rancherlee

Glad I'm not the only one, hard to bring up a "once in a blue moon" issue to the dealer if no one else has had the issue.

Tussin_Wolf

FORD TSB 11-8-9 - 5.0L - ENGINE BRAKING PERFORMANCE DURING LOW SPEED COAST DOWN

FORD:
2011 F-150

ISSUE:

Some 2011 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine built at Dearborn Truck Plant (DTP) on or before 7/27/2011 or built at Kansas City Assembly Plant (KCAP) on or before 8/8/2011 may exhibit a concern with less than desired engine braking performance during low speed coast down maneuvers. This concern may be most noticeable in a parking lot environment or in stop and go traffic conditions.
ACTION:

Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
SERVICE PROCEDURE

Reprogram the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to the latest calibration using IDS release 74.01 and higher. This new calibration is not included in the VCM 2011.7 DVD. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com.

NOTE:PLEASE ADVISE THE CUSTOMER THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADAPTIVE TRANSMISSION SHIFT STRATEGY WHICH ALLOWS THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER TO LEARN THE TRANSMISSION'S UNIQUE PARAMETERS AND IMPROVE SHIFT QUALITY. WHEN THE ADAPTIVE STRATEGY IS RESET, THE COMPUTER WILL BEGIN A RE-LEARNING PROCESS. THIS RE-LEARNING PROCESS MAY RESULT IN FIRMER THAN NORMAL UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

WARRANTY STATUS:

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage
IMPORTANT: Warranty coverage limits/policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part.

OPERATION
110809A

DESCRIPTION
2011 F-150: Reprogram The PCM (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)

TIME
0.4 Hr.

DEALER CODING

BASIC PART NO.
Recal

CONDITION CODE
04

Tussin_Wolf

What was happening with my truck was when I would let off the accel. in parking lots or in heavy traffic, the RPMs would hold at around 1100 RPM rather than dropping off and providing a bit of engine braking. To me, this one is VERY close to an "unintended acceleration" problem, or about as close as it gets without actually accelerating. The first couple times it happened to me it caused me a bit of panic; I almost rear ended a guy in traffic and nearly hit a car when pulling into a parking space. I had the above TSB performed and it solved the "surging" for me. Good luck folks!

wasinger3000

Sounds like the tsb will do the trick.

rancherlee

The TSB doesn't really sound like my issue, its more of the engine revving up on its own like the "throttle by wire" is thinking I'm pushing harder on the throttle than I am and opens the throttle body a bit then goes "OOPS" and lets off. It did it again yesterday on my packed snow driveway you could see every time it throttled up as there was a 10-15' spin mark every 50' with just slight throttle pressure (enough to make the truck go a steady 10mph). It goes to I'd say about 1/4-1/3 throttle when it does this than lets off again.

Tussin_Wolf

Well if its actually throttling up then that is a problem; THAT is the type of "unintended acceleration" that a car company should be concerned about. Toyota took an absolute **** kicking over their unintended acceleration problem even though almost every case was caused by morons installing aftermarket floor mats that trapped the accelerator pedal. Could you imagine the ****-storm that would roll through if a car company was producing vehicles that ACTUALLY just accelerated by themselves?

I would take it in and see if the TSB fixes your problem, and if it doesn't, start kicking up a storm. The fact that it will apply, all on it own, enough throttle to spin your tires is kind of a concern, isn't it?

Gasman75

I'm not sure the TSB applies to me either. Mine feels like it is suddenly in neutral and revs with no movement of the truck then when I let off the gas it ( catches) so to speak and begins to accel again at the lower rpm.

Ford850

Yours sounds like the normal system operation on these. Most who have reported this say it only happens if they don't let the truck warm up for approximately 20 seconds before driving it, and only on cold starts. As someone else said, Ford has the timing retarded quite a bit until warm, for emissions purposes (thank you EPA). If you try to drive it before it goes through that warm up cycle for a few seconds, you get the herky jerky reactions for awhile.
I think of it this way... The trucks are drive by wire, and pretty much a pile of computers on wheels. Think of how a PC works when you boot it. If you try to click something or open an app before you let it finish booting and settle into 'go mode', it can cause all sorts of hiccups and delays while it seems confused. On the other hand if you let it finish the boot up for a few more seconds before opening an app, it runs smooth as silk.

Gasman75

This is exactly what happens to me, only when engine is cold and I get in and go. Glad to know this is normal, doesn't feel normal but I guess this is what technology is all about!

TheWhiteBeast

This is caused because the ignition timing is retarded on start up in order to heat up the emissions components. It is retarded as much as 9 degrees. Perfectly normal, its just fords way of getting their trucks to pass EPA standards. In all my cars I always let them idle down before moving. If I don't do this in my mustang it will drive itself.