Well the dealer did TSB 08 22 07 and it seems to have cured the banging and harsh shifts. Does anyone know what that TSB envolves? Thanks.

 

Bought an 07 Expy couple weeks back and noticed it had the second gear start issue described in this post, it was a mild case but I thought well its under warranty might as well get it reflashed. I took it to the local dealer ask them to reflash it and they came out an hour later and said it didn't fix it and "we'll have to pull the tranny". Now I'm torn weather on not to let them tear it down or live with it as is.

What do you think?

 

Well no matter what I wouldn't 'live with it'. I would let them attempt to fix it. If they followed the TSB and it did not fix it, they call the tech hotline and are instructed what to do next, which may mean replace the tranny or parts on it. I would be ok with that. Just keep an open line of communication and ask them what is being done.

 

Thanks for the reply, I picked it up from the dealer and drove it 20 miles home and I don't know how they could say there's no improvement. The transmission now shifts into First at anything less than a 5 MPH stop. What the Tech did say was there is still a "flare" so maybe we aren't talking about the same thing, I never noticed a flare but I'm not sure I know what a flare is.

Personally I think they're extremely slow and looking for nice big job to bill back to Ford! I have an appointment to get it pulled Monday morning but I think I'll see how it does this weekend and decide whether or not to keep it.

I am impressed however that they are willing to dive into it so quickly under warranty.

 

Flare is a slight increase in rpm's when shifting, sort of like slipping
the clutch.

This shouldn't happen. I would drive it as much as you can and see how it does this weekend. Drive it all out, see if it slips during exceleration, etc. Pay attention to how it downshifts.

 

Well at 12,600 miles the transmission on my 07 still acts up at times and wants to start out in second gear. It has had four reflash procedures done to it since new, the latest three months ago. Still has the same problem about 50% of the time. The shop techs say they don't find a problem when they drive it. Well of course not because it does it about 50% of the time and you have to drive it more than just a mile or so to notice.
A reflash does help some, but only for a little while and after about a month, it is back to it's old poor operation, which is starting out in second gear 50% of the time. I have learned to live with it and just punch it to get it to down shift to low if it starts out in second. I was shifting to low with the shifter, but I did not want to wear it out plus it was a drag to keep shifting it. Now I just punch it when it acts up. Other than that, the transmission works ok, so far any way.

You would think that after building millions and millions of automatic transmissions Ford could make one that works right by now. I had a 94 Bronco 351 E4OD that worked flawless for 100,000 miles and never missed a shift, never leaked a drop of fluid, not even once.

 

Why not file under the lemon law?

 

Hi Berry, Yeah I guess I should, but I have just gotten used to just punching it. Then it jumps to low. It reminds me of my younger years during my Mustang hot rod days.
I have been thinking of trading it in on a new 2011 Expedition any way. If Ford is still in business in 2011. I got the seven year 40,000 mile full feature super duper Ford extended service agreement on it. So if the transmission finally blows up, I am covered.

The really odd part is that it works fine for about three weeks after a reflash, then it goes back to the original problem. Strange. I don't understand that part. The engine still runs strong, so at least there is no problem there.

 

Interesting, so in your case (and possibly mine) it is likely more the reseting of the keep alive memory during the reflash process that makes your truck shift properly for 3 months more so than the software update. Then it's adapting back to it's original condition likely trying to compensate for some mechanical problem.

I think I'll let them take it apart.

 

Yeah it has been a PITA since I bought it new. I don't drive it much being retired and all, so I just deal with it. I only have 12,600 miles on it and only go to the supermarket, Toxic Bell or Burger king every day, about two miles or so a day. So I just punch when it acts up and it jumps to low.
If I had to drive it a lot, I would go through the process of dealing with Ford for a new transmission.
The reflash only lasts about three weeks and then it is back to acting up. I don't think it is the actual transmission, but the programming. I think Ford has a bunch of programmers playing around with the transmission programming trying to fix it and in the process fixes one problem only to cause another one.
At least every thing else on the SUV so far works ok. The ac compressor still wants to come on in cold weather for some reason, but I just turn it off. Another Ford quirk I guess.

 

Well many of of the TCM updates do work on other peoples trannys mine included. I have seen however a few posts with people with 07's that have the same problem-the reflash won't hold. I think Fix is right in these cases, there is a mechanical failure that does not set off a code, but causes the TCM to go back to a bad shifting routine.

 

It could be that something is wrong with the transmission, not the program, however other than the second gear problem, it shifts just fine. It did start clunking on slowing down to about 5 MPH, but the last reflash solved the clunk problem, but not the long term second gear problem. If it blows up someday, I am covered on a 7 year or 48,000 mile Ford service contract.

Years ago I rebuilt my own automatic transmissions. Ford o matics, FMX, C4, C6. I would disassemble the valve bodys and governor, make sure each spool valve would fall out by it's own weight. Smooth any burrs out. Put in a shift improver kit for good measure. They always worked just fine after a rebuild. Now it is controlled with computers. May be Ford should bring back a few retired transmission engineers to teach these programmers about how transmissions operate. May be they could not program a computer, but they would sure know how to make a transmission shift right.

 

I agree. My 78 F250 has the C6 and I love the transmission. Tough and simple, that's how they should work.

 

Well I took the Expedition in on Monday and picked it up Weds morning, here is the detailed description in the service report:

34534 7F225 CCode D8 5.4L 6R7 TK7038
1. Electronic Transmission Diagnosis
2. Pinpoint Test/Diagnosis by symptom
3. Remove and install Transmission
4. Post Road Test
5. Set Trans on bench fixture
6. Overhaul Transmission
7. Reuse elastometric gasket
8. Test torque converter and flush
9. Flush cooler lines
10. Overhaul main control body
11. TSB 08-22-7 **082207A/1.0 hrs**
Road test vehicle for costomer concern, performed electronic transmission diagnosis KOEO KOER KOEC no codes retrieved from system, monitored transmission PIDS confirmed a 1-2 upshift flare when warm, removed transmission pan and main control to inspect found no abnormalities in mechatronic assembly. Proceed to air test clutches through ports in the trans and heard air hissing at intermediate clutch port. Remove transmission and set on bench fixture, dissasemble completely and found intermediate frictions with heated marks. Examined seals and found rolled. Flush and tested at torque converter and found ok. Overhauled transmission completely replaced all seals to correct concern. Overhaul main control body assembly, replaced burnt frictions, reuse elastometric gasket, reassemble and reinstall. Top off with mercon SP fluid, post road test, transmission shifts and operates as intended. Performed TSB 082207 Reprogram and recalibrate PCM/TCM to latest update.
***********************
2nd gear starts are gone, however they were gone with the original reflash, and the transmission seems to shift slightly smoother overall.

 

So problem solved, right?