2011 explorer gets stuck in gear going down hill only

[jq4270]

I just got a used 2011 explorer this week. When im going down steep hills around 50 mph it gets stuck in gear and stays around 3000 rpm and it doesn't shift out of that gear until i get to the bottom. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue

 

[182RG]

Normal. It won't shift until you press the accelerator. With your foot off the pedal, it's engine braking. Nice feature....it keeps you off the brakes.

 

[peterk9]

I just got a used 2011 explorer this week. When im going down steep hills around 50 mph it gets stuck in gear and stays around 3000 rpm and it doesn't shift out of that gear until i get to the bottom. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue

Welcome to the Forum jq4270. :wavey:
Are you saying it downshifts by itself or are you using the manual select shift to do the braking? I have no idea why it would downshift on its own. It should stay in the regular driving gear.
Are you coasting when it does this or do you have your foor on the accelerator?

Peter

 

[jq4270]

Even when i press the accelerator it still wont shift

 

[182RG]

Normal.


From a USA Today article:

""The six-speed automatic is not the smoothest out there and wants to hold on to higher gears too long. It was sometimes slow to downshift and overly aggressive engine braking slowed the Explorer going down hills unless we gave the gas pedal a prod.

 

[jq4270]

When i hit the gas going down hill i doesnt shift it just runs in high rpms . When i get to the bottom and it levels out it goes back to normal

 

[peterk9]

Normal.


From a USA Today article:

""The six-speed automatic is not the smoothest out there and wants to hold on to higher gears too long. It was sometimes slow to downshift and overly aggressive engine braking slowed the Explorer going down hills unless we gave the gas pedal a prod.

Mine doesn't downshift until it hits 60kmph or roughly 40 mph. I haven't noticed mine hanging onto higher gears when accelerating and the fact that the OP says it still stays in the higher gear even when he has his foot on the accelerator doesn't sound right.
The engine braking is part of the vehicle's ADFSO system that interrupts the flow of gas to the engine during sudden deceleration.

Peter

 

[blwnsmoke]

Mine is about 40-45mph when it does it. Although I don't like it, it will not upshift till you level out and apply the gas with a little "force".

Unfortunately this is normal and the only vehicle I have ever had that does this without tow/haul mode activated.

 

[Joeymustang]

Yep, I've gone to the mountains and when going down it stays that way, I like the feature but I guess it would bother if I lived in hilly places

 

[Edgieguy]

We have this too. Somehow seems unnatural going downhill when we let off the gas and want to coast.

 

[peterk9]

Normal. It won't shift until you press the accelerator. With your foot off the pedal, it's engine braking. Nice feature....it keeps you off the brakes.

This will also kick in the self charging feature.

Smart Charging Alternator.
A regenerative electrical charging system that charges the battery in place of the alternator anytime the engine is running. It increases alternator output under braking or deceleration by coverting the kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Peter

 

[jq4270]

Thanks for all the help I've only had the car for about a week and the first time I noticed it we were coming home from the mountains. Im glad thats a normal thing i just wish i could turn it off

 

[13Sport]

Thanks for all the help I've only had the car for about a week and the first time I noticed it we were coming home from the mountains. Im glad thats a normal thing i just wish i could turn it off

It's actually helpful to both the brakes and the transmission when driving in mountainous areas. It reduces braking, and also reduces frequent upshifts and down shifts from speed changes. It's one of my favorite features of the vehicle, I'm surprised you find it inconvenient.

 

[jq4270]

It's actually helpful to both the brakes and the transmission when driving in mountainous areas. It reduces braking, and also reduces frequent upshifts and down shifts from speed changes. It's one of my favorite features of the vehicle, I'm surprised you find it inconvenient.

I might like it better now that i know its normal. I only had the car for a week and the whole way down the hill i was pretty ticked off thinking my new car was broken