Motor revving too fast in1st gear?

[OrangeStreak]

I think 1st might be geared a little lower than on many other cars. In addition, the normal function of the transmission is to skip 2nd under typical acceleration, so it's got to use 1st to get the vehicle up to a high enough speed to keep running in 3rd. I think the combination of the two leads to it going to higher RPMs in 1st than in any other gear during acceleration.

How many RPMs is it getting up to? And how hard do you push the accelerator?

Joe, on normal acceleration the tach reads about 2500 when it shifts into 2nd. When I accelerate quicker the revving is noticeable by not as noticeable. I suspect that is because the duration time between the shift to 2nd (or 3rd whatever is the case) is quicker because the rpm shifting point has arrived sooner. As you mentioned, the transmission guy did say that on faster acceleration that it will go from 1st to 3rd. This sensation is comparable to when I had my 2011 Ranger in 4h or 4L at low speeds.

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[GregM]

That's what I thought too but in his OP he says it's only in 1st gear. My fan makes this noise past 1st gear, it sounds like a school bus taking off.

Dave I Liken mine to the garbage truck on pick up day.

 

[jsphlynch]

Joe, on normal acceleration the tach reads about 2500 when it shifts into 2nd. When I accelerate quicker the revving is noticeable by not as noticeable. I suspect that is because the duration time between the shift to 2nd (or 3rd whatever is the case) is quicker because the rpm shifting point has arrived sooner. As you mentioned, the transmission guy did say that on faster acceleration that it will go from 1st to 3rd. This sensation is comparable to when I had my 2011 Ranger in 4h or 4L at low speeds.

In case you haven't discovered this yet, you can see what gear you are in by pressing the "+/-" button on the side of the shifter while you are in "D". I'd be surprised (and honestly a little bit worried) if you aren't skipping 2nd when you accelerate in "D".

2500 RPM doesn't sound like a cause for concern. I'm really light on the accelerator, and I routinely see it above 2000 RPM before it shifts out of 1st.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Mine goes to 2500 - 3000 before shifting to second. Why do you think that is too high?

geophp: I'm fine with this rpm shifting point but just indicated this so you guys could help me evaluate my issue. I'm bothered by the sound of the engine speed in 1st. I am making this comparasion with my 2011 Ranger (5 spd. automatic) which sounded like a normal speed when shifting from 1st to 2nd and to the other gears beyong that. Thanks.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Are you driving in Sport mode?

Good question. Occurs when I am in Drive.

 

[geophb]

geophp: I'm fine with this rpm shifting point but just indicated this so you guys could help me evaluate my issue. I'm bothered by the sound of the engine speed in 1st. I am making this comparasion with my 2011 Ranger (5 spd. automatic) which sounded like a normal speed when shifting from 1st to 2nd and to the other gears beyong that. Thanks.

I guess I am not following. Different truck, diff motor, diff trans, different everything than the 2011 as you know. Everything sounds normal to me.
My guess is you are hearing the fan roar, like others have mentioned. The fans on these are LOUD. And if its 90+ outside with the a/c going, its going to be using the fan a lot. It isn't like the old school fan clutch that only kicks the fan on when its already overheated.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Define revving faster than it should? Need some numbers. Video?

Edit: Hot and cold? Mine hangs gears a little longer when cold which is normal.

Happens when the motor is cold, warm or hot running in 90 degree tempuratures. Haven't noticed any sluggishness yet in any shifts. No technological information on this. I'm making a laymans comparision of this occurance with the shifting sound of all the other vechicles I have owned with auto transmissions, including 2 earlier edition Rangers (1999 and 2011). My 2011 (5 spd. automatic) in 4H sounded like what the normal shifting speed should be from 1st to 2nd. The 2020 in 1st gear is comparable to how my 2011 sounded when it was in 4L or 4H running at low speeds. Thanks.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Mine seemed to smooth out at around 1,200 miles. As Jim said give it some more time and if it keeps happening have the dealer check it out.

That was helpful.

 

[OrangeStreak]

I guess I am not following. Different truck, diff motor, diff trans, different everything than the 2011 as you know. Everything sounds normal to me.
My guess is you are hearing the fan roar, like others have mentioned. The fans on these are LOUD. And if its 90+ outside with the a/c going, its going to be using the fan a lot. It isn't like the old school fan clutch that only kicks the fan on when its already overheated.

