6-Speed PowerShift - 2013 Any Better?

[flyboyike]

Originally Posted by kam327

Did you know that 62% of statistics are made up on the spot?

83.7%, actually.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by flyboyike

Do I understand your position is that a driver-adaptive transmission software should ignore the driver?

Wow, delving back to a post 5 months ago. Ancient history. But I think I was thinking that a DCT should not shudder violently or grind in any way because of the way any given driver is depressing the accelerator. My shuddering has come and gone several times with no change in my driving style so I know based on my own experience that the shuddering was not caused by driver error. It had to be the software.

And the extent of driver-adaptability of the software is a hotly debated question. The most I've ever found in a Ford document was that it's designed to monitor driving habits (e.g. usual rate of acceleration) and fine tune the operation over the long term to accommodate (e.g. faster shifts). Therefore if wifey borrows the husband's commuter and drives completely differently, it won't all of a sudden start shuddering and grinding.

[flyboyike]

Originally Posted by kam327

Wow, delving back to a post 5 months ago. Ancient history. But I think I was thinking that a DCT should not shudder violently or grind in any way because of the way any given driver is depressing the accelerator. My shuddering has come and gone several times with no change in my driving style so I know based on my own experience that the shuddering was not caused by driver error. It had to be the software.

And the extent of driver-adaptability of the software is a hotly debated question. The most I've ever found in a Ford document was that it's designed to monitor driving habits (e.g. usual rate of acceleration) and fine tune the operation over the long term to accommodate (e.g. faster shifts). Therefore if wifey borrows the husband's commuter and drives completely differently, it won't all of a sudden start shuddering and grinding.

Sorry, didn't notice the date. Henceforth I will only respond to posts made in the previous ninety-six hours or less. I did notice, however, that you didn't actually answer my question.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by flyboyike

Sorry, didn't notice the date. Henceforth I will only respond to posts made in the previous ninety-six hours or less. I did notice, however, that you didn't actually answer my question.

I thought I did. More clear: No it shouldn't ignore the driver, but it also should not engage the clutch in such a way as to induce shudder just because the driver (or a new driver borrowing the car) does something slightly differently than 1 minute ago. Or in my case, because the driver does the same thing he's always done. The software should be fully capable of engaging the clutch appropriately regardless of the driver flooring it to get out of the way of a semi or feathering it to maximize fuel economy.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by kam327

The software should be fully capable of engaging the clutch appropriately regardless of the driver flooring it to get out of the way of a semi or feathering it to maximize fuel economy.

Agreed. I think this is an issue. I drive almost ALL highway miles. During the summer, after a 50 mile drive congestion-free drive I hit the downtown Milwaukee traffic. All of a sudden the car starts lunging and grinding because it had become to used to my grandma-esque driving so when I need it to get its shit together and drive like a manual, it can't.

EDIT: Though, this might just be due to the fact that my clutch finally heats up after x miles of driving, so when I do finally need to shift it starts acting crazy because it's just a bad clutch.

[Kabigon]

Originally Posted by kam327

And the extent of driver-adaptability of the software is a hotly debated question. The most I've ever found in a Ford document was that it's designed to monitor driving habits (e.g. usual rate of acceleration) and fine tune the operation over the long term to accommodate (e.g. faster shifts).

The DCT "learns" nothing about the driver.
This is just a recurring myth.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by Kabigon

The DCT "learns" nothing about the driver.
This is just a recurring myth.

Does any transmission "learn" from the driver?

[Dib52]

2013 Titanium for us. I've waited to post on a lot of the topics here because I wanted to get a good feel for the car with some quality miles under it. We're just a bit over the 2500mi mark and things seem pretty good. At first, the car did the little "stutter" with the trans but it has smoothed out. I was paranoid at first and after reading the horror stories here, but happy to report that all seems well. I guess only time will tell...
On a side note... our's has the "click, click, whoosh" sounds waiting to fire up or after turning off and opening the door that has been discussed on the forum. We've just learned to live with it. I guess "normal" is a relative term.
Unrelated to the DCT, our Focus has developed the left front rattle during slow speed maneuvers transitioning between pavements that is a hot topic here. Guess Ford hasn't quite figured that out yet for the 2013's. At least now I know where to look.

[Cleric670]

As far as i can tell the "adaptive learning" on the DCT is simply the computer learning the tolerances of the clutch and shift motors to optimize shifting so it knows how FAST it can operate the clutch and shifting in relation to one another. The preprogrammed defaults have much slower clutch and shift response and it gets quicker as it "learns" how fast it can do the two.

Unfortunately the software seems to be total garbage on certain vehicles and the default mode works more reliably with less grinding.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by Cleric670

As far as i can tell the "adaptive learning" on the DCT is simply the computer learning the tolerances of the clutch and shift motors to optimize shifting so it knows how FAST it can operate the clutch and shifting in relation to one another. The preprogrammed defaults have much slower clutch and shift response and it gets quicker as it "learns" how fast it can do the two.

Unfortunately the software seems to be total garbage on certain vehicles and the default mode works more reliably with less grinding.

This article summed it up for me: http://media.ford.com/article_displa...rticle_id=2574

But it mentions "driving style" - which is what throws everyone off. I could see how me driving like a grandma all the time, the computer would say "Hey, he wants slushbox-esque shifts all the time." and then my clutch(es) falls apart because it's disengaging them too slowly.

But I have no proof that that's what "driving style" means. It could just mean I don't have the pedal to the floor at that point in time - not that it remembers how I drive (which would be horrid for a car with multiple drivers like rentals).

EDIT: Maybe this is better, it doesn't mention the dry clutch, but it does mention the UK wet clutch system(s):

The TCM incorporates sophisticated, adaptive learning procedures. After the prescribed running-in period the transmission will provide optimum gear shifting smoothness for all conditions irrespective of terrain or driver input. The transmission will adapt to perform within its optimum window of operation to always provide maximum smoothness when changing gear, irrespective of the mode selected.

http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=34131