Hard shifting in cold
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 48
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From: Benton, Arkansas
Hard shifting in cold
Hey Guys! This is my first winter with my truck, it's a 05 350 cc fx4 and when I start it in the mornings it feels and sound just awful. I try to let it warm up a little before I leave for work but I think it may wake up the neighborhood. It shifts really hard and pushes the rpms up before it shifts. Once its warm it does fine. Takes about 5 or 6 miles. Is this normal? Temps right now are low 40's at night. Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 761
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Sounds to me like you may have some fuel injector issues causing a lack of power, which will also cause a pretty hard and late upshift. I'd recommend taking it in to have the latest reflash done to see if it rectifies your issues.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 155
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From: New York
I solved my cold runnings issues by simply letting it warm up to operating temp before driving away, you will visit the pumps more often though!...and it is funny how it seems that you feel like your waking the neighborhood !...I feel the same way !!
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 41
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From: MA
Now that we are having cold mornings here in the Northeast my truck sounds like a bucket of bolts when starting. Gotta love the rattle! No more sneaking quietly out of the driveway. 
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 244
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From: Florida
Mine always shifted the same as you described when cold after it warmed up it was fine. Trans boost pressure is probably a little higher when cold. I would say it is normal. As to the loss of power a diesel needs heat to fire the fuel so might be normal nut I would have it looked at to be safe.
I cured the issue by moving back to Florida now I crank it up and turn the A/C up and take off.
I cured the issue by moving back to Florida now I crank it up and turn the A/C up and take off.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 186
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From: Adrian, Mi
I would have to agree. Mine also shifts this way when it's cold. Mine runs fine as long as I plug it in when it's around 35 or less. I do not believe it is an injector problem as the truck runs great when it is warm.
You guys are funny!!! Two senior Ford techs give you the direction to fix the problem and you tell them "it just needs to warm up". 
's. 
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 344
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Lonewolftx with all respect, I think we need to separate an "apparent problem" from a "real problem" here. Mine does the same thing. If, when started cold (22F) and the the truck starts noisy and there is a lack of power and clunky shifting for the first mile, is that an issue or a cold truck? I'd like to know the differences, for one. My old gasser did that and this was normal. If my truck smooths out within a couple miles at 25 and is ready to rock at 75 mph, do I have a problem?
Now, so far, and knock on as much wood as you can find, my truck is awesome and has an Oasis report with a grand total of three lines. I'd like to know more about this issue. Thanks for CanadaGuy, BTH, vloney, BBC and all you guys.
Now, so far, and knock on as much wood as you can find, my truck is awesome and has an Oasis report with a grand total of three lines. I'd like to know more about this issue. Thanks for CanadaGuy, BTH, vloney, BBC and all you guys.
Last edited by chili7; Nov 5, 2006 at 09:52 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
mine does the same thing, shifts close to 2k rpms and harder than normal until a couple miles, i won't take it in until it something more apparent comes up, as i know the dealership near me is a joke.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by chili7
Lonewolftx with all respect, I think we need to separate an "apparent problem" from a "real problem" here. Mine does the same thing. If, when started cold (22F) and the the truck starts noisy and there is a lack of power and clunky shifting for the first mile, is that an issue or a cold truck? I'd like to know the differences, for one. My old gasser did that and this was normal.
YES, you can have an injector problem that only shows up when the truck is cold and appears to be operating normally when truck is warm. This is why a cold start injector test must be performed.
Fireman_19 needs to take the truck into the dealer and let them keep it overnight to do a cold start injector test to determine the problem.
Hope this helps
Last edited by blackhat620; Nov 6, 2006 at 10:48 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,737
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From: Republic of Texas
Originally Posted by chili7
Lonewolftx with all respect, I think we need to separate an "apparent problem" from a "real problem" here. Mine does the same thing. If, when started cold (22F) and the the truck starts noisy and there is a lack of power and clunky shifting for the first mile, is that an issue or a cold truck? I'd like to know the differences, for one. My old gasser did that and this was normal. If my truck smooths out within a couple miles at 25 and is ready to rock at 75 mph, do I have a problem?
Now, so far, and knock on as much wood as you can find, my truck is awesome and has an Oasis report with a grand total of three lines. I'd like to know more about this issue. Thanks for CanadaGuy, BTH, vloney, BBC and all you guys.
Now, so far, and knock on as much wood as you can find, my truck is awesome and has an Oasis report with a grand total of three lines. I'd like to know more about this issue. Thanks for CanadaGuy, BTH, vloney, BBC and all you guys.
Last edited by Lonewolftx; Nov 6, 2006 at 10:54 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Originally Posted by fireman_19
Hey Guys! This is my first winter with my truck, it's a 05 350 cc fx4 and when I start it in the mornings it feels and sound just awful. I try to let it warm up a little before I leave for work but I think it may wake up the neighborhood. It shifts really hard and pushes the rpms up before it shifts. Once its warm it does fine. Takes about 5 or 6 miles. Is this normal? Temps right now are low 40's at night. Thanks!
<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 4095698" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>BowTieHatr</TD><TD class=alt2>low power when cold will cause a funny shift like canada said. no its not a cold thing. if its not the injectors you could have a tranny problem.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=thead colSpan=2>11-04-2006 07:17 PM</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
so it should sound and shift the same warm or cold? no matter what? I thought it was the "cold strategy" of the pcm . I thought it was normal. I just can see taking it in and they take my $100 and tell me everything is fine.