DCT / PowerShift Transmission Update TSB Thread

[dyn085]

Mine was never 'really' bad, but since the flash it has been phenomenal. But I only have 6300 miles...

[suss6052]

I had just spent over 30 minutes in stop and stop traffic on my birthday, (saturday), while heading north on I75 near Joslyn Road where it went from 4-5 lanes down to one lane.

If I left it in s manual mode and shifted up through first or second into third or fourth but then abruptly needed to slow down and then tried to downshift ahead of when it would have on its own to the point where the rpms rose above 2000 it wasn't entirely smooth, but I had provoked that response by not having any throttle applied at that point as I needed to slow down to avoid hitting the car in front of me. When I put it into drive and left it it seemed just fine as long as I came to a stop for at least 1 second rather than hovering at 0.5 mph (once moving it was ok, although in manual mode in first or second gear you really do feel like driving a manual without a clutch pedal as it slows down agressively like it has a heavy flywheel, which I guess it probably does. It never over heated and the clutches never started chattering though, so I guess mine might work as intended initially.

It's nice not to have to constantly work the clutch pedal in heavy traffic, but stop and stop traffic is not fun no matter what you drive. Especially when people are trying to cut you off from all sides.

I do feel bad for those who've had issues, either due to the earlier programming, or potentially a slightly mis-built component condition. I'm sure that if the programming caused shift timing to be all screwy it might have lead to some premature clutch wear which could also lead to chattering/ shuddering.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by suss6052

I had just spent over 30 minutes in stop and stop traffic [. . . ] It never over heated and the clutches never started chattering though, so I guess mine might work as intended initially. [. . .]

I do feel bad for those who've had issues, either due to the earlier programming, or potentially a slightly mis-built component condition. I'm sure that if the programming caused shift timing to be all screwy it might have lead to some premature clutch wear which could also lead to chattering/ shuddering.

I hit some traffic on Friday and my car was acting bonkers! Chattering into second (louder and longer chatters than usual...) and it was really jerky; car slowed down excessively quickly when letting go of the throttle and lunged forward when feathering the gas - as if I were in S mode (but I wasn't). It was kind of scary driving home...

Next day, she acted like nothing happened. *sigh* Girls...

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by PratoN

I hit some traffic on Friday and my car was acting bonkers! Chattering into second (louder and longer chatters than usual...) and it was really jerky; car slowed down excessively quickly when letting go of the throttle and lunged forward when feathering the gas - as if I were in S mode (but I wasn't). It was kind of scary driving home...

Next day, she acted like nothing happened. *sigh* Girls...

Just to round things off I hit traffic again on the way home from work, on top of the usual traffic when I popped out to grab a sandwich from the grocery store for lunch. The mileage on this tank is terrible so far at least according to the computer, but I've only driven around 30 miles so far, and I'd also partially idled through a car wash when I topped off after the weekend to try and separate the highway trips from the city/ commute driving.

It didn't shudder today either as far as I can tell, but its been 99-102+ F today and I'd been running the a/c set on around 66F. Car is tinted as of saturday, but the windscreen is lighter than the rest so I still need to use the sun shade in the front windshield. It might force the head lamps to come on just a hair earlier though which might be nice.

It did feel down on power this morning despite still being in my experimental phase with 93 octane, at least when the a/c and blower really kicked in from near idle.

[rsilvers]

93 octane - should make no difference.

[dyn085]

Originally Posted by rsilvers

93 octane - should make no difference.

93 octane makes a huge difference in our cars in reference to power

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by rsilvers

93 octane - should make no difference.

Strictly speaking at 12:1 compression that might not be true, especially if the computer can advance the timing right to the point of detonation. But that's a whole separate discussion that's been rehashed to death on the basis that there is a few sentences describing that higher octane may provide improved performance. If you're really interested you can search around.

If this was the old port injected 2.0L engine from the MK 1-2 focus at 10.0:1 compression I can see it not taking advantage of the higher octane, but this engine is a bit more advanced than that, twin independent variable valve timing, and 12:1 compression. The Variable cam timing allows it to run without detonation on 87 octane fuel.

[rsilvers]

If it gave more HP or mileage, then why would Ford not EPA test them on 93?

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by rsilvers

If it gave more HP or mileage, then why would Ford not EPA test them on 93?

Because if they said it required 93 octane people would balk when talking about a 16-28k "econo box", but if they test on 87 octane they can say that higher octane fuel may improve performance and its up to you to use it or not.

[rsilvers]

Has anyone dyno tested their car both ways?