any way to just lock out 6th gear

[Nsudw]

When pulling a small trailer is there anyway to just lock out 6th gear. O/D locks out both 5 and 6th. Any way to over ride this. Makes the old girl scream driving in 4th. But if you drive with the O/D on its searches to much always shifting.

 

[thebrakeman]

Great question.
Not that I know of. If you find out, please let me know.

 

[Boomyal]

The OD button locks out both overdrive gears, ie, 5th and 6th. When I go by my local transmission guru, I will ask if there is any work around.

I had, however, previously asked him about towing in overdrive. He said that the computer would select the proper gear. That meant if it determined that 5th was the ideal gear for the conditions, that where the transmission would run. He stated the the only time you would want to lock out OD was if the transmission kept repeatedly hunting for a gear to settle in.

 

[thebrakeman]

Based on towing our ~5000lb camper, that is true. Depending on speed, wind, terrain, etc, there have been times that it will actually hold 6th gear, with convertor locked (as confirmed wiht my Scangage). Locking out OD, it will run all day in 4th/locked. With OD on, in conditions where it wants 5th, however, I find that it will rarely lock the convertor. This is what annoys me most, as locking the convertor contributes to better gas mileage, and should have lower trans temps.

The trick to avoiding gear-hunting is to never use cruise control while towing, unless the road is dead-level, and the wind is consistent. Using cruise control on even gentle hills will have it constantly in and out of the gas to maintain that speed. It won't take much to induce a kick-down to 4th, or a slight downgrade to have it drop to 6th. But keeping your foot steady on the gas (letting the rig speed up and slow down a bit on hills) will let things settle in. It just depends on the conditions.

 

[Boomyal]

Hey, Brakeman, where do you mount your ScanGuageII? I assume wherever that is, you have to snake a cable to your diagnostic plug? I haven't had my 2006 very long so I am not even sure where that plug is.

I've never seen those before. I googled them. I may need to get one.

 

[Explorer0204]

I'm very jealous of you guys and your V8's....


Only thing I will add is that the owners manual recommends that you lock out overdrive when towing I THINK for the 4th gens too. Just something to check. See if Ford recommends it or not.

 

[thebrakeman]

Hey, Brakeman, where do you mount your ScanGuageII? I assume wherever that is, you have to snake a cable to your diagnostic plug? I haven't had my 2006 very long so I am not even sure where that plug is.

I've never seen those before. I googled them. I may need to get one.

The diag plug is just above the park-brake-release lever. In fact, I have to unplug the Scangage to release the park brake. I have the Scangage mounted dead-center in the instrument cluster, right under the info-screen. Just used the included velcro. It stays there fulltime. I have the cable ziptied behind the interior trim, under the steering wheel (along with the excess brake controller wiring), then up the right side of the steering wheel, in that little gap created by the tilt mechanism, then a straight shot right into the right side of the Scangage. All of the wiring for the Scangage and brake controller are truly out of sight. So I leave them both installed, year-round. Neither of them bother my wife, who is the primary driver.

 

[thebrakeman]

I'm very jealous of you guys and your V8's....

Only thing I will add is that the owners manual recommends that you lock out overdrive when towing I THINK for the 4th gens too. Just something to check. See if Ford recommends it or not.

2004 Ford Towing Guide recommends locking out OD if the transmission is experiencing excessive shifting between OD and the next lower gear. Otherwise, it's fine to leave in OD. But it also states to check Owner's Manual. I've read my 2006 cover to cover, and as far as I can remember, it has the same wording as the general towing guide.

The 2006 Towing Guide says the same thing, but then add this statement:
"If excessive shifting doesn't occur, use overdrive to optimize fuel economy."

These recommendations have changed over time. It certainly would not hurt anything (other than gas mileage) to err on the conservative side and lock out OD as a rule. But modern transmissions are much better at protecting themselves against abuse, so most now recommend lockout only if it's hunting.

 

[Explorer0204]

2004 Ford Towing Guide recommends locking out OD if the transmission is experiencing excessive shifting between OD and the next lower gear. Otherwise, it's fine to leave in OD. But it also states to check Owner's Manual. I've read my 2006 cover to cover, and as far as I can remember, it has the same wording as the general towing guide.

The 2006 Towing Guide says the same thing, but then add this statement:
"If excessive shifting doesn't occur, use overdrive to optimize fuel economy."

These recommendations have changed over time. It certainly would not hurt anything (other than gas mileage) to err on the conservative side and lock out OD as a rule. But modern transmissions are much better at protecting themselves against abuse, so most now recommend lockout only if it's hunting.

Gotcha. My 04's Owners Manual as well as my 02's tells you to lock it out when towing. That being said I don't if I am towing like 2k pounds or less...

 

[thebrakeman]

Sounds like that's another improvement they made to the 4th gen. Which is interesting, since the V6 powertrain went pretty much unchanged (4.0L, 5-speed).

 

[Explorer0204]

Sounds like that's another improvement they made to the 4th gen. Which is interesting, since the V6 powertrain went pretty much unchanged (4.0L, 5-speed).

Yea must be... My 02 manual says it as well... So it's not like it was something they instituted later to help take care of the crappy trans lol