Hi Everyone,

I know the 10R80 issues have been beaten to death in the forum. I've spent a lot of time reading posts about the issues people have experienced. I'm curious has ANYONE ever had a dealer fix the issue I'm running into. Here's what's going on and what I've tried.

2018 F150 STX 2.7 SCREW 4WD
14,000 miles

Problem(s):

1. When cold, the transmission when shifting from 3-4 or 3-5 has a little bit of a slip which is followed by a very firm/hard shift. Once the transmission is above 120F this issue disappears.
2. Clunking on downshifts, especially in the 5,4,3,2,1 range when rolling to a stop. it does it at other times but this is when I can always reproduce it. Sometimes it feels like the truck is being bumped from the rear a bit.

Troubleshooting:

1. Dealer flashed the PCM per the latest TSB (which I had in hand already). That seemed to help a little. Yes, I drove the truck for a week or so to allow the initial relearn process to adjust.
2. Against my better judgement, I went the 5 Star Tuning route. I have several options here but the trans only tune seems to smooth out the downshift clunks. However, I still seem to have the cold 3-5 slip/hard shift when cold.

I still would like to check the trans fluid level but I need to pickup a 17mm box wrench to reach it. I'm not holding my breath that low fluid is the issue because i do not have any leaks.

Not a great start with this truck. Already had the oil pan replaced with the revised part for the gen2 engines due to the oil leak (stupid rtv sealant). Glad that's replaced with a real gasket now at least if you have a gen2 engine.

Has anyone fixed these issues? I read lots of complaints about it and 99% of the time it sounds like the dealer can't fix it or won't fix it. "It's just the way the 10r80 behaves" seems to be the common answer. If that's the case, I'll try and live with it. Does anyone have higher mileage on the 10r80 with these types of issues and seen it improve/stay the same or go the other direction and fail?

All these new trucks seem to have issues. The 8 speed on the silverado clunks and slams into gear...worse than the f150 IMO. The tundra is reliable but only gets 13/17mpg. I'm not sure I can buy a Fiat truck. lol

Thanks in advance for listening to my rambling!

 

I started a poll about the 3-4/3-5 shift issue here

Many have it and have not been able to resolve. After resetting my adaptive learn tabled with forscan and driving like I normally do, things got a bit better. The trans also seems to like more throttle input and shifts smoother.

I am in the lower mileage camp so can speak to the problem over time.

 

Have you played around with different drive modes, such as tow/haul & sport? Tried manual shifting? Shifting is generally smoother when not skipping gears. I understand these are not "fixes", just trying gauge your level of concern.

With below NOT ATF fluid, the lower gear skips will be a little "jerky", especially with light throttle. If these go away when ATF warms up (sounds like it does..), or when not skipping gears, your AT is probably fine.

 

I have tried different drive modes. If you light on the gas that's when you notice it. If you have your foot into it more it shifts better, I agree.

Honestly, the 5 star tune that eliminates much of the skip shifting makes it drive much better. 5 Star Tuning says the skip shifting and wanting to lock up the torque converter so often is what causes the clunks. This seems to prove itself when I apply their tune. It sucks because with 10 gears you really CAN skip some under certain conditions.

I'll try manually shifting through 1-5 when it's cold and see if it does changes the behavior. I'll be able to test that shortly. If so, then it's all shift strategy and PCM logic which will only be fixed through an update from Ford or a custom tune.

Thanks.

 

After multiple reflashes, my truck (19 Plat Coyote) still does the 5-4-3-2-1 feeling right about at end of coming to a stop, pry 80% of the time. Makes coming to a stop awkward, feels like you got bumped couple times lightly in the rear. 3rd/4th/5th shifts can still clunk, not as much as before. I just had a brand new Explorer loaner, samething, clunked all day long with 3rd and 5th for days I had it. Friend just bought new Expedition, samething, clunking and the weird holding gears issue coming to a stop.

I really don't know what it is with Fords and 10 speed GM doesn't really have this issue, and another friend just bought new Denali suv for wife, shifts right through gears smoothly and fast, no banging, clunking, holding like Ford. Even rental F150s I've had travelling, same, even worse up north when it was cold. Imo it's worse with the Coyote vs 2.7/3.5, almost like Ford did that in purpose lol.

Two friends are tuned here though, and far better, dyno and street data log tune will always be way better than remote tuning. Nothing against 5star and others (I ran 5 Star once on another truck, and shifting wasn't 100%, local was flawless). They can make adjustments way easier in regards to shifting feeling it themselves and data logging. Night and day different (better) with the Coyote.

It can't only be tuning, there has to be slight differences with the GM units since they operate better and don't make all the whirring, whining, whistling noises we do.

I had them even check to make sure trans fluid was correct level, it was. There was a lineup of
​​F150s and Raptors when I brought mine in, in both lanes at service drop off. My advisor is like their all in for same issues, shifting complaints. Actually is a specific tsb for Raptors though.
​​​

 

Boy, that's discouraging and encouraging at the same time. lol. I guess it's good they all do it and it's just the way they are (as they keep saying) and bad that nothing other than tuning is going to tone it down.

I wonder if I can get 5 star make adjustments using data logging without putting it on the dyno. I hear what you are saying though, nothing will be the same as in person tweaks on a dyno. I'm not even interested in more power, I just want the shifting smoothed out. I've found disparity in how the trans behaves between their custom tunes. For example, 87 perf/tow is clunky like stock IMO but the 87 perf smooths it out dramatically. They created a trans only tune based off that 87 shift strategy for me and that seems to be the sweet spot for now.

 

I tested shifting 1-5 manually a few minutes ago. It certainly seemed smoother when it ran through all the gears. I think for now, I'm going to put the 5 star trans only tune back on and drive it. I may ask 5 star to try and eliminate the skip shifts on light acceleration if possible. Or i just need to drive more aggressively.

 

I came here looking for others who have the same cold transmission 3 to 4 ‘flare’ that I have with mine. Only does it the first time through the gears, after that it shifts very well and I don’t have any of the other shifting issues described above. Same results in ECO, normal, and tow haul modes.

 

Mine does pretty much exactly this. First time it goes 3-4 in the morning it usually hiccups. After that its fine.

 

Mine too...any Ford reps in the house want to step in and and give some feedback on this issue? Is i a matter of tuning, a defective part, etc?