Transmission Shift Delay

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ETC13

Full Access Members
Joined
Feb 20, 2019
Posts
174
Reaction score
64
Location
TN
Problem is we don’t know if one guys 2-3 seconds is the same as another guys 2-3 seconds. I’m trying to think of a car that had instantaneous engagement. Maybe my old TA with 4l60 or one of the 727 mopars I had felt like it popped in right away. Most anything is going to need a split second or full second to get fluid started.

Does it start after a certain number of miles? I have 2500 so far and I’ve never thought it took longer than it should and I’m pretty sure nobody else on earth has as many quick back and forths as I do to get in or out of my garage.
The expectation is put truck in gear take foot of brake press gas and go....so I don't think anyone said anything about instantaneous.

For those having the issue it is the above scenario and you press the gas and the truck is simply still not in gear. We aren't talking about bank robbery I need to get gone now type of scenarios. It is lazy Sunday morning type of drinking your coffee still and the thing simply still isn't in gear after it really should be. You can sometimes lift off the gas and hit it again and it isn't in gear still. So it is a solid 2-3 seconds.

Note: not in gear for above means not responding to the throttle input.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
 

Expedition Dave

Full Access Members
Joined
Jun 7, 2020
Posts
576
Reaction score
276
Location
A Tiny Little Dot in Florida
Maybe if we had a delay


Maybe if we had a delay we’d know what you’re talking about.

So it goes in instantly? As soon as you turn the dial into gear? Further, it is episodic for me, but even under the best circumstances the slowest gear change for any of the 50+ vehicles I have ever owned/rented/borrowed/driven.
 

grumpyoleman

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Posts
140
Reaction score
146
Location
flyover country
I am curious about this issue as it seems random. I have an '18 XLT Max just over 12k miles and I had to go out and drive around a bit while paying attention.

While the shifting is not instantaneous (no electronic shifter is are they?) there was no 2-3 second delay. Every time I shift from P/D, R/D or D/R, it engages before i even get my hand off the dial.

I know this doesn't contribute much to resolving the issue, but I do agree that not all vehicles seem to be doing it.
 
OP
OP
R
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Posts
8
Reaction score
2
Location
29063
If all vehicles don't do it, then this is an indication that it's to Ford's intent by design. True?
 

Fozzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
1,199
Reaction score
1,161
Location
Riverton
My $0.02. When I first got it I felt there was more shift delay than normal. But I also struggled with the rotary knob. I would get the occasional clunk here and there as well. Now I get the knob in and out of gear and right at the detent every time and I don’t feel it’s to bad. I have gotten better with the shifter and grown accustom to its slower shift than a direct cable or linkage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Dice Roll

Full Access Members
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Posts
833
Reaction score
359
Location
Craps Table
So it goes in instantly? As soon as you turn the dial into gear? Further, it is episodic for me, but even under the best circumstances the slowest gear change for any of the 50+ vehicles I have ever owned/rented/borrowed/driven.

mine pops in gear a brief time after I turn the dial. Haven’t thought it was different than any of the many trans I’ve had over the years. I mean, I’m a gear head and I’m quick to question a plugged filter, pump going away, or converter issue. So far this has been as good of a trans as I can remember having. Maybe that will change with some miles.
 

ETC13

Full Access Members
Joined
Feb 20, 2019
Posts
174
Reaction score
64
Location
TN
I am starting to wonder if it is the throttle response that isn't kicking in sometimes. I will have to pay attention to if the rpms rev or not next time.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
 

Dice Roll

Full Access Members
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Posts
833
Reaction score
359
Location
Craps Table
Wife drove for two hours today, we unloaded it then I pulled it in garage. Tested for a delay and it was quick as can be. Forward and reverse. Repeatedly. If a dealer claims it’s normal, it’s not. Mine went over 2600 miles today.
 

armoredsaint

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
321
Reaction score
157
Location
Ohio
Wife drove for two hours today, we unloaded it then I pulled it in garage. Tested for a delay and it was quick as can be. Forward and reverse. Repeatedly. If a dealer claims it’s normal, it’s not. Mine went over 2600 miles today.

try doing it in actual road conditions and giving it gas, switching it back and forth stationary in your garage isn't the same
 
OP
OP
R
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Posts
8
Reaction score
2
Location
29063
I agree. I did a 3-point turn yesterday. I hit the gas thinking it was in gear, but it was still in the delayed state. When the truck finally went into gear, the potential from the gas I applied resulted in a sudden esseleration in reverse. The vehicle felt a little bit out of control. I will be taking it in.
 

Dice Roll

Full Access Members
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Posts
833
Reaction score
359
Location
Craps Table
try doing it in actual road conditions and giving it gas, switching it back and forth stationary in your garage isn't the same

what? It’s as hot as it can get without a trailer after two hours. Jacking it into position in my garage is going from forward to reverse multiple times is as good a test as any.

I also don’t change gears unless stationary. That may be your problem right there. Doing shit like that will **** up a transmission. The engineers might have designed a delay to help keep the damage down. I didn’t think about it as a protection measure, but I also don’t warranty these things. Something for them to account for.
 

Jamaican Cruiser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2020
Posts
73
Reaction score
50
Location
Vienna, VA
I did some research on this after buying my 2019 Expedition about a year ago. I have a friend who is an engineer with Ford and his explanation is that with the knob shifter, there needed to be a delay (1-3 seconds depending on the situation) to prevent stripping the gears when the vehicle is rolling. For example, if you are coming to a stop driving forward but have not stopped and you move the knob into reverse the system is designed to delay engaging to prevent stripping the gears. If you ever have shifter gear without stopping the vehicle, you might have heard that awful popping/grinding noise.

Not sure I fully buy the story, but he is sticking to it :D
 

ETC13

Full Access Members
Joined
Feb 20, 2019
Posts
174
Reaction score
64
Location
TN
I did some research on this after buying my 2019 Expedition about a year ago. I have a friend who is an engineer with Ford and his explanation is that with the knob shifter, there needed to be a delay (1-3 seconds depending on the situation) to prevent stripping the gears when the vehicle is rolling. For example, if you are coming to a stop driving forward but have not stopped and you move the knob into reverse the system is designed to delay engaging to prevent stripping the gears. If you ever have shifter gear without stopping the vehicle, you might have heard that awful popping/grinding noise.

Not sure I fully buy the story, but he is sticking to it :D
Then they did something wrong in the design. Vehicle is fully stopped when I am moving the knob to drive. Sounds like the delay is there regardless of vehicle stopped, etc...

This lines up with how mine reacts. Turn the knob, take foot off of brake and press the accelerator and nothing. Press again and truck goes...

Over engineered POS design.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
 
Top