New Transmission Solenoids, New Transmission Problem!

[scjmc]

.....so I picked my car up from the dealer that I bought it from today. It is 4 hours away from my house, but for warranty work it had to go there. I got solenoid pack replaced to cure harsh 2-3 shift and intermittant harsh P-R engagement. I couldnt get there before they closed, so I picked the car up after hours.

To make a long story short the harsh shifting seems cured, but I have a delay now when I shift from R-D. I read that that could be failing solenoid pack? Could it be low on fluid, or do the solenoids need some time to get broken in? After the drive home it seems like the delay duration is shorter, but I know it wasnt there before the solenoid replacement.

I hate to take it all the way back up there I really do.

 

[regiment1]

How delayed is the R-D shift? Mine has always taken a bit of a "delay" to do that shift.

 

[02LincLS]

Sounds like low fluid but its purely a guess. Perhaps a more local dealer could check the level?

 

[joegr]

I think that low fluid is a good guess. It's also possible that the new solenoid assembly has a fault. Unfortunately, you need to take it back.

 

[hite337]

Ya what joe said. If the solenoid was a reman it could have issues but I can't imagine a dealer using a reman solenoid. If its not the solenoid low fluid would probly be the cause. You would think the dealer would know the proper way to fill the transmission but I had the local dealer here leave mine about a quart low when I had my flush done.

 

[scjmc]

Thanks for the responses. I got in late last night and have been dead tired. The delay is long enough that I realized it the moment I backed out of the parking spot that they put the car in. I would say that it has to be at least 1 full second. I have someone working on my boat and he has me blocked in right now. I will drive it some more later and then call the dealer back. If it is just low on fluid I really don't want to drive all the way back to Delray. Paperwork said that they used 6 units of transmission fluid. I am assuming that is QTS. That sounds about right for dropping the pan.

 

[scjmc]

Well OK I called the dealer and they told me that the R-D shift delay is deliberate (LOL). I said that I googled the problem and it comes back with faulty solenoids/low fluid level, so I was going to have the fluid level checked. He said that they dont have any problems with their trans guy making mistakes like that. I also asked if they use reman solenoids and he said that they used new ones. I insisted that he talk to the trans guy about it, so I am expecting a call back later. Sounds like BS!

 

[hite337]

Everyone makes mistakes now and then. He may have not let it get to full operating temp when he filled it

 

[joegr]

Well OK I called the dealer and they told me that the R-D shift delay is deliberate (LOL). I said that I googled the problem and it comes back with faulty solenoids/low fluid level, so I was going to have the fluid level checked. He said that they dont have any problems with their trans guy making mistakes like that. I also asked if they use reman solenoids and he said that they used new ones. I insisted that he talk to the trans guy about it, so I am expecting a call back later. Sounds like BS!

Is this a Ford dealership?
If you do a rolling shift from reverse to drive or drive to reverse, there will be a delay. Otherwise there shouldn't be enough of a delay to notice.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

Well OK I called the dealer and they told me that the R-D shift delay is deliberate (LOL). I said that I googled the problem and it comes back with faulty solenoids/low fluid level, so I was going to have the fluid level checked. He said that they dont have any problems with their trans guy making mistakes like that. I also asked if they use reman solenoids and he said that they used new ones. I insisted that he talk to the trans guy about it, so I am expecting a call back later. Sounds like BS!

It did not do that when you took it to them, it should not do that, and they need to resolve the issue. It does indeed sound like low fluid level.

 

[scjmc]

joegr, yes this was at a Ford dealership. The more I drive the car it seems like the delay is going away. I timed it at about 2 seconds when I picked the car up, and now it is about 1 sec. You are right if I am rolling the delay is longer.

I had the fluid level checked. Just to verify it is the torx plug in the center of the drain plug right? Thats what the local mechanic took out to verify the fluid level.

Car on lift operating temp, running in park fluid dribbles out of hole.

Of course the dealership has not called me back, but I am getting less worried about this because it seems to be going away.

 

[joegr]

...

Car on lift operating temp, running in park fluid dribbles out of hole.

Of course the dealership has not called me back, but I am getting less worried about this because it seems to be going away.

That does indicate a correct fluid level. I wonder if they didn't reset the PCMs transmission adaptive learning and it is taking time to get used to the new solenoid assembly? Alternately, you may need your fluid flushed and filter changed. (I doubt they did this on their dime.)

 

[scjmc]

When I picked the car up it seemed like everything was reset. Clock, trip meters, average economy even my driver's seat memory was gone.

I just got off the phone with dealer. The trans tech said that the fluid that came out was in good condition, so they only refilled the pan and did not change the filter. He said that there is no adjustment or anything that can be done wrong to cause the delay. He also admitted that he has not encountered one that had a R-D delay after changing the soleniods. He suggested that I drive it for a few days becuase sometimes they need to "relearn" stuff.

