I just got my new f150 with the 6 speed auto trans. I turned in my 06 F150 that had the 4 speed auto. I gotta say that I hate this transmission, Anyone Else? It feels like it downshifts all the time when you let off the gas petal, and shifts funny out of first gear. Do I have a bad trans or is this how it is. It took me a couple of days to realize how it was or I probably would not have bought it.

 

Mine does pretty much everything you have described, but I like it. Mine shifts hard from 1st to 2nd, but only when it is cold...the Torqshift in my SD did this too. It is supposed to help the tranny warm up and protect it from slipping while it is cold, I think.

The downshifting you speak of, is most notable when I hit the brakes or let off the gas completely for a few seconds to slow down. This new tranny keeps the torque converter locked up most of the time unlike most transmissions. By keeping it locked and downshifting to keep the rpms around 1000 while slowing down, it allows the fuel system to shut off while slowing down, improving fuel mileage. When rpms drop to a certain point or you hit the throttle again, the fuel system kicks back on.

All in all, though, I really like the new tranny. It has good firm shifts at points I like, really amplifies the engine's power, and the downshifting actually allows me to use a little less brake pedal when slowing down, hopefully saving the brakes some. Time will tell on that though.

 

Thus the point of a manual transmission....downshift when you want, change as smooth as you want.

 

My 6-speed does not shift hard out of first though I am in Texas and its been 80 degrees here. It does downshift though, primarily downhill when braking. It feels pretty natural to me.

 

Kruk,

I haven't noticed that. The only thing that I noticed initially is that it sure doesn't stay in some of the gears very long at all. I'll have to pay attention today and see if I notice what you are describing.

If your's isn't working correctly, fixing it might be as simple as a reflash of the processor.

Rob

 

I may have been overstating a little when I said "hard". I guess it is just a lot firmer than after the tranny warms up or if the temp outside is warm.

It's not like it downshifts as soon as you let off the gas. What it does is this: after you let off the torque converter stays locked allowing rpms to drop with speed...just like letting off in a manual. Once the rpms drop to around 700-800, it downshifts, bringing them back up to about 1100-1200 max. During this whole time period of slowing down, the fuel system has shut off completely, so you are using no gas until you come to a stop or accelerate. I read that cyclinder deactivation was a near impossibility with the design of the 5.4 heads, so this is one of the things they came up with to make up for that.

I have found it to be quite smooth, and I rarely notice it anymore. Also, nobody who has ridden with me has noticed it.

 

My experience with the six speed is limited to a round trip form Va to Maine in 2007 when I rented a 4x4 Expy. (MY 4x2 Expy doesn't like snow very well). I thought the truck was smooth, shifted well and had plenty of power. On the return, I pulled a tandem U-haul trailer back to Va. Aside from the yawing of the trailer, I never knew it was there.

Tim

 

The down shifts do feels a lot more like a manual downshift when you use the gears to slow down and def as smoother than i ever was with manual gear changes. Drove manual for 15 years and am extremly pleased with the auto on the 09.

 

I have definitely noticed some rough shifts from first to second also. I think I notice it more when I am hardly on the gas pedal.

 

Mine only does this when it's cold out. After 30secs -1 min of running it dont even do it after that. The last week or so it aint done it as temps have been above 60f.

 

i just got mine today, 5.4 with the 6 speed tranny, love it, it takes a lil getting used to, give it time, my lil ranger has a 5 speed auto and shifts strangely too. i think the 6 speed and the 5.4 are a great match. i logged 350 miles on it today, the more i drove it the better i liked it, eats hills with no trouble.

 

I feel the same way about my mine, and I have had it for 6 weeks and 2,000 miles.

 

So, when is Ford going to put a manual tranny in these things?

 

Not going to happen. According to everything I've been reading here for the last year, they don't sell enough manual tranny F-150's to continue top produce them. Personally, I think it's crap. Give me an F-150 5.4L 3.73.1 LS and a granny gear 6 speed and we'll pull stumps and get great mpg's.

Tim