2021 Ford Ranger XLT low rpm vibration

[nick forseth]

has anyone talk to their ford service dept. regarding a low speed drivetrain vibration . This problem seems to occur when i am coasting from highway speed [50/60] mph to 30/40 mph . The trans is staying in9th or 10th gear and motor turning 1250 rpm and there is a noticable vibration that can be increased or decreased with throttle pressure . I am convinced the trany /motor is lugging as i can stop problem by manually down shifting trans increasing rpm to 1600 or more .[higher the rpm the smoother the drivetrain] going from 10th gear to 7th .This vibration i can now feel very often at 60 mph on fairly flat highway cruise on vibration increases on slight uphill grades decreasing as road levels out or drops down . Have been by Ford of Canada this is a normal characteristic of this model truck . Had i known this before i purchased this truck i would never have bought it! Further to tire air pressure is set to 32 psi , motor stop start is switched off , lane keeping warning alarm is off an i have tried running motor on premium 92 oct gas . None of which has made any difference . Anyone out there having this problem or have found a cure for it . If not for the vibration issue i would love the truck. thanks Nick

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[APmech]

has anyone talk to their ford service dept. regarding a low speed drivetrain vibration . This problem seems to occur when i am coasting from highway speed [50/60] mph to 30/40 mph . The trans is staying in9th or 10th gear and motor turning 1250 rpm and there is a noticable vibration that can be increased or decreased with throttle pressure . I am convinced the trany /motor is lugging as i can stop problem by manually down shifting trans increasing rpm to 1600 or more .[higher the rpm the smoother the drivetrain] going from 10th gear to 7th .This vibration i can now feel very often at 60 mph on fairly flat highway cruise on vibration increases on slight uphill grades decreasing as road levels out or drops down . Have been by Ford of Canada this is a normal characteristic of this model truck . Had i known this before i purchased this truck i would never have bought it! Further to tire air pressure is set to 32 psi , motor stop start is switched off , lane keeping warning alarm is off an i have tried running motor on premium 92 oct gas . None of which has made any difference . Anyone out there having this problem or have found a cure for it . If not for the vibration issue i would love the truck. thanks Nick

I use Tow/Haul mode around town to prevent this. On the highway I turn tow/haul off.

 

[McLeadslinger]

Mine did the same thing until my tune. The factory trans shift strategy is crap.

 

[Trigganometry]

All of us pretty much have seen the same thing early on in ownership off and on. There is more than one way to deal with it. It’s an adaptive (learning) shifting system. Takes time to learn your driving style. Personally, I lock out the gears I do not want it shifting into, especially around town. At times on highway will lockout 10th if RPM’s get to low. What you will find is the sweet spot for any gear is 1800 to 2300 RPM. No lugging or shudder. Just use the +/- key on side of shifter to add or subtract gears you want used. Gears will be displayed in dash console when doing this. Once you take it out of gear it resets. After a period of time your transmission will learn that you want the higher RPM’s and shift in those patterns pretty much. Or as others have said a tune gets you there sooner or Sport mode for total control. Hope that helps!

 

[WNCblueridge]

has anyone talk to their ford service dept. regarding a low speed drivetrain vibration . This problem seems to occur when i am coasting from highway speed [50/60] mph to 30/40 mph . The trans is staying in9th or 10th gear and motor turning 1250 rpm and there is a noticable vibration that can be increased or decreased with throttle pressure . I am convinced the trany /motor is lugging as i can stop problem by manually down shifting trans increasing rpm to 1600 or more .[higher the rpm the smoother the drivetrain] going from 10th gear to 7th .This vibration i can now feel very often at 60 mph on fairly flat highway cruise on vibration increases on slight uphill grades decreasing as road levels out or drops down . Have been by Ford of Canada this is a normal characteristic of this model truck . Had i known this before i purchased this truck i would never have bought it! Further to tire air pressure is set to 32 psi , motor stop start is switched off , lane keeping warning alarm is off an i have tried running motor on premium 92 oct gas . None of which has made any difference . Anyone out there having this problem or have found a cure for it . If not for the vibration issue i would love the truck. thanks Nick

Mine is having exact same vibe characteristics even with the tune and locking out gears. It got where I cant use the truck for intended purpose doing daily commutes. Could be a number of factors but majority of complaints get isolated to the 2 piece drive shaft. Inspection might be in order, check the center bearing angle within spec and shaft aligned. Hopefully the previous responses help you out but if not then ford techs can perform active TSB 's found in other threads

 

[APmech]

Mine did the same thing until my tune. The factory trans shift strategy is crap.

I completely agree, it's crap. I talked to the dealer about this and they said it would sort itself out after a few thousand miles of learning. Well, that didn't quite work out, so now I use tow/haul mode. I also have the take-off shudder and slip yoke bump and also a 45ish mph vibe that might be related to the slip joint sticking (I'll find out soon). Quality is job 1....

 

[McLeadslinger]

Same experience I had minus the slip yoke issues. I did have the drivetrain clunk on my 2016 EB F150 Lariat though.

I completely agree, it's crap. I talked to the dealer about this and they said it would sort itself out after a few thousand miles of learning. Well, that didn't quite work out, so now I use tow/haul mode. I also have the take-off shudder and slip yoke bump and also a 45ish mph vibe that might be related to the slip joint sticking (I'll find out soon). Quality is job 1....

 

[pbethel]

Test drive.
Then buy. Or not.

 

[nick forseth]

nick here again . have been using tow/haul feature and that mostly cures low rpm vibration . 15000 kms on truck now maybe my trans is a slow learner . tow haul feature raises motor rpm by 200 rpm with a down shift vibration goes away . motor is CLEARLY LUGGING . it seems the motor doesn<t have enouph tourqe for rpm/ load or there scientists havent figured out how to program a trany .Downside to tow/haul in summer it is slow to upshift with no load and in winter can down shift on icy roads when not expected and cause a bit of a skid . Still like motor power overall and gave it a good test pulling 4000# trailer with no problem Other disappointment i have is E brake has to be pushed back to full off in cold weather and driver side fit and finish of doors is poor . Both last 2 issues too be brought to their attention soon .

 

[alprout]

Hi all, Im in Australia and have a pk 2012 ranger 4x4 with the 3.2 turbo diesel, not sure if you have this engine in your rangers, I have a lugging issue with my 6 speed manual , the engine will vibrate /lug at 1200 rpm , typically when I shift to third gear, its not tail shaft or engine mounts, have removed the tail shaft and driven it in 4x4 so its engine gear box/clutch related I think .
Quite annoying as I don't always want to down shift to second at round abouts , big wide corners as this gear is too low.
it will also do it in fourth gear if i let the rpm decay to 12/1300 rpm and then accelerate, the issue disappears at 1500 rpm, is this normal? ,
I have replaced both engine mounts and the trans mount is good, changed the trans fluid .
Any ideas?

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