Transmission slip when cold

[DT444T]

I will run mine until it's warm...

in the cabin because the cold can suck it.

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[quangdog]

Mine also exhibits rougher shifts, hesitation going into gear, etc when cold. I always park in the garage at home at night, which currently sits around 50F. It almost always goes into reverse just fine when leaving the garage... but after a day of work when it's been out in 30F temps all day, it's more like trying to drive a bucking bronco getting out of my work parking lot. I have trust issues with dealers, so I have not taken it in, but I really suspect my trans fluid is low.

I seem to recall in another thread someone posted that they checked theirs, and it was a full quart low from the factory. Anyone here had their trans fluid level checked?

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I found myself that after a cold start idle is high. It will remain that way for a few minutes and then drop down a 100 or so RPM. Then about a minute or so more one last drop.

Drop into gear and good to go

That warms up the motor oil, but that would have no affect on his transmission fluid.

 

[Trigganometry]

That warms up the motor oil, but that would have no affect on his transmission fluid.

Tranny is water heated in these trucks.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

With outside temperatures hitting zero and parking my 2019 Ranger in the garage, when I got in it and fired it up, threw it into reverse, the truck would barely move. It was like it didn't have enough trans fluid. I then returned it to park position and let it idle for around 10 seconds. I then proceeded to go back into reverse and the truck started moving, but stopped every few feet. Back into park and let it idle some more, then back into reverse and off we went. Called dealer and talked to service manager and he had never heard this issue happening on a 2019 Ranger. He blamed it on the extreme cold and couldn't offer any other reason. Anyone have this issue or know of a service bulletin that address this issue? Thanks for any help you all can give.
[/QUOTE

Gotta love service managers! Yes it was because of the cold. And it's not because he couldn't tell more, it's because he isn't allowed to tell you more. (Or admit the real problem to you). Your factory transmission fluid, which I assume is what's in it, is of poor quality.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Tranny is water heated in these trucks.

I didn't know that! Good to know. How long in total do you let it warm up? Long enough for water to warm up, circulate, and warm up the transmission fluid? What was the air temp outdoors?

 

[Trigganometry]

I didn't know that! Good to know. How long in total do you let it warm up? Long enough for water to warm up, circulate, and warm up the transmission fluid? What was the air temp outdoors?

What I described above is long enough for water temps to begin rising enough to begin service mode. I never felt hard shifts or slip when I begin this way.

thats a stretch to be honest

its called a transmission cooler because of its design.
but i can see how you may believe it works in the opposite, and it might very well function that way in the slightest way depending on how the control valve operates. A function which I have no knowledge of. it may have a thermal function to it and theres no flow until a set temp is reached.
The transmission fluid would have to be flowing through the "heater" to be gaining any benefit. in the early minutes of driving, the engine coolant isnt going to be at any significant temperature to make a noticeable difference to the transmission fluid either.
minimal gains arent going to make much of a difference.

From what I can gather transmission runs at hot water temp. Or if tranny runs warmer the same water transfers heat away. So it’s a heat exchanger.

Tranny fluid is rated higher temps than trucks core operational water temps.

 

[HAMMERTIME]

My truck is parked in our underground garage which runs about 3-8 degrees C or 35-40 degrees F. When parked I back into my spot. As I put it in drive, it will more ok but as I let off the gas coming out the door then step back on the gas it feels like the tranny has stopped working. If I come off the gas again, it will usually move again but the drive line clunks like you have a loose u joint. I does all this within the first 1000 yards of driving. Never after that. IMHO I believe it is just oil that is slow moving in cooler temps and something that if we are aware of it should not be an issue. A few minute warm up should solve the issue.

 

[Rocketeer61]

With outside temperatures hitting zero and parking my 2019 Ranger in the garage, when I got in it and fired it up, threw it into reverse, the truck would barely move. It was like it didn't have enough trans fluid. I then returned it to park position and let it idle for around 10 seconds. I then proceeded to go back into reverse and the truck started moving, but stopped every few feet. Back into park and let it idle some more, then back into reverse and off we went. Called dealer and talked to service manager and he had never heard this issue happening on a 2019 Ranger. He blamed it on the extreme cold and couldn't offer any other reason. Anyone have this issue or know of a service bulletin that address this issue? Thanks for any help you all can give.

Mine does this exact thing in winter. I live in Utah so we get the cold and on those icy mornings it will sit for a sec in reverse and then sort of bang into gear if I don't let it run for a few seconds. With all the tech in the trans I would think this would be one of the important things to engineer out of the product...

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Mine does this exact thing in winter. I live in Utah so we get the cold and on those icy mornings it will sit for a sec in reverse and then sort of bang into gear if I don't let it run for a few seconds. With all the tech in the trans I would think this would be one of the important things to engineer out of the product...

Hi Bill,

Open up a formal complaint with Ford Customer Care...If we get enough folks to do this, it just may lead to a revised transmission calibration.

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

 

[DrizzyDrake]

This is odd as I live up north in Canada eh? Started my truck in (-22)-(-31)°F and it drove off no issue. And by no issue I mean stiff suspension, stiff parking brake and cold diff oil, and working transmission. However, it will hold gears longer so it can warm up faster. I wonder if because you guys are further south, that the transmission oil is more viscous in colder and hotter temps, thus making your issues reality.

 

[quangdog]

you can do it yourself

I tried. That catalytic converter is hella hot, and with a welding glove on to keep from roasting my forearm I could not contort my hand around to get the plug out.

 

[Stevo]

I for one use my parking brake so my truck does not roll in neutral. The reason for neutral is I find it easier to go from neutral to park than park to neutral to idle down the engine. By doing this the engine goes from high cold start RPM to normal drive RPM so I am not slamming into reverse or drive at cold star high RPM. Just the way I do it. My form of OCD.

That is really interesting.. I never would have thought of it. Maybe I'll give it a try

 

[2.7EcoBoost]

There are two different things being discussed in this thread. The surge/buck/hesitation is corrected (at least mine was ) via TSB to reprogram the PCM. I live in a very cold area and have never experienced the slow to engage complaint of the OP. We have had sub zero and -30* wind chills recently. I do however usually remote start/Ford pass schedule start and my truck runs for 3-5 minutes before I drive off. If I don't remote start on these 0* mornings I always give my truck about 2 minutes or longer if winshield is covered before putting it in gear. I don't care what is said about technology, oil/fluid still doesn't flow as good at 0* as it does at 50* or whatever. As far as the complaint, it sure sounds like a lack of fluid pressure initially, fluid level would be the logical first check as it definitely would be lower when extremely cold compared to "normal" operating temp. If the fluid level was at the low end of "normal" or slightly under normal, you'd probably never have an issue with normal ambient temps. The only other time I've seen a delayed engagement was when a valve body gasket was going bad/leaking inside the tranny and letting fluid pressure bleed off over night extended parking which had nothing to do with temp.

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