04 Shifting

[carfixer]

Has anyone been able to "bark" the tires on a 1-2 shift with an '04. I've tried shifting it manually and letting it shift on its own. The 03 I recently drove has a pretty harsh shift and will probably bark them if I tried. It feels as if the engine power is reduced at the shift point (to save the trans?). I understand Ford did that on the Lightning to save the trans.

[JohnE]

Add supercharger, try again :-)

[joflewbyu2]

i haven't tried manual shifting in my 03, but in auto it shifts hard enough to leave marks on the road during the 1st-2nd upshift. i have to back off in the wet because it shifts so firm, even during the 2nd-3rd shift at 90 mph to avoid losing control.

[joflewbyu2]

the superchips tuner will definitely fix that. not only does it firm up the shifts, but it also speeds up the amount of time it takes to shifts between gears. I noticed this on the tuner 2 months ago when I purchased it. I returned it 1 week later since it did not have the gear and tire change ratio it it yet. just waiting for the latest edition to come out and I will get it again. check to see if it will work on the 04.

[JohnE]

Guys, 2ND selection is different than 2nd from D. warning: DO NOT EVER downshift to 2nd. There is a period of time that the transmission will lock up. 2 is designed for snow and ice starts.

So far you've talked about using 2 as un upshift and that works just fine.


By the way, if you leave the selector in 1 it will upshift automatically to 2nd and smartly downshift to 1.


If you truely wish to bark 1-2, you need to modify your transmission valve body for faster shifts. Some major improvement is available via a chip, however there is a limit with that alone. I have both chip and shift kit. Light throttle brings soft, yet quick shifts. Heavy foot will shift fast and firm.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by carfixer
It feels as if the engine power is reduced at the shift point (to save the trans?).


Most modern electronically-controlled transmissions behave like this. The PCM will retard timing and stuff, just to soften the blow to the transmission as it shifts and tries to bring the engine RPM down with the new gear ratio.

I think this is why manual shifting before 5000 RPM barks our tires... the torque management probably isn't as aggressive at that RPM (ie. the computer probably wasn't programmed to expect a full throttle upshift before redline... heh heh)

[looking97233]

John does your GM shift into 2nd when you have it locked down in 1st? If so funny, I have never had a ford trans do this. IME, first is first, second is second and Drive is first, second, and third. A chevy though, will shift through all the gears even locked in 1st.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by JohnE
Guys, 2ND selection is different than 2nd from D. warning: DO NOT EVER downshift to 2nd.


The Overdrive Band seems to be applied when in manual "2" versus the regular second gear application while in "D".

I wonder if manual downshifts or upshifts to 2 are in some way responsible for the premature clip-related failures that we've been hearing about?

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by looking97233
John does your GM shift into 2nd when you have it locked down in 1st? If so funny, I have never had a ford trans do this. IME, first is first, second is second and Drive is first, second, and third. A chevy though, will shift through all the gears even locked in 1st.

Yes same here for the Fords

That's odd shifting for the Chev. Put it in "1" and it will still shift through all gears? why bother with such an arrangement unless "Drive" starts in 2nd only?

[TripleTransAm]

I think the GM electronically controlled transmissions (ie. 4L60-E, etc.) will upshift at a predetermined 'panic' point. With today's redline upshifts, that's pretty much what it'll do in 'D' but at least it won't upshift anytime before that in manual '1'.

With the older valve bodies, if you forgot you were in '1', well... ;)

[JohnE]

The 1st selection is spelled out in the owners manual. It provides engine braking for descending steep grades.

2 is for reduced traction starts. And also provides engine braking. But please try to avoid using this selection to downshift. The way that it applies the clutches causes a harsh condition inside the tranny, actually brake locking it for a moment in time. This is not something that will kill it at once, simply put severe wear on it.

Don't forget that our transmissions are electronically controlled by the engines computer. They are programmed to work in harmony. Timing is pulled for shifts. The engine has multiple stages of a rev limiter too. Initially the rev limiter will pull timing, and then it cuts fuel.

I know we weren't initially talking about downshifts. Just wanted to plant a little seed in everyone's head. This knowledge was given to me (by trustworthy source) and I'm passing to you.



In contrast, my Volvo will not upshift if 1 is selected. It simply bounces off the rev limiter. Don't ask how I know...

[studio460]

JohnE:

Well, I HAVE been manually downshifting from "D" to "2." Been doing it for better drivability for the past three weeks, and I really like how that works. Although since reading your post, I'll avoid it from now on. But when I do "ruin" this transmission, is there another compatible transmission, or some other kind of transmission mod, that will allow me to continue to manually downshift from "D" to "2" safely?

Also, which is worse? Manually downshifting from "D" to "2" with overdrive "on" or manually downshifting from "D" to "2" with overdrive "off?" Thanks for your advice!

[67435animal]

Originally posted by NBC Shooter
JohnE:

Well, I HAVE been manually downshifting from "D" to "2." Been doing it for better drivability for the past three weeks, and I really like how that works. Although since reading your post, I'll avoid it from now on. But when I do "ruin" this transmission, is there another compatible transmission, or some other kind of transmission mod, that will allow me to continue to manually downshift from "D" to "2" safely?

Also, which is worse? Manually downshifting from "D" to "2" with overdrive "on" or manually downshifting from "D" to "2" with overdrive "off?" Thanks for your advice!

I have the same question. I have always downshifted cars I own from D to 2.

Bob