Motor revving too fast in1st gear?

[Big Blue]

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.

Only press the top of the switch "+" to bring up the gear indication. If you press minus you will lock the transmission out of 10th gear and one more gear for each press of the minus button.

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[cfhgarza]

Only press the top of the switch "+" to bring up the gear indication. If you press minus you will lock the transmission out of 10th gear and one more gear for each press of the minus button.

I didn't realize you could lock out gears with "-" Good to know ??

 

[OrangeStreak]

Only press the top of the switch "+" to bring up the gear indication. If you press minus you will lock the transmission out of 10th gear and one more gear for each press of the minus button.

Lee, Thanks for the info. on +/- mode.

 

[jsphlynch]

Only press the top of the switch "+" to bring up the gear indication. If you press minus you will lock the transmission out of 10th gear and one more gear for each press of the minus button.

This is incorrect. Pressing either "+" or "-" a single time will activate the "progressive range selection option" and display your current gear, but it will not affect the range of gears currently available. Once you have activated the progressive range selection, pressing "-" will lock out a single gear per push of the bottom, and pressing "+" will restore availability of the gears one at a time.

 

[Apples]

We need to remember that the transmission has fuzzy logic, and reprograms the shift patterns to your driving style. If you upgrade to Ford's Performance tune, the fuzzy logic really becomes apparent, especially in Sports mode. Frankly, I like the way it acts.

By the way, what you describe also occurs when you tell the truck you're towing a trailer, even if you aren't.

 

[OrangeStreak]

We need to remember that the transmission has fuzzy logic, and reprograms the shift patterns to your driving style. If you upgrade to Ford's Performance tune, the fuzzy logic really becomes apparent, especially in Sports mode. Frankly, I like the way it acts.

By the way, what you describe also occurs when you tell the truck you're towing a trailer, even if you aren't.

Alan, Thanks for the comment. This is my 1st experince with the new school vehicle tech and learning to get used to it. My last vehicle was a 2011 Ranger with zero technology on it. After setting up SYNC 3 and learning how to do software updates to it; pairing my phone with the system; and running my music off of a Flash Drive on the 2020, I'm getting an idea of what this electronic tech is like and actually starting to enjoy the learning curve.

 

[ch47dmechanic]

Thanks for responding. This happens all the time when the engine is cold, warm or hot. We have been in the 90's in Albuquerque so tested it at this high temperuture. I noticed this occuring when I drove off the Dealers lot. On normal acceleration, the tach reads about 2500 when it goes from 1st to 2nd. I am basing the comparison from my 2011 Ranger (5spd. automatic) which didn't over rev in 1st gear or any other gear beyond .

Under "normal acceleration", it shouldn't be shifting from 1st to 2nd in the first place. It'll always skip to 3rd. Are you shifting it manually or did you lock out gears so that only 1st and 2nd are available?

 

[OrangeStreak]

Under "normal acceleration", it shouldn't be shifting from 1st to 2nd in the first place. It'll always skip to 3rd. Are you shifting it manually or did you lock out gears so that only 1st and 2nd are available?

Jason,

Not shifting manually or locking out the gears. This occurs in the normal transmission mode using Drive. The transmission guy at the dealership said that on slow to normal acceleration the shift will go from 1st to 2nd but on a faster acceleration it will go from 1st to 3rd. He demostrated how these shifts work. Anyway that I accelerate (from slow to fast) still get the sense that in 1st gear the motor sounds like it is overreving. This is the 1st vehicle with an automatic transmision that I have experienced this 1st gear thing.

 

[ch47dmechanic]

Jason,

Not shifting manually or locking out the gears. This occurs in the normal transmission mode using Drive. The transmission guy at the dealership said that on slow to normal acceleration the shift will go from 1st to 2nd but on a faster acceleration it will go from 1st to 3rd. He demostrated how these shifts work. Anyway that I accelerate (from slow to fast) still get the sense that in 1st gear the motor sounds like it is overreving. This is the 1st vehicle with an automatic transmision that I have experienced this 1st gear thing.

How did he demonstrate it? I've honestly tried everything I could to get my truck to shift from 1st to 2nd under regular conditions and I've never been able to do it. It always shifts to 3rd. The only way it will go into 2nd is if I floor it or if I'm driving up a steep hill.

