Tranny and towing
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Tranny and towing
I towed a 30 ft. fifth wheel toy hauler (fully loaded) this weekend for the first time with my 05 F250 and a couple of times when coming to a stop (in tow/haul mode) I noticed that the tranny felt like it slammed when down shifting. I was told that the tranny will do this while "learning"? Is there any truth to this?
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
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From: SW Virginia
Same here. I haven't heard anyone say it's learning though. I just figured the program also reads the amount of brake pressure applied and downshifts accordingly. As far as I can tell, it's normal.
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I was shifting into 3rd while coming to a stop and it would not "slam" while downshifting. The person who told me about the "learning" phase of the tranny was a former Ford service manager. Does it ever get any smoother? (down shifting)
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
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From: SW Virginia
Mine hasn't so far and I've got about 32,000 on it. I guess I've just kind of learned to live with it. Mine doesn't really slam but it downshifts harder in tow/haul and harder when I'm braking hard. It may also be the computer and the tranny trying to slow the truck rapidly. It's probably reading your speed and adjusting shifts to decceleration. It's programmed to downshift to reduce wear on brakes, etc. so I'm guessing that the more rapidly you slow down, the faster it tries to downshift to keep up.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
It's worse with a light load! Mine briefly locked the rear wheels downshifting when I used Tow-Haul towing my old 3K pop-up trailer.
Mine still downshifts aggressively when in Tow-Haul and stopping my 12.5K trailer. Guess I'm just used to it now.
Mine still downshifts aggressively when in Tow-Haul and stopping my 12.5K trailer. Guess I'm just used to it now.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
It is because you are in tow/haul mode. The truck is trying to use the gears and motor braking to slow you down. Remember, the truck doesn't know you are coming up to a stop light. It just knows you want to slow down and it wants to help.
Normal.
Consider taking it out of tow/haul when you don't need it.
Normal.
Consider taking it out of tow/haul when you don't need it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Kansas City, MO
Sometimes, when in tow/haul, and downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, my truck will hit so hard, it feels like i hit a deep pothole with the rear wheels, feels terrible. Only does it once in a while, worse with a light load. I've reset the system and tried the relearn strategy, doesn't seem to help. Anyone else have any insight?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 2,651
From: SE Florida
The 3-2 shift in tow haul is a very difficult shift to do. There are four clutches involved in that shift, two releasing and two applying. If one of them applies or releases more than 30 milliseconds out of phase you get a rough shift.
The only thing that I've found that helps, and then only sometimes, is to disconnect both batteries to restart the learning process.
The only thing that I've found that helps, and then only sometimes, is to disconnect both batteries to restart the learning process.
