I really hate this thing... I want a manual so badly but Im stuck with the slush box. This thing is like a retarded kid, when I am goin up hills the stupid thing shifts up into 5th! I expect it to hold 4th. Its only got 36000 miles on it and its always wanting to shift into the 5th gear. Ive thought about getting a shift kit to improve it, but I have a feeling that there will be much more to do to get this trans to act like I want it to. Its constantly searching for gears. Ive never done a burnout in the truck nor do i haul anything. Its been to the strip twice, I did one pass using the footbrake and bringing up the revs to 1000rpms... I doubt it hurt anything... any solutions to this stupid trans? or should I just save my pennies and get a manual later on down the road and try to live with this automatic. I have an X-cal but that didnt really help it at all.. any suggestions?

 

there is a way to reset your trannys computer then drive it so it learns the shifts again. IIRC

 

It shifts up to save gas. You want it to stay in the lower gear then shift it into 3. To improve the shifts you need a programmer.

Also you have 4 gears not 5. 4 actual gears and the TC lockup that can feel like another gear.

 

a tuner works wonders with the 5 speed auto. mine shifts awsome with tunes.

 

He already has a tuner

 

ha, yeah good call, didnt catch that. who did the tuning?

 

HAHA. Skimming through FTL.

 

x2

I bought tunes for my F150 that made the transmission MUCH worse than stock, after 3-4 times I gave up and deleted them, and called another tuner. MUCH better result with the second guy.

James Henson tuned my sport trac (4.0L w/ 5 speed auto like you) and he did a great job. He was also pretty quick.
Henson Performance

 

yeah mine sucks too. really bad. but a tune did help a bit.

 

its by Fred, Boss3.0 aka Rogue Performance.

umm it feels like I have 5 gears especially when my spec sheet says I have 5... also I have yet to find where my tq converter locks... Ill be crusing down the highway 70-80 mph and let off, the when I get back into the throttle the trans will down shift... the tq converter should be locked up at those speeds but with it downshifting like it does means that its not locking up. So maybe I should get a lower stall converter???

 

I had the same problem, but my rig has 80k on it. So, I pulled the valve body and replaced it with one from Central. I've got to say, Donnie knows his stuff. This trans holds pressure better, shifts firmer and I can spin 35's off of the line. If you are looking for a cheaper solution, I would recommend flushing it, pulling the solenoids, and having them cleaned or rebuilt. Adjusting the bands on the 4 and 5 speed auto transmissions is supposed to help, as it is for A series transmissions. I've done this and it has worked well for me.

edit: I also have X-Cal2 tune that has helped quite a bit.

 

Im just curious how does everyone have their tuner set up? the closest I can get mine to where I want it with the tuner is -1 for the first 4 then -3 for 5th... Im just getting pissed at this thing its so annoying and is constantly searching for gears still even with the tuner.

 

you have a 5R55E which is a 5 speed trans FWIW

 

I said it was a 4 speed. Ooops. I wish I had an auto.

 

I just left it mostly as it was from the guy who tuned it. I changed shift pressures a little for some shifts that felt a little harsh, and increased pressure on some of the softer shifts. Depending on how the tuner set it up, there isn't a lot that you can adjust as the end user anyway. Sounds like maybe you need a more aggressive tune.
The transmission is going to hunt a little anyway depending on your driving, just trying to keep the engine in a certain RPM range depending on load.
Anyway from what I remember I was very happy with the way James tuned mine (again it was also the 5r55e). It is still not a manual transmission though.

 

I dont know about going to Alabama lol... but I know of some tuners around me... thing is.... they are used to high end big horsepower cars and they are douche bags about small displacement engines...

 

James will email tunes to you, you don't need to see him personally.
If you don't like something, he will change it and send a new one.

 

Cool deal Ill have to talk to him, thanks for the link too by the way.

 

yeah sounds like your tuner isnt uploaded right.

also did you change your fluid at 30k? like it says in the manual?

 

hmmmmm...wonder who you're talking about

 

hush ryan... hush... lol


I uploaded them let the truck run for 5 mins in the parking lot with the lights, a/c full blast and stero on.... what else am I suppose to do? Since Ive had the tuner past 3 yrs its been acting the same always searching and hunting for gears and always wanting to go into 5th. Im going to get the trans flushed this weekend.

 

Well if you're light on the throttle naturally it is going to go into O/D. You need to have someone tune it who you can talk to on the phone, and tell them exactly what it does, and how you want it to be different. Everything is computer controlled. They can make it so it won't go into O/D below a certain speed if you really wanted that, they can make it downshift earlier and quicker, etc. Hell if the tuner wanted he could make it so the truck never left first gear. I don't think there is anything wrong with the programmer itself, just the tune that is loaded into it.