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Violent downshifts

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Old Feb 10, 2008 | 08:22 PM
  #1  
Jim McCarty's Avatar
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Violent downshifts

Violent is the only word I can think of. When downshifting into 2nd in Tow/Haul, it feels and sounds like I got rearended by a Mack truck. I've taken it to the dealer a couple of times, but of course it works fine when they drive it because it doesn't have a heavy load on it.

How do I stop this? If it is controlled by the computer, will a new tune help?

I fully expect to look back next time and find oil and various transmission parts scattered behind me.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 12:34 PM
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It is controlled by the computer. It's odd that this is happening to your '06 because they pretty much neutered the tow/haul down after '04. I had an '03 that would do the same thing intermitantly and they cured it with a reflash to the computer. I hate for them to mess with the flashes personally but that's probably what your going to need done. The only other thing I could suggest you try first is to disconnect both batteries for about 20 minutes then reconnect and let the truck relearn it's strategies.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 01:49 PM
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Tow/Haul started with the TS transmission in 05 to my knowledge. The 04 and earlier had a OD which is only locks out overdrive. My 05 TS downshifts great under load. If I'm at a real slow speed and hit the brakes kind of hard, it will do the hard downshift. It does this to assist in braking. The harder your braking, the harder it will downshift. I've gotten used to it after 55k miles and zero problems.

If your running it in Tow/Haul mode with no load or trailer, it will lock up the rear tires on downshifts. How is the dealer testing it, unloaded? That won't reproduce your problem under load.

Kevin, 05 250 SD, XLT Sport V10, 4x2, 4.10, CC, Torqueshift towing the #63 CMC Mustang
 
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 02:28 PM
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The 6.0 Liter PSD trucks had the 5R110W (Torqshift) prior to 2005.

Not sure what johnnysf350 meant by "they pretty much neutered the tow/haul down after '04", it was my understanding the T/H mode improved.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by GT4point6
Tow/Haul started with the TS transmission in 05 to my knowledge. The 04 and earlier had a OD which is only locks out overdrive.
That's not correct. The TorqShift had tow/haul since it's inception with the '03 6.0L.

The ONLY TorqShift that didn't have tow/haul and had OD cancel is the 6.0L diesel vans.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 08:47 PM
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I get the violent downshift from 2nd to 1st gear (at 10 MPH), but only if I let it creap down to that speed very slowly, such as driving in heavy stop-n-go traffic on the interstate. I've learned to use my left foot on the brake and to lightly feather the throttle with my right foot when it gets down to the 11 MPH mark, and that makes the downshift very smooth. But if it is a normal stop, everything is fine without having to feather the throtte.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2008 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by redford
The 6.0 Liter PSD trucks had the 5R110W (Torqshift) prior to 2005.

Not sure what johnnysf350 meant by "they pretty much neutered the tow/haul down after '04", it was my understanding the T/H mode improved.
What I meant was that in '03 when tow/haul first came out in the Torq-shift in the 6.0 trucks only, it was the norm for it to engage very aggressively. In fact, aggressive enough to lock up the back wheels and put your teeth in the windshield. What they did was tweek the program to allow a softer, smoother engagement as to prevent said teeth from becoming engaged with the windshield... I absolutely agree with your statement redford, they improved its function vastly in my opinion.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2008 | 08:39 PM
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I'll try the feathering the brake like F250tuff does plus disconnect the batteries and see if that helps.

Thanks to all who replied.
 
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Old Feb 12, 2008 | 08:54 PM
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The way mine works, the more I brake the harder the transmission downshifts. One panic stop last summer while towing proved that, 3 very fast and very hard downshifts...bam bam bam....slowed everything down in a hurry! I was wondering of the car in my trailer was going to burst out and rear-end my truck!

I'm wondering if the sensor that tells the PCM how hard you are braking is screwed up?
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 07:15 AM
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areyou towing or hauling a heavy load when this happens? ford recomends you NOT use tow/haul if your not hauling or towing.... i dont know why nut I think it may have something to do with your downshifting problem? dont get me wrong I use it sometimes when im not hauling anything heavy too, and I have experienced hars 2-1 shifts on occassion and I belive its because there is no weight to compensate?
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 07:33 AM
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A heavier load would ease the jerking. From what I've experienced, the issue is that when you are creeping down on the speed at which the 2nd to 1st downshift occurs, the engine has already reached idle speed, but the torque-converter is still in lock-up, which causes the rear tires to bark and the truck to jerk. I don't know what speed the torque-converter unlocks when in Tow\Haul, but it must be pretty close to a dead stop.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2008 | 03:24 PM
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Does anyone know if one of Matt's tunes can stop this?

Hhmmm. I guess I could email Matt.
 
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