This probably should be two topics but I'm lazy and I don't want to clutter up the forum.

I had an 07 4.2L XL F150. When you started it, once it was started, you could try to restart it and it wouldn't squeal as the starter wasn't allowed to reengage. You also could bump the starter a little and it wouldn't be enough to start the engine. (I can only see a use for this maybe to line up a torque converter to drain, but I think there are easier ways.)

I now have an 07 4.6L XL F150. It also has the deal where it won't let you start it once it is already started. However, I have noticed that if you bump the starter even the littlest bit it completes the start for you. It seems kind of cool so I hope this is normal behavior and not something weird. The first time I noticed it I was kind of freaked out, but I guess I'm easily amused or something.

One other difference (besides a little more power) is that on this very steep downhill I drive frequently, with cruise control set to 45MPH, the 4.6L will actually downshift to third on its own whereas the 4.2L would freewheel in OD. On this hill that means I am going 45-50MPH in the 4.6L versus 55-60MPH in the 4.2L. Both have the same 4R75E transmission.

Is this a programming thing or is it because of the different engine? Whatever the cause, I sure hope it stays this way because that was one of my biggest pet peeves from my old truck. (The new truck has a Jun 07 build date so maybe there is a new transmission program available?)

Anyways, just wondering.

PS - Every F150 I looked at had the 4R75E "Q" transmission that used to be 5.4L specific. My guess is Ford decided to simplify their inventory.

 

"had" an '07 4.2? What did you do with that one? And I thought I went through cars fast....

That starting feature is in the manual...it gives credit to the torque converter turbine speed sensor providing the PCM the information to accurately time the engine starter. Did your 4.2 have the autobox or standard? This feature is ONLY on the auto trannies.

BTW...I'm still confused about your tranny....

 

I was pricing performance upgrades and figured it made more sense to sell the truck than to try to get more power out of the 4.2. (I don't need more power, but I'd like more power, especially if the mileage is pretty close.) In the end it cost me a little but I picked up a LS differential, a transmission cooler, the trailer tow package and the V8. Plus, I really like the V8 sound. I hit the dealer up at the end of the month and there were lots of rebates so I figure I did okay. I rarely buy vehicles so when I bought the 4.2 I wasn't totally up to speed on things.

I knew I forgot to read something!

Both trucks have the 4R75E.

 

Well...as for the differences in the way they behave...i'd attribute it to different powertrain control software. The box that controls the V6 is not the same as the one that controls the 4.6, so that probably has something to do with it.

By the way...good choice with the engine upgrade. I did the same thing you did, kinda...it just took me a few years more. Bought my '03 4.2, auto back in August of '03. Wasn't happy with it, never liked how that V6 did on the highway, so I traded it on an '05 Mustang back in January of '05. Then...wasn't happy with the Mustang. Nothing against the Mustang, it was awesome at what it did...but in the end it was a car, and I needed a truck....overloaded that thing one too many times. So now, I have my '07 with the 5.4, and I couldn't be happier!

 

Read the whole manual last night. No mention of the automatic starting. They did mention holding the gas down all the way to clear a flooded engine. I'd love to read the official documentation on this if anyone knows where to find it. I can't find anything in the search but I may be using the wrong keywords.

What happens if the engine won't start? Does it stop after 5 seconds or what? I don't think you're supposed to run a starter for very long.

In other news, I tested the downshifting several times today on several steep hills. Every time, it downshifted to third, which is awesome. My identical (kinda) 4.2 never did that, and I took off the negative battery cable a few times to let it learn from scratch a few times.

I thought it was a cruise control thing but it works if just coasting without cruise engaged.

Very satisfied customer here.

 

Page 240, 2007 F150 owner's manual:

"If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it will have a computer
assisted cranking system. This feature assists in starting the engine. If
the ignition key is turned to 4 (START) and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the engine may continue cranking for up to 10
seconds or until the vehicle starts."

 

Thanks for the text. I have two 2007 F150 manuals here. One of them is May 06, first printing. On page 240 they are talking about snow plows.

The new printing has the proper text.

In the old manual, on the same page, topic wise (page 211), they don't mention that feature.

So, my mistake was reading the wrong manual. I assumed they were all the same. You know what they saw about assuming.

 

Very strange...

They may have added that feature midway through the 2007 model year...can anyone with a truck from a previous year shed some light on this?

My '05 Mustang had a couple of cool features it mentioned in the manual(early build '05). These were being able to roll the windows down with the remote, and roll them up with the key in the door lock cylendar. In the later edition online manual I downloaded, they said that it can NOT be done that way. My printed manual was correct, and it was available, but they disabled the feature midway through the model year, probably because of liability.

 

GM has had the start assist for about 3 years... complete waste if you ask me... hold the key until it starts, simple, no?


Holding the pedal to the floor to clear a flooded engine allows maximum air inflow to help ignite and burn the puddled fuel in the cylinders. If you manage to flood one, clear it as soon as possible to avoid washing the cylinder of precious lubrication.

 

Keep in mind that the transmission is not the component that has the logics to do the shifting. With that said, the PCM programing for each engine is probably different due to the power and torque curves. So just because the trans is the same between both engines is not safe to assume the transmission characterisitics will be the same.

 

It was added mid 2007. My early 2007 does not have this feature.