Transmission shifts smooth in all gears except when shifting into 2nd. The truck always revs up to 2700 to 3500 RPMs before it will shift into 2nd. Can someone tell me why this is? Also would you call this a hard shift, a slow shift or what?

The truck in question:
1998, f150, 4R70W, 4.6l, RWD, white, super cab, 6 foot bed, has the Romeo engine.

Final notes: I'm currently also trouble shooting a rough idle. Explanation: At idle in park the rpms rev up and down from 900 RPMs to 1000 RPMs and back at like 1hz.

Thanks for the help. I did look for this question before posting. BTW I am a new ford owner and new to this form.

 

Need a little more history. Has it always done this stuff, or has this just started? If you know?

 

Thank you for the post Martian, I forgot to add this information. I bought this truck with everything that you can think of wrong with it. I saved it from the junkyard and basically got it for free.

I had the problem since the day I purchased it. I replaced the trans filter and fluid twice. I welded an oil drain plug to the pan which I recommend everyone doing (Makes changing the trans fluid much easier). I also replaced the radiator which also cools the trans fluid. The pump seems strong and the fluid flows well.

 

When your rpm's are going up to 2700 to 3500 rpm, is it a neutral condition, and then it catches?

 

Thank you for your post. What do you mean by neutral condition? It doesn't seem like it hesitates or anything. If I just put my foot into it and ignore that it's not shifting sooner it shifts right into 2nd gear. I always have power from 1st to 2nd. It just always at a high RPM. Not sure how to explain it. If I drive like a grandma and really slowly take off it will shift at 2300 RPMs, If I floor it, it will shift at 3200 RPMs. And if I drive normal which is slow for most, it will always shift around 2700 to 3500 RPMs.

 

As in does it feel like the transmission is releasing the gear it's in, waiting forever to get a higher idle, then finally catching the next gear

 

Yes, exactly what Martian said.

 

I don't have enough experience to say one way or another. I can only explain my experience and hope someone can figure out what I'm trying to portray.

You ask, does it feel like the gear is releasing? Well it does at a high RPM. It's not like 2nd gear finally catches. It catches right away. It shifts fast from 1st to 2nd. There is no hesitation or break between 1st and 2nd. It's just that it shifts at a high RPM.

Thanks for the help, keep it up since I'd like to figure out what the problem is so I can fix it.

 

Our Fords are very sensitive to the correct fluid levels. Make sure it is full at operating temperature on a flat surface.

What transmission is in your truck? The 4r70w has had some spring problems with the v/b accumulator pistons. E4OD/4R100's a bit different.

Here is a good article on the 4r70w. It talks about the shifting problems you are describing. This is specific to this trans. http://diyford.com/ford-aode4r70w-gu...oubleshooting/

 

Jeff, are you disconnecting the battery, and then reconnecting to drive your truck? Reason I ask is, these things always shift a bit wonky after the battery has been disconnected. Also, when it is cold (I'd say 50 degrees F and below), mine does take more RPM before it goes in to 2nd gear. I asked my Buddy about it (he owns a trans shop) and he told me that the ECU changes the shift strategy when it's cold to compensate for the fluid being cold. When it's at operating temp, it shifts normal though. Is one of those scenarios possible in your experience?