Anyone had their transmission simply not respond, when flooring it?

[Msfitoy]

Honestly sounds pretty normal to me. The cpu has to pick a gear given how far you pushed down on the throttle and of course it’s a turbo’d engine so you have that lag. Next time use sport mode or double tap the throttle to down shift.

If a semi was going to hit me at a light, I sure the hell won't wait 3 seconds to move out of the way...I'm jumpin out runnin...???

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[Chris M]

Anyone had their transmission simply not respond for a longtime, when flooring it?
I was on the highway recently, and was merging into traffic from a near-standstill (as is normal).
I was half out of my lane, with high-speed traffic in the lane I was merging into, and floored it while in D mode to merge into the lane.
Simply nothing happened for SEVERAL SECONDS(like 3 seconds). It seems like I lost all wheel power. Not even slow movement while turbo spun up -- simply 0 power.

After those few seconds, the vehicle finally started accelerating. I didn't move my foot so no, I hadn't been accidentally pressing the brake

Anyone had this before?
Is this a transmission issue? Engine issue? Either way it was extremely unsafe.

I know by now you've had a lot of different replies, and some questions about what you experienced.
I've read your initial question and I'm sure the answer is no, this is not normal. I drive in "D" all the time and every day have at least 2 occasions to have the same experience. Today I paid attention and attempted to replicate your problem.
During the acceleration to merge I floored the accelerator. At no time did "nothing" happen. There was always steady acceleration, although there was a fraction of a second "lag?" and then the magic happened and acceleration increased a lot like you would expect from a turbo'd engine.

What YOU experienced is not normal and should be investigated by someone who knows what they are doing. Good luck with that.

 

[Jacob]

If a semi was going to hit me at a light, I sure the hell won't wait 3 seconds to move out of the way...I'm jumpin out runnin...???

Haha that’s why you need that tune ?

 

[Dereku]

If a semi was going to hit me at a light, I sure the hell won't wait 3 seconds to move out of the way...I'm jumpin out runnin...???

Thats what happened when my transmission decided to quit. Semi was going maybe 3mph so not fast enough to encourage running.

 

[Msfitoy]

Haha that’s why you need that tune ?

Just what Dr 10R80 ordered... ?

 

[Jacob]

Just what Dr 10R80 ordered... ?

SPEEED AND POWWWWWWAAAAHH

 

[jblc]

So now it's up to 4 seconds? I am sure it was less than 3, time flies when shit is hitting the fan. But yeah, what was the engine RPM during this 3 to 15 second delay?

I was thinking more about how long it was, and think 3-4 is more accurate. In any case, not sure what RPM was doing. It was brief enough, and I was concerned enough about getting hit, that I wasn't looking at the gauge...

 

[jblc]

When you pinned it, did you lurch forward at all (like a full loss of power) or continue to carry your cruising speed?

I was at a standstill halfway out of my stop-and-go lane, trying to merge into traffic. (see first post for more details). When it finally accelerated, there was a small lurch but no huge bucking.

 

[jblc]

I know by now you've had a lot of different replies, and some questions about what you experienced.
I've read your initial question and I'm sure the answer is no, this is not normal. I drive in "D" all the time and every day have at least 2 occasions to have the same experience. Today I paid attention and attempted to replicate your problem.
During the acceleration to merge I floored the accelerator. At no time did "nothing" happen. There was always steady acceleration, although there was a fraction of a second "lag?" and then the magic happened and acceleration increased a lot like you would expect from a turbo'd engine.

What YOU experienced is not normal and should be investigated by someone who knows what they are doing. Good luck with that.

Interesting -- thanks for sharing, and for trying it out! That's good to know, as I definitely wasn't steadily accelerating during that time.
For the 2 other times you've had this: did you get it looked at? Or infrequent enough that there wasn't concern for you?

 

[awd.nv]

I wonder if it was a traction control nanny? I would still take it in to the dealer though.

