Help! Shift problem after start up
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 336
From: Calgary, Alberta
Sounds like low fluid level. Check the oil level in the transmission:
Check for leaks on the bulkhead connector as well:
also check the fluid level on your transfer case. If you open the upper fill plug on your transfer case and a lot flows out, chances are the seal between the transmission and transfer case is leaking and transmission fluid is being forced into the transfer case, leaving you low in the transmission.
Check for leaks on the bulkhead connector as well:
also check the fluid level on your transfer case. If you open the upper fill plug on your transfer case and a lot flows out, chances are the seal between the transmission and transfer case is leaking and transmission fluid is being forced into the transfer case, leaving you low in the transmission.
Ford Customer Service
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 808
From: Dearborn, MI
Ok, it's getting more and more frequent now. It's not only happening at startup anymore either. If I leave it running in park it might happen also after putting it in drive.
And 3 times at cruising speed the wrench came on and downshifted, it seemed like it went into safe mode.
A new thing I noticed, every time this happens the speedo goes to zero.
To clarify the original issue the truck felt like it was in neutral but now I can see its in 5th gear from a roll and will rev up like in neutral if I let it, then it will slam into a lower gear like 2nd. It seems like it doesn't know how fast the RPMs are, or the trans rotating. Is there a sensor to check?
Really could use some advice here.
And 3 times at cruising speed the wrench came on and downshifted, it seemed like it went into safe mode.
A new thing I noticed, every time this happens the speedo goes to zero.
To clarify the original issue the truck felt like it was in neutral but now I can see its in 5th gear from a roll and will rev up like in neutral if I let it, then it will slam into a lower gear like 2nd. It seems like it doesn't know how fast the RPMs are, or the trans rotating. Is there a sensor to check?
Really could use some advice here.
Brittany
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 305
Likes: 30
From: Tijeras, NM
Have you adjusted your shift pts and shift firmness as part of you tune efforts.
You say you have reloaded multiple times.
Have you taken your tune off completely and run it completely stock. If yes how did it run?
Have you reset shift pts and firmness to stock? Any issues with torque converter lockup?
You say you have reloaded multiple times.
Have you taken your tune off completely and run it completely stock. If yes how did it run?
Have you reset shift pts and firmness to stock? Any issues with torque converter lockup?
Last edited by dcrabby; Mar 27, 2015 at 02:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Allabout5.0
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 11
From: Houston
My Odometer is at 65k. I have not been to the dealer for this issue yet.
I have not tried to run it for more than 15 minutes in stock mode. During those short instances the truck didn't have the shifting issue, but probably because I didn't leave in there long. It runs like crap in stock mode with my mods.
Yesterday I put it in a different performance tune(93 boss) from what I have been running it in. I drove it around for half a day yesterday and had no issue. Fingers crossed.
I will check the fluid levels as suggested just incase.
I have not tried to run it for more than 15 minutes in stock mode. During those short instances the truck didn't have the shifting issue, but probably because I didn't leave in there long. It runs like crap in stock mode with my mods.
Yesterday I put it in a different performance tune(93 boss) from what I have been running it in. I drove it around for half a day yesterday and had no issue. Fingers crossed.
I will check the fluid levels as suggested just incase.
Thread Starter
Allabout5.0
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 11
From: Houston
I'm still struggling with this issue. One thing that might help someone help me is every time I have this issue the speedo stays on zero. The tach works fine.
So basically, my truck works fine most of the time but occasionally after startup the truck won't shift but I can baby it up to speed because it's in a higher gear(similar to starting to drive a manual in 4th-ish gear). Actually now it also happens rarely if I'm stopped for a few minutes at a stop light or if I leave it running in park.
Please help, there must be some relationship between the shifting and the speedo.
So basically, my truck works fine most of the time but occasionally after startup the truck won't shift but I can baby it up to speed because it's in a higher gear(similar to starting to drive a manual in 4th-ish gear). Actually now it also happens rarely if I'm stopped for a few minutes at a stop light or if I leave it running in park.
Please help, there must be some relationship between the shifting and the speedo.
