Sport paddle shifting

[JamesL13]

Just picked up my new Sport this week. Playing around a bit with the paddle shift and was wondering if you can go from automatic to manual while in motion. I only did it when starting from a full stop.

 

[JarHead1833]

Just picked up my new Sport this week. Playing around a bit with the paddle shift and was wondering if you can go from automatic to manual while in motion. I only did it when starting from a full stop.

Yes, It will but it into a suitable gear for manual.

 

[JamesL13]

Yes, It will but it into a suitable gear for manual.

Good to know...thx! I haven't tried it but it probably wouldn't even let me put it into manual if it wasn't possible. Heading up to Connecticut tomorrow and wanted to try it out.

 

[JamesL13]

I guess I should ask too...It'll go back to automatic too while driving?

 

[blichy]

I guess I should ask too...It'll go back to automatic too while driving?

If you are in "D" and start playing with the paddle shifters, after a short time of not managing the gears, it will revert back to automatic. If you move the shift lever to "M", it will stay in manual mode until you move it back. You can switch back and forth between modes while driving.

 

[JamesL13]

If you are in "D" and start playing with the paddle shifters, after a short time of not managing the gears, it will revert back to automatic. If you move the shift lever to "M", it will stay in manual mode until you move it back. You can switch back and forth between modes while driving.

Oh wow, you don't even have to shift into M. Interesting. thx.

 

[FordService]

Just picked up my new Sport this week. Playing around a bit with the paddle shift and was wondering if you can go from automatic to manual while in motion. I only did it when starting from a full stop.

Hi JamesL13!

Congrats again on your Sport! Sounds like you're already having a lot of fun with it. Some of your friends in this thread have helped you out with the information below. You can also check out the Paddle Shifters section of the 3rd printing of your Owner's Manual; this section starts on page 222. Download a free copy of your Owner's Manual here: https://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/OwnerGuidePage

Have a fun, safe trip to Connecticut!

Yes, It will but it into a suitable gear for manual.

If you are in "D" and start playing with the paddle shifters, after a short time of not managing the gears, it will revert back to automatic. If you move the shift lever to "M", it will stay in manual mode until you move it back. You can switch back and forth between modes while driving.

Thanks for the great info, gang!

Crystal

 

[JamesL13]

Thanks Crystal!

yes, it's the most fun I've had driving in quite a long time. Not just with the technology but the speed and handling are really impressive. I've had a 97 and an 03 and just the grip on the road in turns alone on the Sport blows me away. It doesn't have that fading that I was so accustomed to.

I actually read the whole manual (yes, I'm one of those...rtfm!) but only glossed over a few sections. Thanks for the link to it online, so I can leave mine in the glove compartment.

another quick question regarding the paddles...If I activate them while in "D", is there a way to go back to automatic or do you just have to wait until the car does it?

 

[blichy]

You can either shift to M, then back to D, or let the car do it itself.

One thing I have noticed with the Ex, when in M, the car will hold the gear at redline, and not shift up, compared to the transmission in the Cayenne which will automatically shift up at that point. IMO, that is a win for the Ex (although the 2 extra gears in the Cayenne are a solid win there).

 

[JamesL13]

You can either shift to M, then back to D, or let the car do it itself.

One thing I have noticed with the Ex, when in M, the car will hold the gear at redline, and not shift up, compared to the transmission in the Cayenne which will automatically shift up at that point. IMO, that is a win for the Ex (although the 2 extra gears in the Cayenne are a solid win there).

thx again...

 

[13Sport]

Oh wow, you don't even have to shift into M. Interesting. thx.

One of my favorite features about the Sport. in the XLT I had to shift down to M, then hit the downshift button to downshift... in the Sport you just tap the left paddle.. then when you even out your acceleration it will automatically take back control of shifting.

 

[zen2u]

Paddle shifting

First - Love this sight/forum!!

I dont plan on using the M mode (Had it on my BMW X5 and never used once) so can it be perm disabled? While driving (in "D" mode) it is too easy to bump the paddles with finger tips and I was shocked to find that it will shift, despite NOT being in "M" mode. Not real safe nor sound engineering.

