Grade Assist on a SelectShift transmission

[Rubberhead]

Is it possible to activate the Grade Assist mode with a SelectShift transmission?

As described by the owner's manual it would seem like Grade Assist would be a useful feature:

D (Drive) with Grade Assist
Press the transmission control switch on the side of the gearshift lever to activate grade assist and cancel overdrive.

Grade assist:
• Provides additional grade (engine) braking and extends lower gear operation on uphill climbs for hilly terrain or mountainous areas.
• Provides additional engine braking through the automatic transmission shift strategy which reacts to vehicle inputs (vehicle acceleration, accelerator pedal, brake pedal and vehicle speed).
• Allows the transmission to select gears that will provide the desired engine braking based on the vehicle inputs mentioned above. This will increase engine RPM during engine braking.
• The grade assist lamp in the instrument cluster is illuminated...

Unfortunately the OM doesn't show how to enable Grade Assist with a SelectShift transmission.

 

[peterk9]

In reading the Owner's Guide, it seems that 'Grade Assist' is only available on Explorers without the Selectshift transmission. I guess the thinking is that with 'Selectshift', a driver can control the transmission/shifts manually.

Peter

 

[BobbyMarks]

In reading the Owner's Guide, it seems that 'Grade Assist' is only available on Explorers without the Selectshift transmission. I guess the thinking is that with 'Selectshift', a driver can control the transmission/shifts manually.

Peter

Peter,

UR correct, Grade Assist only is available without SelectShift Transmissions. You control the transmission manually or in a long decline you can always use your Cruise Control and it will act as Grade Assist, it will control transmission and brakes. Can someone correct me if I am incorrect?

Bobby

 

[Rubberhead]

Peter,

UR correct, Grade Assist only is available without SelectShift Transmissions. You control the transmission manually or in a long decline you can always use your Cruise Control and it will act as Grade Assist, it will control transmission and brakes. Can someone correct me if I am incorrect?

Bobby

I'll let you know the next time I head up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

[Rubberhead]

...or down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

[Odrapnew]

Peter,

UR correct, Grade Assist only is available without SelectShift Transmissions. You control the transmission manually or in a long decline you can always use your Cruise Control and it will act as Grade Assist, it will control transmission and brakes. Can someone correct me if I am incorrect?

Bobby

I had the pleasure of experiencing it once since I've had my Ex. Down a long and relatively steep hill, with the cruise on, the transmission downshifted to control the speed. I don't remember any brake intervention, but once it downshifted it held it's speed so there was no need for brakes.

 

[TerryVanpool]

Peter,

UR correct, Grade Assist only is available without SelectShift Transmissions. You control the transmission manually or in a long decline you can always use your Cruise Control and it will act as Grade Assist, it will control transmission and brakes. Can someone correct me if I am incorrect?

Bobby

I was just going over my OM on a 2014 Sport and it says "Grade Assist" only works between 5 and 20 mph. I don't think the cruise control will engage below 20.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum TerryVanpool.:wavey:
The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) will not work at speeds under 16 mph (26 km/h). With Selectshift you can also switch the transmission to 'Manual' and use the paddle shifters to control the gears and thereby the speed.

What model are you driving? Your profile just shows 2012 Ford.

Peter

 

[Rubberhead]

I was just going over my OM on a 2014 Sport and it says "Grade Assist" only works between 5 and 20 mph. I don't think the cruise control will engage below 20.

That's the Hill Decent Control mode that is activated by pushing the button in the middle of the 4WD terrain management dial.

 

[TerryVanpool]

Welcome to the Forum TerryVanpool.:wavey:
What model are you driving? Your profile just shows 2012 Ford.

Peter

I just traded the 2012 in on a 2014 Ruby Red Sport.
Picking it up tomorrow.

 

[TerryVanpool]

That's the Hill Decent Control mode that is activated by pushing the button in the middle of the 4WD terrain management dial.

Too dang many buttons. I haven't got them all figured out yet.

 

[Rubberhead]

I often times go the Blue Ridge Mountains to visit my parents, bird and trout fish.

From my 600 ft. amsl home I travel to Waynesville that's 3,200 feet. There a stretch of I26 that increases about 2,200 over the course of about a mile and a half or so. Going up isn't much of a problem. But, coming down I usually have to turn off overdrive.

Coming down from the Blue Ridge Parkway is a drop from 6,000 to 3,200 over a couple of swervy miles. I usually have to downshift into 3rd on my '07 or '03. I just didn't know how to manage this when the only options are D - Drive and M-manual. It seems like the 'old' way of limiting the upper gear was a good solution.