hard shift into 3rd
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
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From: Littleton, CO
hard shift into 3rd
I have a 2000 F250 SD 7.3 auto 4WD 96Kmi stock.
recently my truck is hitting 3rd pretty hard. does my truck learn driving habits and if so, can I disconnect the batteries for a while and allow it to go back to factory specs to see if this helps? it generally hits hardest under light acceleration. thanks for any help
recently my truck is hitting 3rd pretty hard. does my truck learn driving habits and if so, can I disconnect the batteries for a while and allow it to go back to factory specs to see if this helps? it generally hits hardest under light acceleration. thanks for any help
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
I have a 2000 F250 SD 7.3 auto 4WD 96Kmi stock.
recently my truck is hitting 3rd pretty hard. does my truck learn driving habits and if so, can I disconnect the batteries for a while and allow it to go back to factory specs to see if this helps? it generally hits hardest under light acceleration. thanks for any help
recently my truck is hitting 3rd pretty hard. does my truck learn driving habits and if so, can I disconnect the batteries for a while and allow it to go back to factory specs to see if this helps? it generally hits hardest under light acceleration. thanks for any help
How long have you had your truck? Reason I ask is that sometimes that shift into 3rd, under a certain speed and throttle position, will also lock the torque converter at the same time. What happens is you feel the shift and lockup, and it's a much harsher upshift than normal. If you aren't used to it, then it feels weird. Ford's shift strategies aren't exactly the best on these trucks.
If you've had your truck for a while, and it's doing something new and completely different, then give us a few more details.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
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From: Littleton, CO
I have had it since new. 3rd has alway been different. sometimes smooth, sometimes like its going into neutral for a second then into third, sometimes it like a double shift and the rpm's drop. I use my truck for work and it is mostly in town miles. changed trans fluid and filter at 30k and 60k including draining the TC. when I have time it is ready for another service. this time of year I am doing service calls at 20-25 houses a day. need to go to work, I will check response later. Thank you
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
I have had it since new. 3rd has alway been different. sometimes smooth, sometimes like its going into neutral for a second then into third, sometimes it like a double shift and the rpm's drop. I use my truck for work and it is mostly in town miles. changed trans fluid and filter at 30k and 60k including draining the TC. when I have time it is ready for another service. this time of year I am doing service calls at 20-25 houses a day. need to go to work, I will check response later. Thank you
On edit: I see that you're in Littleton. If you have any questions, I would be happy to show you what's going on with your truck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
Jody has made some changes to the shift strategy with his current tunes. Might want to talk to him about adjusting your transmission shift strategies.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
It really needs something or I am going back to stock.Ive been running in the stock setting for a few days and started liking my truck again
It is really a pain to drive in either tune
It is really a pain to drive in either tune
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
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From: Littleton, CO
I assume the TPS is the throttle position sensor. I noticed today that different amounts of throttle have a lot to do with the shift. constant acceleration and the shift is fine, letting off at the shift point and it hits pretty hard, and under load it's like a hesitating shift and then it just bogs down. It's almost like its shifting too early under a load and too hard under light acceleration. does the ECM have different parameters for shift points or are they set in stone? I have heard of shift kits ( for a lack of the actual name), do they change the shift points?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Your line pressure modulator valve may have gotten excessively worn. It's caused by a steel valve riding in an aluminum body.
Google "Sonnax valve". It's cheap, and may fix your problem.
http://www.puredieselpower.com/catal...-kit-p-85.html
It's a common problem with high-mileage 4R100's, and why Sonnax developed the kit.
It's what I used a few years ago.
It's a quite noticeable improvement, but I have nothing but stock to compare it to.
So, for what it's worth, I'm still quite happy what it did for my shifts.
Pop
Google "Sonnax valve". It's cheap, and may fix your problem.
http://www.puredieselpower.com/catal...-kit-p-85.html
It's a common problem with high-mileage 4R100's, and why Sonnax developed the kit.
It's what I used a few years ago.
It's a quite noticeable improvement, but I have nothing but stock to compare it to.
So, for what it's worth, I'm still quite happy what it did for my shifts.
Pop
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
It took me about two and a half hours, maybe three.
It's just like doing a pan-drop oil and filter change, and add about 45 minutes to R&R the tricumulator.
Be sure to have an appropriate-range inch-pound torque wrench on site. The Tricumulator body can warp from over-torqued bolts/nuts.
With the re-usuable pan gasket (yes, re-use it), you also want to properly torque the pan bolts.
Be sure to clean the ring magnet around the drain plug, too.
It's a good time to change the filter (be sure to get the old o-ring out of the pump inlet if it doesn't come out with the old filter).
The most important thing, besides a large-enough drain pan, is a plastic tarp put down. The job gets messy with oil dripping.
Don't do the job on a windy day, as dust and dirt will get blown up into the trans, and you gotta' keep everything spotlessly-clean! CLEAN! KLEEEEEN!
Pop
It's just like doing a pan-drop oil and filter change, and add about 45 minutes to R&R the tricumulator.
Be sure to have an appropriate-range inch-pound torque wrench on site. The Tricumulator body can warp from over-torqued bolts/nuts.
With the re-usuable pan gasket (yes, re-use it), you also want to properly torque the pan bolts.
Be sure to clean the ring magnet around the drain plug, too.
It's a good time to change the filter (be sure to get the old o-ring out of the pump inlet if it doesn't come out with the old filter).
The most important thing, besides a large-enough drain pan, is a plastic tarp put down. The job gets messy with oil dripping.
Don't do the job on a windy day, as dust and dirt will get blown up into the trans, and you gotta' keep everything spotlessly-clean! CLEAN! KLEEEEEN!
Pop
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
I assume the TPS is the throttle position sensor. I noticed today that different amounts of throttle have a lot to do with the shift. constant acceleration and the shift is fine, letting off at the shift point and it hits pretty hard, and under load it's like a hesitating shift and then it just bogs down. It's almost like its shifting too early under a load and too hard under light acceleration. does the ECM have different parameters for shift points or are they set in stone? I have heard of shift kits ( for a lack of the actual name), do they change the shift points?
Shift pressure is also addressed in the PCM. However, those values are pretty low in stock tuning. Those harsh shifts you feel are the combination of an upshift and the torque converter locking at the same time, resulting in the engine bogging down at low RPM's.
Just by reading this post, it sounds like you're are not happy with the stock shift points and torque converter lockup strategy. I can definitely relate, as I hate the stock shifting too. But I think you've figured out a little bit about how the TPS and vehicle speed relate to shifting. Paying attention while driving like you did really helps to understand what's happening.
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