I was considering buying some black Styrofoam or a black rubber door jam wedge and cutting down to size, wedging between the paddles and the body of the steering wheel so they cant be pulled inward. But....prefer a normal solution to disable vs. hodge-podge approach. Especially since it is a shiny new $48k vehicle

 

[13Sport]

I dont plan on using the M mode (Had it on my BMW X5 and never used once) so can it be perm disabled? While driving (in "D" mode) it is too easy to bump the paddles with finger tips and I was shocked to find that it will shift, despite NOT being in "M" mode. Not real safe nor sound engineering.

I was considering buying some black Styrofoam or a black rubber door jam wedge and cutting down to size, wedging between the paddles and the body of the steering wheel so they cant be pulled inward. But....prefer a normal solution to disable vs. hodge-podge approach. Especially since it is a shiny new $48k vehicle

I have never once accidentally shifted w/ the paddles.. your fingers should be no where near them. Also the functionality of downshifting while in D is the same across almost every automatic car w/ paddle shifters. Our Camaro works that way, our Honda Accord worked that way, my mother in laws Honda Fit worked that way, and my friend's corvette works that way.

 

[1995E]

I've played around with many rentals and even my own vehicle for putting it into manual mode, neutral, while the car is moving. Nothing bad will happen as long as you don't slam it into reverse going forward at 5+ mph. Also, if you're going back from Neutral to Drive, make sure you're not revving the engine. There's no clutch dump launch control in the Explorer so you can't really rev at neutral and dump it into gear for a launch.

Also, my Fusion with paddle shifters will shift even if you're in Drive. The only thing is it'll automatically shift for you after a while. Being in Sport mode, shifts won't happen until you tell it to (or it automatically downshifts for you so you don't mess up your engine).

 

[zen2u]

Thx 1995E - Good to know it isnt a safety issue (other than taking eyes off the road to see what the heck just happened when rpm's go haywire- hah). I guess I should have been blessed with stubby fingers for this one - lots goingon on that wheel cluster so plenty of land minds if hands wander. I never experienced this cuz prior vehicles had the controls on shifter - thinkin my wedge idea will make it dead issue.

Was just hoping there was a bypass or it could be completely disarmed. Thx for input!

 

[ieee_raider]

I have noticed there is a difference in the "tolerance" whether in D or M.
When in D, you can upshift and downshift , but if you start getting near redline or too low of RPM's, it will go ahead and shift. While this is a "low" tolerance compared to M, it is a much higher tolerance than many other "sport-tronic" shifting systems. My wife's camry can be shifted but even in it, it's more of a "suggestion" than an actual shift.
When in M, if you get near redline or too low of RPM's, it'll give you a bigger "window" before it takes over... but it will end up taking over, even if in M. And that's fine... saved my butt when I had shifted to M then forgot when I went to dodge someone in traffic.

 

[zen2u]

ieee_raider - thanks for sharing the experience, it provided good insight for me. It makes my concern a non-issue really. Now I am playing around with using M mode and starting to see it as a nice feature. For those of us who use our vehicles as an office, we hate to be necessarily bothered with features that all but make you notice them. But my view is changing on this one. Thanks.

 

[Harley#356]

anyone with the vent to atmopshere mod on the sport notice that if you shift at just the right time in M mode, usually on the 2-3 and the 3-4, you get a little pffffft from the BOVs? lol Reminds me of banging gears in my wife's old SRT-4 hearing the BOV at every shift haha

 

[13Sport]

anyone with the vent to atmopshere mod on the sport notice that if you shift at just the right time in M mode, usually on the 2-3 and the 3-4, you get a little pffffft from the BOVs? lol Reminds me of banging gears in my wife's old SRT-4 hearing the BOV at every shift haha

It's awesome... so far this is my favorite mod (especially for the price) I only have one BOV vented though, I didn't have the time or energy to get to the back one.

I find myself using a little more gas though w/ this mod, I'm constantly stepping to get the turbos to spool, just to let off to hear the PSShhhhhhh

 

[Harley#356]

It's awesome... so far this is my favorite mod (especially for the price) I only have one BOV vented though, I didn't have the time or energy to get to the back one.

I find myself using a little more gas though w/ this mod, I'm constantly stepping to get the turbos to spool, just to let off to hear the PSShhhhhhh

Go do both of them! It takes less than 5 minutes lol.

My fuel economy dropped pretty good too. Was seeing 18 around town, now it's 15-16, because I'm doing the exact same thing, constantly stepping on it to spool it up and hear the blow off lol. Once the novelty wears off it'll go back to normal again haha