We just picked up an '06 E350 with a 5R110 attached to a 6.0. The folks we bought it from ordered it new from Ford. One of the things they did was to drop "Tow Haul" for the "Overdrive Off" function. Our main use for this vehicle will be pulling our travel trailer, so I'd really like to get the Tow Haul back. Anyone here done this? I'm sure it's not as simple as switching out the shifters. Lucas

 

If no one here has any good input I'm maybe post this same question in one of the sub-forums dealing with towing, hauling or bumper pull trailers/campers etc. This could be a relatively cheap and easy fix.

Good luck!

 

No, they did not order it that way. Ford never put tow/haul in the E-Series, they stayed with OD OFF. Why? I haven't a clue, and I worked there when this happened. We in transmission engineering couldn't get a straight answer from the program team that made this decision.

Switching the shifter won't do anything. The only difference between a tow/haul shifter and an OD OFF shifter is the writing on the shifter. Mechanically and electrically they are exactly the same.

Tow/haul is 100% software. You need to change the software to get this function. You could reflash the PCM with a similar F-Series program, or replace the PCM with the equivalent F-Series PCM. Be aware that the E-Series is detuned, so you will make more power with an F-Series PCM.

More power has some downsides. First. the E-Series can't get enough air through the radiator, so cooling is limited. At maximum power you'll stand a good chance of overheating with added power. Second, there was something in the driveshaft or rear axle on the E-Series that wouldn't handle the F-Series power level. It's been too many years for me to remember exactly what part this was, but if you add power and run it hard I'm sure you'll find it.

 

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Mark, you're right. I think when I went over the original paperwork the PO included I misread "Elec 5-spd AOD w/o tow-haul" as meaning they dropped that option. On top of that, I then read the 385 charge as a credit. This was after soccer all day Saturday, flying from the Midwest to AZ, then driving a few hours back through the night. Needless to say, I was short on sleep. I definitely don't want an F series tune. I want as stock as possible. Since no one makes a vehicle that'll haul a large trailer and 9 people anymore, this is our route vehicle until at least most of the kids are out of the house. I'll deal with the Overdrive Off function unless a better option comes along.

 

By using the OD OFF button and manually downshifting you can duplicate just about everything that tow/haul does, just not automatically.

 

I've never used Forscan for Windows. I'm assuming there's not a setting in there to change this?

 

No, there isn't. You would need to reprogram several functions to get this to work. I don't think the E-Series software had these functions programmed, though they are in the software.