's like popping the clutch lol. Anyway just seems hard on the tranny with a heavy load. I was hoping there was a forscan setting somewhere to disable it.

 

Are you experiencing this in Tow Haul mode?

 

Yes I do all the time

 

I'm sorry to not understand, and thus to ask again, but when you say "Yes I do all the time", does that mean yes you experience the delay in re-engagement (after a neutral on stop event) while you are towing and hauling all of the time? Or while you have the transmission mode switch engaged in the "Tow/Haul" Mode, irrespective of whether you are actually towing or hauling?

If you are experiencing a delay in re-engagement while in Tow/Haul Mode (regardless of whether you are actually towing or hauling), then that is interesting.

The few places I've been to in Texas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock) have been relatively flat. The menagerie of sensors in the truck can detect grades, which could be a factor in differing experiences.

On a steep grade, with a heavy load, if you let off the brake and the truck lingers in neutral, that would be rough on the auto transmission scrambling to grab first while rolling backward, and risky for the operator and motorist behind. The truck shouldn't allow that to happen.

But if the truck knows that it isn't on a grade... these are questions, not answers...

 

On my 350, the Neutral Idle happens in all modes expert Manual mode.

 

So I actually have a correction to make: Neutral idle is disabled completely in Deep Snow/Mud mode. Truck also has much better throttle response, doesn’t skip any gears, and overall shifts like an old-school truck.

I’m usually in this mode nowadays. Only took me 165k miles to use it long enough to discover it. lol