torque converter - Q

[Jackpine]

Chris, you might try reducing your 4-3 downshift and 4-3 TC unlock speeds. I tried this and it seemed to help that overly eager desire to downshift or unlock. But, I haven't really been where I could test it properly yet. This is the same problem Twintips was talking about too. It's almost as if Ford engineers thought we wanted to hear our engines rev. (Like you, I'd just as soon it didn't unless I REALLY wanted it).

- Jack

[Chris74]

Originally Posted by JackandJanet

It's almost as if Ford engineers thought we wanted to hear our engines rev. (Like you, I'd just as soon it didn't unless I REALLY wanted it).

- Jack

Jack - Exactly.....my thoughts right to a tee as well!

I was able to do what Bill said and have determined that is definitely my TQC coming unlocked........it's not a down shift! Engine revs higher and rpm's climb about 3-400 or so.
So now what?............do I just reduce the TQC unlock setting or increase it? How much should I start with. Like I said, I want to be able to gently pass a car without it unlocking!

[Jackpine]

Great! I BELIEVE, you reduce the TC unlock settings on 4-3, 3-2, etc. I think this inhibits unlocking until the speed is lower and the engine is under more load.

If I'm wrong, the Mad Doctor will jump right in here and set me straight! But this seems like the way it works to me.

Note: I've also decreased the TC lock speeds on upshifts.

I changed them all to the max. I really haven't been in a situation to properly test them, but my limited driving over some hills seems to feel right.

- Jack

[Power Hungry]

You've got it right, Jack. Drop the 4-3 TC downshift a couple MPH at a time and give that a shot. If it helps, then we can make similar changes to the strategies in your custom files so you don't have to reload them every time you change a level.

Let me know how it works and where you end up.

[Chris74]

Okay will do........Bill did you get my email about me having that lean miss back again? I made an error in judgement and got greedy thinking we could cheat a little more on the lean side.........but not gonna work pal. We gotta get rich again
It's hard to believe an adjustment that minor can produce such a noticeable increase in power and fuel economy.......too bad the engine didn't like it

[Power Hungry]

Yep... working on it tomorrow and will get it resolved.

[Chris74]

Cool.......my apologies again for the mistake!

[Dfishrmn]

I had something happen today I hadn't noticed before. I was experimenting and advanced shift firmness to 5,8, and 8. After this all was smooth until I went up a small rise. The gear PID showed the TC stayed locked until I came over the top to a slight decline, then it jumped in and out of lock a few times until it settled down. This happened again a couple of other times even after I set the firmness back down. I had the cruise set at 65mph and when I increased it a couple of mph it seemed to help. Would changing the TC lock or unlock points correct this or do I just need to pay attention to the cruise setting.

[Jackpine]

I don't think it has anything to do with shift firmness, Dfish. I bet it's because you had the cruise control set, which lets up on the throttle as you start down the incline. If the converter is locked and you release the throttle, it will unlock and, Bill explained that was a feature Ford put in to increase your fuel economy. (The engine/transmission doesn't drag in coast). Now, I'm guessing that the small decline wasn't really enough to keep the throttle at the "let off" point that caused the unlock, so, it locked back up again. But that wasn't stable either, so it unlocked/locked....

Possibly, if you reduced the lock and unlock speeds for each upshift/downshift, it might "tame" this behavior a bit.

- Jack

[Dfishrmn]

Originally Posted by JackandJanet

I don't think it has anything to do with shift firmness, Dfish. I bet it's because you had the cruise control set, which lets up on the throttle as you start down the incline. If the converter is locked and you release the throttle, it will unlock and, Bill explained that was a feature Ford put in to increase your fuel economy. (The engine/transmission doesn't drag in coast). Now, I'm guessing that the small decline wasn't really enough to keep the throttle at the "let off" point that caused the unlock, so, it locked back up again. But that wasn't stable either, so it unlocked/locked....

Possibly, if you reduced the lock and unlock speeds for each upshift/downshift, it might "tame" this behavior a bit.

- Jack

Yeah, I didn't think it had anything to do with the firmness, just a coincidence. You described the situation almost perfectly, so that could explain the lock unlock action. I did back off the 4th gear lock point one degree. We'll see how that works!