Does Ford reprogram transmission

[Tom-NC]

Hi,

I have a 2014 Ford F-53 22,000 lb chassis with a v-10 and a 5 speed transmission.

My problem is when going up a hill it downshifts to 4th, then third and right away to 2nd when 2nd is not needed as I release it manually. BTW it is not a big hill and I'm using Cruise control.

My question is can Ford reprogram it as I don't want to spend the money for power tune system.

[89sandman]

Take off the cruise.

[Sweetbriar]

A custom or non-standard shift pattern, no Ford will not do such. What you can try is take into a dealership that will work on the coach and have them check if any programs updates are missing. Dropping out of cruise will help but the fix would be to spend the money for an after market tuner.

For what it's worth -

The 5R110W transmission has six forward gears (counting final overdrive as #6) but it skips 4th shifting up and down unless the fluid temperature is below 5 degs. At that point 4th is used but 5th is skipped. Why? If I had an answer my office cube might have a window. A custom after market tune or program helps, a lot, but can be hard to get past the cost.

If you count shift events you will feel six but the sixth will be the torque converter lock up.

[Mark Kovalsky]

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

The 5R110W transmission has six forward gears (counting final overdrive as #6) but it skips 4th shifting up and down unless the fluid temperature is below 5 degs. At that point 4th is used but 5th is skipped. Why? If I had an answer my office cube might have a window.

My office cube at Ford never had a window, but I know the answer to this question.

I worked on programming the 5R110W trans for several years. I was part of the decision to use 4th gear below 0°F (I know all the literature says 5°F, but the software says 0°F.) When the trans was cold we couldn't make the 3-5 shift happen correctly. It never felt right. But we could do a 3-4 shift just fine. So that's how we programmed it.

The rest of the explanation is that the trans is really two transmissions in one case. The front part is a two speed, 1:1 and overdrive, 0.71:1. The rear half is a three speed. Fourth gear is 1.09:1 and fifth gear is 1:1. Those two ratios are close enough that you would never shift between them, you only use one or the other.

[tunaguy]

Schooled!!!!!

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

My office cube at Ford never had a window, but I know the answer to this question.

I worked on programming the 5R110W trans for several years. I was part of the decision to use 4th gear below 0°F (I know all the literature says 5°F, but the software says 0°F.) When the trans was cold we couldn't make the 3-5 shift happen correctly. It never felt right. But we could do a 3-4 shift just fine. So that's how we programmed it.

The rest of the explanation is that the trans is really two transmissions in one case. The front part is a two speed, 1:1 and overdrive, 0.71:1. The rear half is a three speed. Fourth gear is 1.09:1 and fifth gear is 1:1. Those two ratios are close enough that you would never shift between them, you only use one or the other.

If the front has fifth and sixth gears and the rear has first through third gears, where is fourth gear located? Just trying to get this straight in my mind!

[Mark Kovalsky]

I was distracted and didn't finish that explanation.

The combination of the two transmissions create the ratios.
1st - The front trans is in 1:1 and the rear is in first, which is 3.11:1, so the ratio is 1 x 3.11 =3.11:1
2nd - The front shifts to 0.71:1, the rear stays at 3.11:1, 0.71 x 3.11 = 2.2:1
3rd - The front shifts to 1:1, the rear shifts to 1.54:1, 1 x 1.54 = 1.54:1
4th - The front shifts to 0.71:1, the rear stays at 1.54:1, 0.71 x 1.54:1 = 1.09:1
5th - The front shifts to 1:1, the rear shifts to 1:1, 1 x 1 = 1:1
6th - The front shifts to 0.71:1, the rear stays at 1:1, 0.71 x 1 = 0.71:1

Below 0°F the trans shifts 1-2-3-4-6. Above 0°F the trans shifts 1-2-3-5-6.

[Sweetbriar]

Thanks Mark for the info regarding the temperature shift pattern and the write up about the front/back split. Knew about it but just couldn't come up with an elegant way to put thoughts to words.

[georgelesley]

Originally Posted by 89sandman

Take off the cruise.

I do this all the time when approaching a hill I know will trigger a downshift. Hold the gas at a point where the very low “screaming” downshift does not occur. Typically our speed will drop from the cruise control setting of 60MPH to mid fifties. Resume cruise when desired.

BTW Mark thx for the technical explanation. 0ur 2014 Focus has something similiar, I had no idea our F-53 chassis had one also. Great stuff!

[wackymac]

I thought the 5R110 was a 5 speed.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Originally Posted by wackymac

I thought the 5R110 was a 5 speed.

This Web site explains 4th gear as "hidden," which I guess it is. Per Mark K's last post, at any particular temperature only five gears will be used.

[inlineskater]

When using the cruise and is see a hill coming, I speed up about 5 mph before the hill. I am running about 65 usually so I don't go over the 70 mph speed limit and I can climb the hill better. In many cases it doesn't down shift at all. It also keeps me on my toes while driving.

[Waiter21]

To the original question, Ford can provide updates to their software (at a cost).


However, I understand 5-Start tune has a firmware update that improves the transmission shifting strategy, and also some engine parameters. This might be what you're looking for.

[Mark Kovalsky]

Originally Posted by wackymac

I thought the 5R110 was a 5 speed.

It is a five speed. There are six possible ratios, but it never uses more than five.