Hi Scotty. I love your shows.
Problem: I own a 2011 F150 EcoBoost with a 3.5l engine with a 6speed automatic transmission. It currently has about 172,000+ miles on it. I had the transmission fluid changed at 120,000 miles. No OBDII codes that my ANCEL AD530 Vehicle OBD2 Scanner Car Code Reader Diagnostic Scan Tool.
The automatic 6speed transmission will sometimes 'hard-shift' down from 5th to 4th gear if going faster than 40mph. The faster than 40mph I go, the harder the shift. It will also sometimes shift hard from 1st gear to 2nd gear when pulling off from a stop sign or even leaving a parking space. The latter feels like slamming into 2nd gear from 1st while doing a bad job shifting maneuver with a manual drive transmission. But again, this is the 6speed automatic. Ford had this unit manufactured in Mexico!!! 😱
I had two different dealerships look at it and could never duplicate the hard shifting when I needed them to see/feel it...
Twice over the years, they updated the programming. Regardless, after each time, the problem persisted.
Question: Is there a fix, aside from replacing the transmission? That would be great. Ford simply acts like they don't know what I'm talking about, or worse, that 'I don't know what I'm talking about'. Either way, it's frustrating.
Signed,
Retired and Frustrated 😬 in Missouri
If the last time you changed the fluid at 120k miles, it is time to do the drain and refill again. Try it and pray it helps.
Yes, and thank you. I understand your reasoning. I too thought that when I had the 6speed automatic transmission fluid changed at 120,000 miles, because it was already doing the poor shifting occasionally. I had a Ford dealership do the fluid exchange, but again, as stated, these two problems mentioned are sporadic, and could never get it to shift weirdly again during the test drives with the technicians. No Another fluid change perhaps— but I really believe it's a programming issue.
I just couldn't find anything for it and the Ford technicians I spoke with didn't have any technical bulletins on it. The only things I've found on the web are there are others out there with the same issues. I just couldn't find any solutions. I was hoping someone out there might have had either a similar experience and resolved it or knew where I could look to see other guys that got resolution without putting in a transmission which would cost only a few thousand dollars less than my truck could sell for.
Again, thank you for your contribution. I'll see if changing the fluid again will correct the issues.