2001 Ford V10 engine braking

[jvanhorn]

My 2001 Pace Arrow Vision has a Ford V-10 with the automatic overdrive tranny. It has quit engine braking during long downhill grades, when I downshift out of overdrive or into 2nd gear. The tranny works just fine all of the other times.
Any experiences or thoughts?

[Gary RVRoamer]

It is physically impossible for a gas engine to quit engine braking, but the transmission can go to a high gear so that it seems that way. If you downshift directly to second at a fairly high rate of speed, e.g. 55, the engine would over-rev so the transmission simply refuses to do it. Go to 4th or 3rd until you slow down some (or use some brake pedal) and then go to 2nd. I would guess you have to be under 30-35 to get into 2nd gear.

[jvanhorn]

Gary,
I may not have been specific enough. While driving in OD, around 60 mph, I start down a long grade. I push the OD button, on the shift lever, to shift down, and the rpm goes to idle and no slowdown. This used to pop up the rpm to 3500 to 4000. If I re-engage the OD the rpm goes back to 3000 +/-.

Jim

[LVJ58]

I would have the transmission & torque converter checked out at your earliest convenience. It appears your torque converter clutch fails to engage when you drop out of overdrive, however the fluid in the torque converter should give some resistance and increase the rpm somewhat.

Good luck

[Gary RVRoamer]

Thanks for the extra detail - that makes the problem clear. You need the services of an Ford tranny shop right away.

[jvanhorn]

Thanks to all of you. Unfortunately, the Transmission was bad. They bound a band bad and some metal in the pan. I was able to get a Remanufactured, from Ford, with a very good warranty. They also found 2 coils bad as well. Including a tune up and an air sensor, the bill was the best part of $5000.
Thanks again for your advice,
Jim Van Horn