2-3 up shift rough

[Golfsupt]

New to the forums here. Bought a 2013 non pp sho couple weeks ago. Noticed the last couple days under medium acceleration the 2-3 gear change seems quite rough. Almost as if the trans is slipping or quickly going to neutral before upshifting. I have no maintenance records for the car. Has 42k on the clock and is bone stock from what I know (doesn't drive like its tuned). Saw plenty of posts about poor downshifting but didn't spot much about upshifting problems like this. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[SHOdded]

Welcome, glad to have you here! Did you pull a Carfax on the SHO before you bought it? Maybe someone with access to OASIS can help look to see if there's anything on Ford's systems.

That 2-3 delayed upshift/slip feeling IME can be engine OR trans related. May even be fixed with a tune. Check spark plug wells for signs of oil (valve cover leak can happen, particularly on the driver side [#3] rear bank one). Check for pooling oil in the turbo intake piping, and in the intercooler. Check for loose/split hoses. Check trans fluid fill level & condition (note: with Mercon LV, color may not be the greatest indicator, smell should).

No TSBs for 2013+, but see some for 2010+ regarding shifting issues:

• 6F50/6F55 TRANSMISSION - SHIFT FLARE INITIAL 2-3 SHIFT / SLIGHT DELAY/BUMP 3-1 COASTING DOWNSHIFT BELOW 10 MPH (16 KM/H) BUILT ON OR BEFORE 11/17/2009
• 6F50/6F55 TRANSMISSION - SLUGGISH ACCELERATION FROM 0-8 KM\H (0-5 MPH) FOLLOWED BY A HARSH BUMP OR A SLIP ON TAKE-OFF FOLLOWED BY A BUMP - BUILT ON OR BEFORE 4/15/2011
  
• 6F50/6F55 TRANSMISSION - SLIP/NEUTRAL OUT - 5TH GEAR START FROM STOP - BACKUP CAMERA ON IN DRIVE - BUILT 3/13/2009-6/30/2010

First thing I'd do is get basic maintenance out of the way. The only way to be sure what's in the car ...

1. Spark plug replacement - Motorcraft SP534 works well
   
2. Oil change - Motorcraft Synblend 5W30 + Motorcraft filter work very well, OCI should be as listed in manual, or sooner if you drive it hard; quality full synthetic oil highly recommended, since the turbos are cooled partly by oil
   
3. Transmission fluid 3x drain & fill - each drain will net about 5 quarts of "old" fluid. 3x gets you pretty close to getting all old fluid out. Mercon LV.
4. PTU fluid R&R - luckily (or unluckily) it's a bit easier to do on the non-PP SHO, this guide should help
   
5. RDU fluid R&R - pretty much the same procedure for all 10+ SHOs
6. Brake & coolant fluids flush - look into it, make sure coolant is at COLD FULL at the very least (Motorcraft Orange)

 

[Golfsupt]

Thank you for the reply. That is quite a laundry list that needs to be done. Think I will start with changing the tranny fluid and filter then go from there.

 

[John Miller]

Reference the 3x drain and fill of the trans fluid in order to get out the old stuff, do most shops have the means to properly flush and fill (getting all old out), or would they simply be doing a 'one time' drain and fill?


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[onespdfrk]

I'm continuing to experience the same 2-3 "firm" upshift issue.

Stock, it was just fine. Mine started after the LME tune - I initially made the mistake of doing some spirited driving right after the tune was loaded. It had a violent tire chirping shift from 2-3 at WOT, and a neck snapper at part throttle. After talking to LME about the shift issue, they told me to drive it easy for the first 30-50 miles after a new tune is loaded. They said the trans is adaptive, and learns how to shift based on how the car is driven.

After re-loading the tune & driving easy for the first bit, it shifts much more smoothly. BUT, I think it still shifts unnecessarily hard from 2-3. I'm hoping to be in Michigan in a few months, and would like for someone there to give it a drive and tell me if it's normal or not.

Mine has about 20K miles, new plugs, and full synthetic Mobil 1 with Motorcraft filter every 3-4K. I have not done trans/PTU/RDU/coolant yet - planning on that later this summer.

 

[Golfsupt]

I know the thread is older but took car to dealer finally today with the transmission complaint. While looking over the car they found the tube going to the cac is leaking. Said it was a $400 kit and took 4 hours to replace. Said this could be the issue with the funny trans shifts. All covered under powertrain warranty. Whew.

 

[SHOdded]

At least the second time I have heard of this leak. Another member had shown the location of the "split" and it is unlikely to be spotted unless you get in there and feel the bottom side of the pipe, and when your hands come away gritty/oily, you know you have an issue! Now why it splits like that, no idea.

 

[SilverSH0]

For my own knowledge, exactly what tube are we talking about? The one where the hot compressed air enters the CAC?

 

[Golfsupt]

They didn't go into details but from what I could get from the dealership is between the turbos and cac.