Almost forgot, he said that they do not have issues with the new solenoids from Ford and is in fact doing solenoids on an 04 right now.

I am gonna drive it and hope for the best.

 

[jjcool00]

They could've at least asked you if you wanted to pay out of pocket for the flush since the pan was going to be dropped anyway....

 

[scjmc]

They could've at least asked you if you wanted to pay out of pocket for the flush since the pan was going to be dropped anyway....

I would have done that. I actually thought about asking them. Too late now.

 

[BlackLS06]

They could have at least changed the filter. Cheap bastards.

 

[REDBED]

Wouldn't a 4 hour drive be long enough for the trany to reprogram itself ? Do the 06's have the latest and greatest PCM software or do they need to flashed.

 

[joegr]

Wouldn't a 4 hour drive be long enough for the trany to reprogram itself ?

I would think so.

 

[scjmc]

I would think so.

Yeah, me too.

 

[TooManyToys]

Depends on how many times during that 4 hour drive you shifted between forward and reverse so the computer could compare the shift times to the program table in order to readjust those pressures.

 

[scjmc]

My drive home had 4 events of shifting through R. I have been shifting it from P-D, P-R and D-R a lot today. It has been improving and is starting to feel close to normal.

 

[jrand]

+1 to everyone who said tranny adapative learn strategy. a 4hr drive alone probably did not reset it completely. i dont feel like looking it up exactly but turn your car on and let it get to normal operating temp. let it idle for 1 min in P once fully warmed. turn on a/c for 1 min. turn on defrost for one min. use shifter to shift between every possible selection x5 or 10(i think its 5 but i would do 10 for sh*ts and giggles). also start in d4, accelerate normally to 45 mph, cruise for at least 15 seconds, then throw it to d5 and accelerate to 55mph and cruise for at least 15 seconds repeat X5 chances R you probably did everything else in your 4 hr cruise. the one thing i would also recommend (never saw this in a book) is if you normally do not let your car warm up all the way, go through all the options with the shifter x5 or 10 when its cold too. sometimes i get a delay when its cold bc i normally let it get off C before i do anything. lastly you need to have idle in d5 for 5 mins (i dont remember exact minutes, it might be 3 mins).
after doign all that i think the only thing that you might not have done (unless you drive pretty wild) would be something with the throttle. you will notice it if you do like a rolling stop or a sharp turn and then go immediately to WOT, you will get a huge delay the first 5 times. i dont remember what the procedure to set it is off the top of my head and dont feel like combing through a thousand pg book. you wont notice that one anyways unless you drive like a crazy person on the reg

 

[jrand]

My drive home had 4 events of shifting through R. I have been shifting it from P-D, P-R and D-R a lot today. It has been improving and is starting to feel close to normal.

you posted that while i was typing; you solved your issue.

i think the procedure for the last part of my previous post is to accelerate to 20mph, let off accelerator, and when it reaches 15mph to depress accelerator to WOT until your reach 60mph. come to a full stop and repeat x5. i did it in a 1/4 mi long abandoned parking lot.

 

[scjmc]

Thanks for the responses. I will drive it more tomorow, and I am confident (fingers crossed) that the computer will have worked out whatever it needed to. I will resume working on custom tunes with Torrie and update the thread.

 

[scjmc]

+1 to everyone who said tranny adapative learn strategy. a 4hr drive alone probably did not reset it completely. i dont feel like looking it up exactly but turn your car on and let it get to normal operating temp. let it idle for 1 min in P once fully warmed. turn on a/c for 1 min. turn on defrost for one min. use shifter to shift between every possible selection x5 or 10(i think its 5 but i would do 10 for sh*ts and giggles). also start in d4, accelerate normally to 45 mph, cruise for at least 15 seconds, then throw it to d5 and accelerate to 55mph and cruise for at least 15 seconds repeat X5 chances R you probably did everything else in your 4 hr cruise. the one thing i would also recommend (never saw this in a book) is if you normally do not let your car warm up all the way, go through all the options with the shifter x5 or 10 when its cold too. sometimes i get a delay when its cold bc i normally let it get off C before i do anything. lastly you need to have idle in d5 for 5 mins (i dont remember exact minutes, it might be 3 mins).
after doign all that i think the only thing that you might not have done (unless you drive pretty wild) would be something with the throttle. you will notice it if you do like a rolling stop or a sharp turn and then go immediately to WOT, you will get a huge delay the first 5 times. i dont remember what the procedure to set it is off the top of my head and dont feel like combing through a thousand pg book. you wont notice that one anyways unless you drive like a crazy person on the reg

I am sure that I did not cover everything in that process. For the most part I hit the highway and drove home. I stopped at a friends house, and went through a drive thru. Everything else was cruising, and as late as it was traffic was light and the drive was easy on the car. So easy in fact that I averaged 27 MPG.