Thread Starter
Allabout5.0
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 11
From: Houston
Doing a little more searching I feel pretty confident that my issue is related to a TSB:
6R80 TRANSMISSION HIGH GEAR ENGAGEMENT TSB 13-6-8FROM A STOP—VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE4/8/2013
I went to the dealership to request service on this and they told me the same thing several members mentioned that they would have to diagnose and recreate the problem. Which I see could be difficult depending on if they try cold starting it several times or not. The best case they would get it back to me in 3-4 days they said.
Anyway, long story short, I bought the part and would like to do this myself. I'm pretty experienced in mechanic work but one thing I don't have much experience with is transmission internals. I've pulled and put clutches replaced torque converters etc but nothing inside. The fluid and filter are pretty straight forward but I think to get to the lead frame I need to remove the valve body. Does anyone have any experience with this or information on a repair manual that gives instructions/torques etc??
6R80 TRANSMISSION HIGH GEAR ENGAGEMENT TSB 13-6-8FROM A STOP—VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE4/8/2013
I went to the dealership to request service on this and they told me the same thing several members mentioned that they would have to diagnose and recreate the problem. Which I see could be difficult depending on if they try cold starting it several times or not. The best case they would get it back to me in 3-4 days they said.
Anyway, long story short, I bought the part and would like to do this myself. I'm pretty experienced in mechanic work but one thing I don't have much experience with is transmission internals. I've pulled and put clutches replaced torque converters etc but nothing inside. The fluid and filter are pretty straight forward but I think to get to the lead frame I need to remove the valve body. Does anyone have any experience with this or information on a repair manual that gives instructions/torques etc??
Thread Starter
Allabout5.0
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 11
From: Houston
Got it fixed! I found some other users with a similar problem and diagnosed it to be the lead frame. I went to the dealer but they wanted to keep my truck for 3-5 days at least and it would cost around 1000 dollars. I bought the lead frame, filter and new fluid and did the change out myself. So far so good and I haven't seen the previous problem since.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Wow. I just bought a 2012 Platinum which is having VERY similar issues. I was thinking it was the intercooler issue, but this seems much more likely since I'm in dry Colorado. Can you explain a little more about your fix? What is a lead frame? Is it lead as in the heavy metal, or lead as in "in front" of something? Is it in the pan, or external to the transmission? Did you also have to replace the sleeve O-rings as in the video above? I will research the TSB and hope for more details on this as well.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Doing a little more searching I feel pretty confident that my issue is related to a TSB:
6R80 TRANSMISSION HIGH GEAR ENGAGEMENT TSB 13-6-8FROM A STOP—VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE4/8/2013
I went to the dealership to request service on this and they told me the same thing several members mentioned that they would have to diagnose and recreate the problem. Which I see could be difficult depending on if they try cold starting it several times or not. The best case they would get it back to me in 3-4 days they said.
Anyway, long story short, I bought the part and would like to do this myself. I'm pretty experienced in mechanic work but one thing I don't have much experience with is transmission internals. I've pulled and put clutches replaced torque converters etc but nothing inside. The fluid and filter are pretty straight forward but I think to get to the lead frame I need to remove the valve body. Does anyone have any experience with this or information on a repair manual that gives instructions/torques etc??
6R80 TRANSMISSION HIGH GEAR ENGAGEMENT TSB 13-6-8FROM A STOP—VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE4/8/2013
I went to the dealership to request service on this and they told me the same thing several members mentioned that they would have to diagnose and recreate the problem. Which I see could be difficult depending on if they try cold starting it several times or not. The best case they would get it back to me in 3-4 days they said.
Anyway, long story short, I bought the part and would like to do this myself. I'm pretty experienced in mechanic work but one thing I don't have much experience with is transmission internals. I've pulled and put clutches replaced torque converters etc but nothing inside. The fluid and filter are pretty straight forward but I think to get to the lead frame I need to remove the valve body. Does anyone have any experience with this or information on a repair manual that gives instructions/torques etc??
One odd thing:
I've read others could see the gear indication on their gauge screen. I wondered how that was since I'd never seen that. After the tranny fix, I can now see the gear indicator! I guess it just wasn't showing before.
Thanks for they info all!