Shifting Flare

woerthinny · #1 Tue, September 11th, 2012, 01:51 PM

Hello,
I purchased a Heavily Modified Phoenix Chip for my E99 F350 this July and within the last month noticed that the tachometer jumps 200-300 RPMs as the truck shifts into overddrive. Today I took the truck to the shop that rebuilt and installed my transmission in January 2011, and they called the problem a shifting or transmission flare. The flare happens in the 65 and 80 hp daily driver tunes as well as the 100 hp race tune. It did not occur in the modified stock tune. I haven't assessed it in the tow tunes as I don't use them very much. They said that the flare is not a problem yet, but it will become one over time, and suggested that I contact you folks to see if it is a potential tuning issue. I know the transmission has a Billet torque converter, a shift kit, and an upgraded valve body. I haven't been able to find my paperwork, but the shop has a record of what products they installed, and are willing to discuss specifics with you folks if that would be helpful.
Let me know what you think is the best way forward.
Thanks,
Brandon

***cleatus12r*** · #2 Tue, September 11th, 2012, 08:00 PM

Did the problem occur initially (when you first installed the chip)? If not, it's not a tuning issue. The tuning on the chip cannot change over time.

The combination of an aftermarket valve body and a "shift kit" may be causing the issue, but another possibility (thanks to the wide array of valve body changes and subsequent trucks that respond differently to each and every one) is that we may actually need to add pressure to the shifts. Man, I LOVE aftermarket parts.

woerthinny · #3 Wed, September 12th, 2012, 01:29 AM

I can't say that noticed it when I first put the chip in the truck, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. I did a 1000 plus mile trip that had almost no stop and go. When I got home from that trip and I started driving my normal routes I noticed the flare. On my typical drive home from town I stop at an intersection and then immediately begin climbing a two mile long hill, and that is the first place I noticed it. It is most noticeable when using more than moderate throttle through 50 mph which is not something I do very much outside of acclerating up that hill.
Do you recommend that I pull the chip and run around on stock to see if the flare stops? If it does would it be tuning related?

***cleatus12r*** · #4 Wed, September 12th, 2012, 08:01 AM

Pull it and try.

woerthinny · #5 Fri, September 14th, 2012, 03:51 PM

I pulled the chip and haven't noticed any shifting flare during several trips to and from town. I am going to put the chip back in to see if I have flare in the tow settings so then I know which tunes are truly the culprit. Once I identify all the trouble tunes is it just a matter of shipping the chip back to PHP for tuning adjustments?

GTS · #6 Wed, September 19th, 2012, 04:41 PM

Well it could just be that the transmission is starting to slip with the added power. Not so much that the chip is causing it as in it's got bad tuning but that being the chip increases the power it's now showing a mechanical weak link in that the clutches are starting to slip. Might be something the tranny shop that rebuilt it needs to take a look at.