Good point! This is my 1st vehcle with any high tech on it so I will need to learn how it works and get used to it. If this issue is still a concern down the road, I will take it to a different dealership for a test while still on the bumper to bumper.

 

[AzScorpion]

Good point! This is my 1st vehicle with any high tech on it so I will need to learn how it works and get used to it. If this issue is still a concern down the road, I will take it to a different dealership for a test while still on the bumper to bumper.

Same here, this is my first one with all this high tech stuff too. There was a TSB but that was right when they came out but you should see it smoothen out after a few more miles. If you get on it a little harder it will skip right over 2nd gear. Coming from a '16 Tacoma anything would've been better, even this. lol

 

[wanted33]

Same here, this is my first on with all this high tech stuff. There was a TSB but that was right when they came out but you should see it smoothen out after a few more miles. If you get on it a little harder it will skip right over 2nd gear. Coming from a '16 Tacoma anything would've been better, even this. lol

@AzScorpion Dave, my first multi geared tranny was a '16 Corvette with an 8 spd. All I can say is GM made a mess of those things, and seemed to put them out just to find out what needed to be fixed. They finally got them right around 2019 as my GS 8 spd is great. It looks like this 10 spd collaboration with GM took about that long to smooth out the quirks. The wife's '18 Mustang wasn't right the day I took it home, but we kept giving it a chance to smooth out, which it didn't. It took a reprogram to make it right, and the car is actually fun to drive now. I have a friend with a '19 Ranger, and the tranny is giving him a fit right now. He's taking it back to the dealer (same dealer I deal with) soon after I told him about the Mustang. I was really surprised at the 10 spd in the '20 Ranger I test drove. It was smooth on the changes, and seemed to know which gear to be in at all times. I just hope my Ranger will be as good when it arrives.

 

[AzScorpion]

Jim, It's strange how some seem to be coming off the line like this now that they've been out for a while and the TSB was over a year ago. I think some just are not use to the new tech (me included) with these vehicles and the learning/adapting they do. Both Rangers that I test drove (a month apart) functioned flawlessly which is why I bought mine on the spot after I drove it. I was lucky that a local dealer had exactly what I wanted on their lot. It is the smoothest drivetrain I've ever owned and I sometimes have to look up at the dash to see if it's even shifting. I've ordered many F 150's in the past and the waiting is a killer sometimes. Hopefully yours comes in flawless too. ?

 

[LurchOR]

@OrangeStreak Count me as one who doesn't really care for the way the truck handles taking off from a stop. First gear is something like a 4.7 ratio and third is 2.15; that's a pretty big difference. Now if one is towing or carrying a load, that low first gear is nice... rest of the time it's just too low for me...I'd rather the thing started out in second. And don't get me started on the fan.

Just for giggles, try putting the trans in tow mode so that it won't skip second on the way up. This may result in an earlier (lower RPM) shift point. Who knows, might work for you.

 

[OrangeStreak]

@OrangeStreak Count me as one who doesn't really care for the way the truck handles taking off from a stop. First gear is something like a 4.7 ratio and third is 2.15; that's a pretty big difference. Now if one is towing or carrying a load, that low first gear is nice... rest of the time it's just too low for me...I'd rather the thing started out in second. And don't get me started on the fan.

Just for giggles, try putting the trans in tow mode so that it won't skip second on the way up. This may result in an earlier (lower RPM) shift point. Who knows, might work for you.

Thanks for the input. It might be that because the gear is so low a ratio that its seems to be bogging down. When I am in 1st it feels like the transmission is slipping which I have had problems with on several former vehicles. It is also very similar to driving in 4L or 4h at low speeds.

 

[OrangeStreak]

In case you haven't discovered this yet, you can see what gear you are in by pressing the "+/-" button on the side of the shifter while you are in "D". I'd be surprised (and honestly a little bit worried) if you aren't skipping 2nd when you accelerate in "D".

2500 RPM doesn't sound like a cause for concern. I'm really light on the accelerator, and I routinely see it above 2000 RPM before it shifts out of 1st.

Joe, I always check the lit display on the dash when putting it in gear to make sure I have the right selection. I will try the +/- method which you explained.

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