transmission will only start in limp mode unless I let the autostart warm it up

[all1knew]

Hello all,

So yeah, unless I let the truck run for ten minutes prior to jumping in it, the transmission won't work properly. Will jerk into reverse to get out of the driveway and start in 3rd gear limp mode.

Has anyone ever heard of something like that? Is it maybe the trans cooler cycling or something or has to reach a certain temp in a sensor? Doesn't matter if 1 degree outside of 100 degrees.

if you let the truck go through autostart and run the 10 minutes and jump in it the transmission shifts fine like there's no problem whatsoever so I almost don't think it's the trans itself.

any ideas?

William Kramer

 

[peterk9]

There actually is no "limp mode". What some call limp mode is in fact "Fail Safe Cooling" and it only occurs when the engine overheats. Has your temperature gauge moved into the red zone? I'm guessing that would be NO. There should be no requirement to let the engine warm up at all, let alone for 10 minutes. Have you taken it to the dealer or independent garage for evaluation?
I don't recall this issue coming up before. I also don't know what the difference would be in starting it up manually vs remote. I wonder if the problem could be the PTU?

Peter

 

[all1knew]

some back story and it appears I did ask before:

2016 2.3L ecoboost with ZF35 troubles

Hello all, My first post here. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE shout out an idea or two if you can think of anything to help me. unless I give my transmission 10 minutes to warm up, it won't shift correctly and puts itself in limp-mode (3rd gear and my check manual light comes on the dash)...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[peterk9]

So you've been dealing with this for over 2 years?? Have you taken it to a transmission shop to have it looked at?

Peter

 

[all1knew]

So you've been dealing with this for over 2 years?? Have you taken it to a transmission shop to have it looked at?

Peter

Honestly yes because the truck drives fine as long as you let it warm up.

It's more annoying than anything else but I do feel the trans is going at this point.

William Kramer

 

[Bobmbx]

Sounds like the ECM isn't happy with a data point until it shifts to closed-loop. Does it do this every single time you start, even if the engine is warm?

 

[Bobmbx]

There actually is no "limp mode". What some call limp mode is in fact "Fail Safe Cooling" and it only occurs when the engine overheats. Has your temperature gauge moved into the red zone? I'm guessing that would be NO. There should be no requirement to let the engine warm up at all, let alone for 10 minutes. Have you taken it to the dealer or independent garage for evaluation?
I don't recall this issue coming up before. I also don't know what the difference would be in starting it up manually vs remote. I wonder if the problem could be the PTU?

Peter

This is not entirely true. I've gotten the wrench and been restricted in speed due to a throttle body vs pedal position mismatch. Nothing to do with cooling.

 

[all1knew]

@Bobmbx

if I go into the store or something and come back out to a warmed up trans it'll work fine.. even after a few hours but anything longer and you have to let it warm up again.

 

[Bobmbx]

@Bobmbx

if I go into the store or something and come back out to a warmed up trans it'll work fine.. even after a few hours but anything longer and you have to let it warm up again.

Have you pulled the OBDII codes?