Bad shifting when cold
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 63
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Bad shifting when cold
I have a 2011 F150 5.0L with about 170,000km. Runs great except for shifting when cold. Here's the story.
The range sensor went on it so it went to the transmissions shop. Whole new valve body assembly was installed with Philips Versatrans LV fluid. Took it home and immediately had hard 3-4 shifts. Waited for adaptive learning to complete but problem remained. Transmission shop warranty replaced the valve body but issue remained. Had a KAM reset done with a scantool by trans shop. Didn't fix it. Trans shop guy gave up and basically told me to go away. I replaced the MAF sensor thinking that would solve the problem, but it didn't. Went to Ford and had a PCM update done, that didn't fix either.
Its been a few months now and the temperature is consistently getting lower (I'm in Northern BC, Canada) and the transmission is performing consistently worse. When engine and trans are cold the shifting can be erratic especially when going up a hill. I don't notice a delay when going from Park to Reverse to Drive. Once things warm up, engine at normal operating temp and transmission at about 50°C, it operates pretty smoothy. A few jerks here and there but much better anyway.
Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to what is going on with this truck? I have a BlueDriver scantool so maybe I can use that to try and shed some light on what's causing these problems?
The range sensor went on it so it went to the transmissions shop. Whole new valve body assembly was installed with Philips Versatrans LV fluid. Took it home and immediately had hard 3-4 shifts. Waited for adaptive learning to complete but problem remained. Transmission shop warranty replaced the valve body but issue remained. Had a KAM reset done with a scantool by trans shop. Didn't fix it. Trans shop guy gave up and basically told me to go away. I replaced the MAF sensor thinking that would solve the problem, but it didn't. Went to Ford and had a PCM update done, that didn't fix either.
Its been a few months now and the temperature is consistently getting lower (I'm in Northern BC, Canada) and the transmission is performing consistently worse. When engine and trans are cold the shifting can be erratic especially when going up a hill. I don't notice a delay when going from Park to Reverse to Drive. Once things warm up, engine at normal operating temp and transmission at about 50°C, it operates pretty smoothy. A few jerks here and there but much better anyway.
Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to what is going on with this truck? I have a BlueDriver scantool so maybe I can use that to try and shed some light on what's causing these problems?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 63
Likes: 4
Supposedly Versatrans LV is suitable for the 6R80. I know Mercon LV is the OEM product so maybe there is just enough difference to cause the problem? I could also take in again and specify Mercon LV be put in it.
I'm not sure why they replaced the whole valve body and not just the faulty molded lead frame (range sensor) but if they did this without programing the new solenoid strategy codes into the PCM that could very well be your issue. Without programming the new solenoids into the PCM Ford says "harsh/erratic shifts, harsh/soft engagement or damage to the transmission can occur". On older transmissions you could just replace solenoids and valve bodies without issues, but on newer transmissions they need to be programmed.