I can tell you if I make a left turn rather aggressively, while starting to straighten the wheel it might hold throttle back until the truck is going straight. Less so in sport mode.

I disabled adv trac traction control (hold the button longer) and on a rainy day it let me get the truck sideways but when it was time to straighten the wheel I just barely lifted throttle and the thing applied brakes.

All that to say, I wonder if the traction control system has an issue.

 

[airline tech]

I think it's a combination of these factors: as possible
Dead Stop & Punching to the Floor

Traction Control (and steering inputs) - Limiting Power to prevent spin out
Turbo Wastegate Movement - To Open
Lag In Communication - Throttle Input -(WOT)

Note:
The reason I am thinking (Turbo) is due to the fact that when you go (WOT) it triggers the waste gate.

Try This:
Engine Off - Key On

Press Accelerator - Like you normally would from a stop (gradually) and release

Now:

Punch Accelerator to the Floor - Hear the Wastegate (Open)? This opening (Full Open) takes a few seconds.
Now this is with the engine off - so it may be trying to find the right position (degree of open) to keep the turbo from over boosting with the commanded throttle input.

I just think it relates to the speed of how fast you punch the accelerator, as the Waste Gate triggers at approximately 95% of pedal travel. (Electronically) so with the engine running and factoring in boost pressure readings etc (might account for the slight delay)

So, a definition of Punching It to The Floor was it progressive or slamming your foot on it (and to the floor (NOW)? is the key factor here.

As far as Traction Control - One of the Inputs for the system is (Steering Wheel Angle)

So, a offset from (0) degrees, merging left/ right into traffic and punching the accelerator could possibly trigger a limited power response.

I guess the main question for the OP, as it appears this is a (Normal) commute intersection (stop)
you encounter regularly.

Anything specifically, you remember doing differently from your normal merge routing when this happened?

Do you always - Quick Punch it to the Floor?
Did you Steer Left / Right - More Than Normal?

 

[Chris M]

Interesting -- thanks for sharing, and for trying it out! That's good to know, as I definitely wasn't steadily accelerating during that time.
For the 2 other times you've had this: did you get it looked at? Or infrequent enough that there wasn't concern for you?

To clarify...
I merge onto the freeway twice a day every workday so I have an opportunity to experience what you did...except I never experience that the way you describe it.
Either from a standstill or from a running start I don't have a time during to-the-floor acceleration where nothing happens.

What you experienced is unnatural and should be looked into for your safety's sake.

 

[Msfitoy]

I was thinking more about how long it was, and think 3-4 is more accurate. In any case, not sure what RPM was doing. It was brief enough, and I was concerned enough about getting hit, that I wasn't looking at the gauge...

Was it like flooring it with the clutch in for 4 seconds then side stepping it?! How was the burn out?

 

[TJC]

In certain areas of Colorado - like the Denver area many people have to accelerate slowly at traffic lights , mostly it's a defensive reaction to avoid getting T-boned by the frequent miscreants running the redlights, it's become all too common place, and of course the populace objects to cameras that catch the offenders in action.

As to the "lag" or sometimes slowness of the tranny to respond - IMO it's programmed reasonably well, far from perfect but the Ranger is still a 4,400 lbs vehicle powered by a small displacement engine, there are certain situations where the tranny is unlocked, rpms are down as is available boost and you can get a slower response, seemingly way to slow where you are in a situ that you need quick acceleration. But overall greatly improved from early turbo 4s - like in the 70s and 80s, when I drove turbo 4s in Saabs.

I am not talking about the first car in the line. The entire line of 15 to 20 cars are spaced out, some with 3 car lengths between them. And they all hesitate to start. Maybe it is people on phones being distracted. I dunno, but it is real in my neck of the woods. On quick lights only one or two cars move through the light before it turns red.

 

[airline tech]

I too did a test today - from a dead stop - punched it to the floor - noted the First Thing was the Turbo Spool Up - and off it went - no delay noted.

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