I just purchased a brand new 2011 Ranger 4X4 with a 5-speed auto transmission and have noticed that when I'm parked on a hill pointing up hill and then place the transmission in drive to go forward the truck rolls backward down hill until I give it gas then it will go forward. I then checked the opposite and parked on a hill facing downward and placed the truck in reverse and the truck began rolling forward down hill until, again, I gave it some gas and it then went backward. It is as if the gears do not engage until the I step on the accelerator. I had a 1999 Ranger and it held just fine when on a hill and placed into gear without giving any gas. Is this normal for the newer Rangers or is there a problem with the transmission?
My wife drive this truck and it makes her very nervous since it acts like a standard transmission when driving off from a stop light on an upward hill.

 

Mine does the same thing !

It's a 2011 FX4 Automatic

 

Maybe the epc needs to be adjusted. Mine pulls the truck up hills.

 

a lot of cars will do this its called gravity but my truck has a new trans and a shift kit and i get pulled up hills

 

Mine rolls depending on the grade of the hill. Steep grades, my truck will roll almost like a 5 spd. But tiny hills it stays in place without hitting the gas or brakes. Never really paid much attention to it I reckon.

 

Mine rolls like that to. Never really thought much of it haha

 

normal small hills, mine holds, but a steep hill mine will roll backwards.

remember, the transfer of power is through fluid. if the force of the decent down the hill is more then the force the torque converter is putting out, it will just push the fluid around and not hold it.

 

Thank you all very much for your replies. I feel much better about the truck now.
I was afraid I got a hold of a bad Ranger and was in for trouble since my 1999 Ranger
didn't perform this way. It sounds like this is normal so I won't lie awake nights worrying
about a warranty claim or a maintenance bill.

Thanks again to all.

 

Check your idle, could be a little low.

 

Its because it has higher than normal stall torque converter in it compared to other cars or trucks.

If it makes you feel better I have to touch the gas to get the truck to move on flat ground. Because of the higher stall converter I put in.

 

I had thought of increasing the idle speed as Scrambler82 suggested but when I mentioned this to the maintenance shop at the dealer he said idle speed was computer controlled and couldn't be manually adjusted. Is this correct? I would have thought there would be some way to increase the idle if not merely by adjusting the gas feed cable as a last resort.
Don't know if this would help but I would like to try if it didn't involve a permanent adjustment.
What do you guys think?

 

I can change the idle on mine with my tuner, wouldn't suggest it though. If it aint broke, dont fix it.

 

Its normal with all auto transmissions unless you have a hill climb feature to stop it from doing it. Nothing to worry about.

 

Thanks again to all for your responses. They have put my mind at ease. I'll tell my wife to
just get used to it. If she doesn't like it I'll drive the truck and she can have my old beater to
drive (a 2003 KIA with 100,000 miles). That threat should stop her complaining.

Thanks again.