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Overdrive Engaging Too Soon?

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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 04:39 PM
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Overdrive Engaging Too Soon?

My drive to work consists of mostly 45mph stretches. I've found that this is around where the overdrive kicks in, and there is no power. This very much reminds me of the reaction a vehicle with a manual transmission is shifted into a gear that's too high for the speed, like starting off in second gear. It feels exactly the same, and makes the same sounds. It recovers fine when the speed is increased, or I jump on the accelerator.

Does anyone else experience this? My solution right now is to just drive to work with overdrive off.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by ardubb
My drive to work consists of mostly 45mph stretches. I've found that this is around where the overdrive kicks in, and there is no power. This very much reminds me of the reaction a vehicle with a manual transmission is shifted into a gear that's too high for the speed, like starting off in second gear. It feels exactly the same, and makes the same sounds. It recovers fine when the speed is increased, or I jump on the accelerator.

Does anyone else experience this? My solution right now is to just drive to work with overdrive off.
Yep and your solution is my solution.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 05:07 PM
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Some hybrid injectors and T4 turbo will take care of that..

Seriously,If it has trouble to keep up with overdrive and unloaded,there's something going on..
Tired injectors,tired HPOP etc..
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by FinnishStroker
Some hybrid injectors and T4 turbo will take care of that..

Seriously,If it has trouble to keep up with overdrive and unloaded,there's something going on..
Tired injectors,tired HPOP etc..
That's something to think about, thanks. It has 143,000 miles, and the last owner says everything is original as far as he knows. When overdrive engages, I'm usually barely pressing on the accelerator, and cruising along. If I am accelerating to get onto the freeway or something, this does not happen.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 05:22 PM
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Normal programming.

Either use the overdrive "off" button or get tuning to take care of it.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 05:25 PM
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If I am poking along on streets with lower speed limits the torque converter locks up at about 35 in 3rd then shifts to 4th (OD) about 43. I believe that is to speck or darn close. Running flat ground at 45 in 4th is not an issue for my truck. Also gentle rolling hills with cruse set at 50 no issues, boost goes up a bit and stays in 4th.

Stock turbo and injectors by the way with no tunes...
You may have some issues.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by FinnishStroker
Some hybrid injectors and T4 turbo will take care of that..

Seriously,If it has trouble to keep up with overdrive and unloaded,there's something going on..
Tired injectors,tired HPOP etc..
Imma respectfully disagree with you on this one. It's been reviewed before and my truck is healthy and it drops into OD at around 42 and 42 in high on a slight grade lugs the engine. I too, utilize the OD Off option quite often.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 09:01 PM
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Boost or exhaust drive pressure leaks may be exaggerating the condition.

You could perform a boost leak test, the tool is cheap and easy to make.

Look around the uppipes and manifolds for any soot. You can also do a feel check around the manifolds at cold startup. Don’t forget to get a good look at the top of the uppipes. They will typically leak at the doughnut gaskets where connected to the “baby’s butt”.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 06:07 AM
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Mark,i understand what you are saying..

​​​​​​I had no trouble cruising empty, low RPMs with OD and TC locked..
Bone stock van that has less power than pickups..
1.15 A/R exhaust housing and 470k in the odo..

Yet,i somehow did find myself doing injectors and turbo..

ardubb,can you monitor boost pressure?
You should be making atleast 20psi,when pushing hard.

cleatus12r can tell If you have the PCM that uses stupid shifting strategy from the factory..
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by FinnishStroker

cleatus12r can tell If you have the PCM that uses stupid shifting strategy from the factory..
To be honest, they're all stupid. Some are just less stupid than others....like politicians.




 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 07:48 AM
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I will add to the pile of "it is normal" comments. My transmission drops in and out of OD at that speed too.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by ardubb
My drive to work consists of mostly 45mph stretches. I've found that this is around where the overdrive kicks in, and there is no power. This very much reminds me of the reaction a vehicle with a manual transmission is shifted into a gear that's too high for the speed, like starting off in second gear. It feels exactly the same, and makes the same sounds. It recovers fine when the speed is increased, or I jump on the accelerator.

Does anyone else experience this? My solution right now is to just drive to work with overdrive off.
Is your truck tuned or stock?

My 03 in stock trim did pretty well lugging in OD

My tuned 01 will pull hills and accelerate in OD below 45 mph with 65 php tune. With 65 fuel sipper tune it will lug all the way down to 39-40 mph about 1000 rpm and pull out of it empty.
And i have larger than stock tires with 3.73's and speedo is corrected.

I generally switch between od off on two lane roads and OD depending on the speed limit
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by KubotaOrange76
Is your truck tuned or stock?

My 03 in stock trim did pretty well lugging in OD

My tuned 01 will pull hills and accelerate in OD below 45 mph with 65 php tune. With 65 fuel sipper tune it will lug all the way down to 39-40 mph about 1000 rpm and pull out of it empty.
And i have larger than stock tires with 3.73's and speedo is corrected.

I generally switch between od off on two lane roads and OD depending on the speed limit
I have an auto and modified from stock engine and tuning. The speed I hate to stay in is 45-50.
That is where TC locks just b/f overdrive kicks in just afterward. If I maintain 50mpg fine , but if I start to drop speed and try and compensate to quickly on the go pedal it will drop to third gear. If I feather throttle it will remain in OD.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 01:01 PM
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Iirc the E99 pcm will shift in to OD at 45mph and immediately lock the TC afterwards, while the later PCMs will lock in 3rd and shift in to OD at a higher speed.

I drive a lot in the city and the E99 shifting strategy is really annoying. Because of the shift in 4th and TC lock, your RPMs get very low at 45mph so if you need to accelerate either lug the engine or go through the effort of downshifting.

OP what PCM you got?
 
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Old Oct 21, 2021 | 04:04 PM
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Seems normal to me.

When my truck was stock, under light loading my TC locked up around 35mph and the transmission shifted into OD around 40 mph.

Even though it's a diesel the transmission is only a 4 speed (the TC lock doesn't count). There's going to be some operations outside the powerband if you're only using 4 gears to get the truck from dead stop to nearly 100 mph.
 
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