My 2004 F150 XLT 4X4 downshift very hard and sometimes slams in gear on takeoff anyone have a clue what this is.

 

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Thread moved to 2004-2006 F-150 forum.

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there have been a few posts recently on this. As far as we can tell, it's mostly with the 3.73 LS rear, and occurs from the 3rd to 2nd downshift, sometimes 2nd to 1st. It's likely a problem with the tranny software. However, the clunk on acceleration could also indicate a driveshaft or rear diff. problem. Some people have had this fixed with lubing the driveshaft splines, others had to have the rears rebuilt.

 

I took my to the dealer for the 3-2 downshift clunk and they said they have a TSB stating that is a normal charachteristic and not to attempt to fix it! In other words they don't have a clue!

 

I have this problem on occasion also. It seems to be a fairly common problem. I would agree with ReForder, it is likely a tranny software problem. Let us know if you have any luck with a fix.

 

There is a tsb for this, and the title is rough 3-2 down shift. I had a rough 1-2 upshift and it was bad, I would have never guessed a computer problem and throught I needed trans or differential work. They will reflash your pcm. The new program will reset the shift points and you will also notice improved performance. Subscribe to Infotraxx and you can get copies of these....

 

I called "believe it or not" a weekend talkshow on a local radio station and asked these guys called the weekend mechanics the same question I asked you guys. To give a little insite on these guys they own and run a very top notch repair shop in Raleigh NC working on everything from daewoos to rangerovers and they told me the same thing about it being a programing issue. They said that ford had many complaints about this problem but didnt want to make it public and told me to go to some website ive already forgoten the ip address to look at service documents or something and that ford would have to take care of it for free because it was basicaly an un anounced recall and that it only affected certain trucks.

 

Dood - post that link if you find it please!

CMOS

 

I have the same issue... It's a serious clunk from the 3rd to 2nd shift... But it's much worse on the 2nd to 1st down shift. I've learned to live with it so far. But when I take the truck into the shop for a reflash it should rectifiy this issue also.

 

On my '06 4.6 4x4 3.73 LS I noticed a hard downshift while accelerating up a 9% grade at about 30 mph. I don't know if it was 3-2 or 2-1. Actually, I thought it was downshifting all the way from 3-1. It surprised me, but I wouldn't consider it an issue. It's not going to hurt anything. It's a TRUCK.

 

I have a 05 king ranch supercrew 5.4,3.73ls 4x4 that when it downshifts seems like it dies for a split second. It only happens when climbing a steep hill. There isn't a hard clunk.The downshift almost feels like your driving a stick shift. Anybody else have this problem?

 

I had my truck in for 2nd service this week and brought this up. Despite my specific instructions on when it occurred, I was told the tech could not reproduce it (although only .6 miles was on the truck when i picked it up). The advisor told me it was just the overdrive downshifting. I didn't know they hit overdrive at 30 MPH!!!! I will be trying another dealer for this and my engine noise if it persists into the spring.

 

Tell them there is a TSB on the 3-2 downshift clunk. That is what I told my service bay (on the 2nd day of owning the truck) and they reflashed per the TSB. Fixed it for the most part, shifts much better now and the clunk is both more rare and far softer.

Bill
05 scab lariat

 

I have a 04 reg cab 3.73 ls rear end it did the same thing. Took it to the local dealer took two days but they reprogrammed the computer for it. The reprogram also fixed the rough in gear idling problem.

 

Took mine in today for this issue and they said they wanted to keep it to make sure. I suggested they just reflash, but they wanted to make sure that's all they needed.