Hard Shifting.....even after I removed the B&M ShiftPlus ??

[imq707s]

I've got a 97' Mercury Mountaineer (just like an X), 5.0 & AWD. I installed one of the B&M ShiftPlus electronic shift improvers around a year ago. It worked great. I would leave it on the stock setting for smooth shifts while driving around town, and then set it for the 1 or 2 setting if I was pulling a trailer for firmer shifts.

A few weeks ago I noticed that even when I set the ShiftPlus back to the stock or "off" position.....the transmission still shifted really hard, like it was on position 2. I checked the two wire connections and problem was still there. I just figured that maybe the switch inside the unit may have shorted out.

I finally got tired of the hard shifts all the time so I disconected the entire B&M ShiftPlus unit.

Here is my problem....even with the unit removed it is shifting hard as hell!! Did the ShiftPlus unit do some damage to my transmission? What does that unit actually do? I read on some other posts that it holds the EPC solenoid open longer resulting in more line pressure. Could there be a sticking or damaged solenoid?

Any info would be great.

Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

You can have a worn EPC solenoid. I'm strongly suspecting that may be the root of your problem. They cost $112. from Torrie at Ford Parts Network. Might allso want to disconnect the battery overnight and make the PCM relearn as a first step.

 

[imq707s]

Thanks for the info. I'll try resetting the computer first and see what that does.

Do I really need to disconnect the battery for that long (overnight)??.....or will a few minutes work?

Thanks again.

 

[imq707s]

What does the EPC soleniod actually do? I tried unhooking the battery for a few hours...but that didn't help.

The 1st to 2nd shift is extremely hard....all the rest are pretty soft.

Could it be anything else besides the EPC soleniod?

Thanks

 

[terdrocket]

I think the B&M unit just gives up over time. Mine broke in the setting 1 position. Right where I like it.

 

[imq707s]

Well the problem is that even after I removed the B&M shiftplus.....it still shifts hard as hell. So hard that it feels like it's going to break something.

 

[Glacier991]

The EPC solenoid means "electronic pressure control". The line pressure can be adjusted by the computerr... pretty cool idea actually. They can fail causing high pressure in soem cases.... and also, if the computer goes into "limp mode" (meaning it knows something ain't right) it will up the line pressure resulting in hard shifts. You should look to see if there are any transmission codes stored, showing you are in "limp mode".