is shifting like this normal on an auto '04 xls 4.0

[rama1200]

I recently purchased a 2004, automatic, 4.0 xls... very smooth, very nice... however, I noticed that shifting is not what I thought It'd be...

is not jerky but it is not as fluid as other cars (e.g., my old 01 x sprt, or even my wife's 00 nissan quest minivan)... it feels more like a manual... you can feel the "break" between gear changes.

Is this normal on 3rd gen x's? if not, is there a way make it better? could it be signs that something is wrong?

oh... in addition to this issue, I also noticed that throtle response is not immidiate, while cornering at slow speeds, when coming out of the turn, if press the accellerator a bit, there is no reponse; if I press it a little bit more, there is reponse but it come with a jolt/yolt/jump, so I have to be careful how/when I press the pedal...

I even unplugged the battery to see if that helped any, but it did not...

any help is appreciated


thnx

 

[JasonF]

My '04 4.0 XLT acts the same as you describe. My mother's '02 4.0 XLT does not- it drives the way I would expect it to. I don't know what can be done to resolve the issues with our 04's though. I am leery of taking it to the dealer for fear they will do more harm than good. Anyone had any luck getting this sort of transmission issue resolved?

Jason

 

[Timoteo]

My 02 had a clunck on 2nd to 3rd shifts. I got help from Doug at Bamachips. The tranny is computer controlled and he can tune the computer/tranny for better shifting as well as improving engine performance. My shifting is much better now.

 

[snocross1985]

in relation to your accellarator issues:

Does the 04 have a throttle cable or the new fly-by-wire setup? Fly by wire can cause poor throttle response from what I have read.

 

[ffdemoss]

Both issues are because of drive-by-wire. Because the computer is controlling everything now (throttle and shifting) there is a delay between shifts at lower rpm's and speeds. This is also what is effecting your throttle response. I have noticed on mine that if you get on it the transmission shifts very smooth but when driving slow you feel the delay.

 

[rama1200]

Both issues are because of drive-by-wire. Because the computer is controlling everything now (throttle and shifting) there is a delay between shifts at lower rpm's and speeds. This is also what is effecting your throttle response. I have noticed on mine that if you get on it the transmission shifts very smooth but when driving slow you feel the delay.

sure do... it is smooth at speed, and jumpy a lower speeds. so it is all computer controlled.

so is a chip/programmer the solution then? what if I wanted to add an air intake in hopes of better response? then it be more jerky? (when they do make an intake for the 04's)

 

[ffdemoss]

I think Ford (as well as other manufactures) are still wokring out the throttle response on drive by wire throttle bodies. My dad drove a 2006 and said it was much smoother so it may be fixed now in later years.