 

[Ace Holliday]

Jason,

Not shifting manually or locking out the gears. This occurs in the normal transmission mode using Drive. The transmission guy at the dealership said that on slow to normal acceleration the shift will go from 1st to 2nd but on a faster acceleration it will go from 1st to 3rd. He demostrated how these shifts work. Anyway that I accelerate (from slow to fast) still get the sense that in 1st gear the motor sounds like it is overreving. This is the 1st vehicle with an automatic transmision that I have experienced this 1st gear thing.

He got it backwards. Under normal acceleration it will skip second and sometimes fourth. Under heavier acceleration it will not skip gears. Press the "Trailering" button and the transmission will use all of the gears and hold them a bit longer even under light throttle. Down shifts will be more like a manual transmission as well.

 

[Roy Johnson]

After reading all the responses to your concerns. Your truck is performing normally. No need to waste your time and energy going to a second dealership. My truck does the same. Performing as designed. Just enjoy it.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

it does not reprogram shift patterns to match your driving style...

either i'm an idiot who cant read, or more misinformation needs to be corrected.
for shitzngiggles, heres everything from the manual so it can be read if desired.
comprehension of the data is also optional

I think everyone is talking about the "Automatic Transmission Adaptive Learning". Some may be taking it to the next level thinking/saying it continues to learn and change over the life of the truck depending on who drives it, as opposed to just a fancy break-in period.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I think everyone is talking about the "Automatic Transmission Adaptive Learning". Some may be taking it to the next level thinking/saying it continues to learn and change over the life of the truck depending on who drives it, as opposed to just a fancy break-in period.

Hi Matt,

The adaptive learning is always read to learn when it senses a parameter change, but does stop learning and adjusting until it checks and sees something outside its parameter range. If it was just a break-in period, once completed it and stored in the ECM, then if you had to have a trans swap for example...It would not relearn the new transmission unless the ECM zeroed out. I agree with you that it refines the transmission based on the transmission parameters but not on driving style.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Danny15l]

The way it shifts from 1st to 3rd gear kind of reminds me of the way the old 4 speed 4.6/5.4L used to shift. It tends to hold the gear until it feels comfortable to shift based on programming. Honestly fords hate the seasons so if you don’t drive often you will probably experience shifting irregularities from temp change air/fuel ratio data blablabla…

In my moms 01’ 4.6L towncar it would ONLY shift to second gear after 10+Mph. No matter how you accelerated (grocery store parking lot vs. free way acceleration). My 2020 ford ranger does the exact same thing but around 2500rpm from 1st to 3rd when driving warm. It’s worse when cold. I’ve had it in for the TSB and PCM/ECM reflash (aka unplug battery cable). The gear ratio is like 4.696 in 1st gear and it drops to like 2.985 in 2nd and 2.146 in 3rd gear so I’m not surprised it skips 2nd naturally. Some people like to hate it. I call it a trade-off for all the extra technology they put in any vehicle nowadays. All for what? An extra 3MPG?
God I miss displacement…
Glad I bought the FPP tune to help with some low end torque.

 

[OrangeStreak]

The way it shifts from 1st to 3rd gear kind of reminds me of the way the old 4 speed 4.6/5.4L used to shift. It tends to hold the gear until it feels comfortable to shift based on programming. Honestly fords hate the seasons so if you don’t drive often you will probably experience shifting irregularities from temp change air/fuel ratio data blablabla…

In my moms 01’ 4.6L towncar it would ONLY shift to second gear after 10+Mph. No matter how you accelerated (grocery store parking lot vs. free way acceleration). My 2020 ford ranger does the exact same thing but around 2500rpm from 1st to 3rd when driving warm. It’s worse when cold. I’ve had it in for the TSB and PCM/ECM reflash (aka unplug battery cable). The gear ratio is like 4.696 in 1st gear and it drops to like 2.985 in 2nd and 2.146 in 3rd gear so I’m not surprised it skips 2nd naturally. Some people like to hate it. I call it a trade-off for all the extra technology they put in any vehicle nowadays. All for what? An extra 3MPG?
God I miss displacement…
Glad I bought the FPP tune to help with some low end torque.

Dan,
I experienced this exact same issue when the Ranger was new. Took it to the Dealer and the Transmission guy said it was working properly. Another member on this forum was having this problem and said it would correct itself. For some reason which I can't explain, it smoothed out in time and is shifting properly now. I was frustrated with this too...hope you get the resolution also!

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