Shifter sensitive, car feels like in Sport Mode but isnt

[Angel]

Okay guys I need some help LOL, yes I know on many levels. However on a real note for the last couple of weeks when I put my 2013 SHO *LUCILLE* in Drive there are certain times that I can feel a difference in how she drives. Best way to explain it is to say that it feels more like she is in sport mode not in Drive, if I pull over put her into neutral and put the shifter back down into drive very carefully she drives smooth again but I have no idea why it's doing this. She only has 65,000 miles on her so I've got no damage and no reasoning... any ideas?

 

[krewat]

What does the dash indicator say when you feel it's in Sport mode? D or S?

 

[Angel]

D

 

[Angel]

Here's the thing, my father, and 9 brothers, were a beast to keep up with so my "thing" is I listen and feel instead of just punch the gas and go. I could lose all lights on dash, yep happened in my 93 SHO, and not speed or run out of gas etc. So im sure something is off, it's not revving ridiculous but there's a distinct difference in how smooth she runs when in D vs S. I don't see the gear numbers or anything but it's so close to the same feeling that I'm confused. I don't slam the shifter but I could see where I'm not as gentle as a mouse either so I dunno. I almost wonder if it's the shifter itself.

 

[krewat]

If the instrument cluster says "D" - the computer should think it's in "D".

Very odd...

 

[krewat]

And by the way, wasn't calling into question anything you said

 

[Zpak]

‘Feels’ like sport in drive or actually is in sport in drive?
When this happens in D have you tried shifting to S to see if that feels different?

 

[Kphoenix07]

Out of all cars i have owned...4 gen sho's are by far the most inconsistent in terms of performance. One day she is a beast...other days she is a dog. I will say that the turbos are very susceptible to heat soaking. Traction control is an issue as well.

 

[Angel]

Sorry for delay guys, life been insane last couple weeks. Thank you so much for your help with this even if we end up having no clue after we collectively think lol. Anyway, so 1st Krewet, I appreciate that, i didn't think you were. I can take that razzing, kinda used to it due to all the brothers and of course any shop of guys that i talk cars with, so im grateful you're not picking on me yet lol. Ok back at it... it doesn't show that its in Sport but feels like it is, as in if i wasn't shifting when i should. It's odd. Now i have an addition to the symptoms, today sunroof open not vented, radio was playing Phil Collins In the air tonight, enough said, there was a hum toward the front of sunroof right about the sunglasses compartment.....what in the..... closed the sunroof and it stopped..... i can't even right now.... is there any chance maybe there's a loose connection or something? I got this car from a lady at a military base who bought it from her son in New Mexico..... should i consider the endless possibilities lol *this is my 2nd SHO, 1st was a 93 and i was devastated to lose her in an accident in 2006 so i have no intention on getting rid of "Lucille" but damnit... not even 70,*** miles so what could possibly be the issue ya know.
P.S. Im switching her to full synthetic Royal Purple this weekend. I hope that's a good decision lol

 

[Angel]

‘Feels’ like sport in drive or actually is in sport in drive?
When this happens in D have you tried shifting to S to see if that feels different?

I have found that if I try to drop it to Sport then shift up to Drive it doesn't help but if i shift up to Neutral then move only shifter, i make sure not to even press the button, back to Drive it's is smooth sailing. I couldn't think of any other way to correct it while driving and i really don't want to rip transmission to shreds by doing this repeatedly so at this point every time I put her in gear i specifically shift this way to begin with and so far no issue but if i just go without thinking it usually will need to be shifted up and back, i can feel it literally by 3 houses down and i correct it.

 

[limited02]

What is your normal driving style? These transmission basically learn your driving style and adapt to how you drive. So if you are rather aggressive, it'll probably feel closer to Sport mode on a day to day basis than the person who drives in the slow lane all day long. The only time I've noticed my '12 MKS behaving different is when merging onto the highway. There have been times I don't feel I accelerate that much different than from in town, but it holds the rpm's higher between shifts until I reach highway speed. I often wondered if the GPS can tell I have gone WOT in that spot a time or two... so it talks to the transmission to tell it to hold the gear longer.

 

[krewat]

It sounds as if the shifter needs to be adjusted, but if the thing was in Sport mode, the indicator "should" show it's in "S" not "D". Maybe not. Still sounds like it needs to be adjusted.

 

[DARTHSHO]

could be the transmission range sensor

 

[Angel]

Hi guys, 1st I will say it's definitely the shifter. I don't know if they actually go bad or what the deal is I just know that upon replacing it it no longer does it. However, that being said, the water pump has decided it's going to start leaking, I'm at little over 70,000 miles. I have no stored codes or anything of the sort I just saw the temperature go up and pulled over before it had a chance to erupt? It happened twice, watched my temp level and didn't chance anything. It appears I don't have any coolant in my oil and I don't know how that's possible but *knock on wood* I guess it's a blessing. I will admit, to only you guys, that I am terrified of doing this job but I think I can pull it off I know a couple shop guys that will lend me a hand if I need to and I think my biggest fear is I don't want her to be "broke down" you know. The last job I took on that I questioned my ability was a heater core in a 1999 5.9 Dodge Durango... it took me four days LOL I am questioning the timing set, replace it regardless? Or what should i consider here? Thank y'all by the way!

 

[luigisho]

I'm not sure how much chain stretch you have at 70k. Then again if you're going in there and the cost isn't a huge issue... I think if I was comfortable with the cost I would do the timing set and put it out of my mind. Just budget some time and hopefully you have a garage to wrench in. Weather is flukey this time of year.

 

[6500rpm]

Sometimes the simple answer is the best, is there any chance it was tuned before you purchased it?
The shifter is a input and if the range selector reads D, it's probably in drive and everything connected to the data line should know it. I'm not tuned just yet so this isn't a first hand observation, but people have posted that they don't use sport mode after tuning because there's not much of a perceivable difference. If you feel like it's in sport but it's not, try bumping it up to 6th gear with the paddle shifter and see if it goes to 6th, or use the paddle shifter into a desired speed , then speed up or slow down and see if it self corrects. True sports mode will hold in the commanded gear, D will auto correct to the gear it should be in to keep from over revving or lugging the engine fairly quick.

 

[krewat]

True sports mode will hold in the commanded gear, D will auto correct to the gear it should be in to keep from over revving or lugging the engine fairly quick.

This is not true for 2013+ - In Sport mode, the transmission will shift when it bogs or hits redline. In Drive using the paddle shifters, it will hold the gear for while, and then go back to automatic shifting after a short period of time.

So for a 2013+, leave it in D and when you feel it's in "sport" mode, manually shift, and see if it holds that gear, or times out and goes back to automatic.