Free Spin Conversion

[polarbear]

Is there something I can do to solve the big gap on either side of 2nd??
As far as exhaling, I don't want loud just to help the truck breath...

Yep- back your foot off of the throttle and it'll shift up sooner. The mistake a lot of folks make with an automatic is thinking the transmission will always shift at the right time. What you're experiencing tells me you're flatlining the throttle instead of "encouraging" the transmission to shift a bit sooner. In other words, back off just a bit right when you want it to shift. Mashing the throttle will actually make this condition worse.

Don't forget to use the OD lockout when running in town. Using it also (correct me if I'm wrong) programs a different shift pattern. And yeah, the transmission is computer controlled too, so all a shift kit does is make it slam into gear harder, creating more stress on the components.

This is all pretty funny in a way. Nick complains about the same things in the Marquis, then wonders why the car doesn't do it when I drive it. Answer- he's used to a manual.

 

[1970Custom]

It did it today coming over donner, slowed down behind a big rig and as I accelerated (not hard mind you, for once) it went from third to second with the throttle no more than half way but third to OD was short and smooth, this was all on one of the mountain's flatter spots, and as I said it shifts WAY different compared to my mom's '00 X... It could be that I'm not used to the auto but to me it just doesn't feel quite right...

 

[polarbear]

Is the trans different between the '96 and the '00 because my mom's shifts WAY better and it's near 200k...

Your's might be needing a service and screen cleaned out. FIL's Crown Vic shifted rough and chattered going into OD. Service cured all that.

 

[1970Custom]

Your's might be needing a service and screen cleaned out. FIL's Crown Vic shifted rough and chattered going into OD. Service cured all that.

I think you just solved the issues in my mom's X, it'll get all jittery in OD...

So that might be an issue in the '96?

 

[polarbear]

It did it today coming over donner, slowed down behind a big rig and as I accelerated (not hard mind you, for once) it went from third to second with the throttle no more than half way but third to OD was short and smooth, this was all on one of the mountain's flatter spots, and as I said it shifts WAY different compared to my mom's '00 X... It could be that I'm not used to the auto but to me it just doesn't feel quite right...

Altitude kinda changes things too, none of them for the better. I tend to accelerate like that with just enough throttle to make sure it didn't shift into second (if possible), because there's a huge gap in ratios there. This is why the newer rigs have gone to six-speeds.

 

[1970Custom]

...I tend to accelerate like that with just enough throttle to make sure it didn't shift into second (if possible), because there's a huge gap in ratios there...

I tried, guess I need practice (never thought I'd say that about an auto)

Is there a big step between 1 and 2 as well?

 

[polarbear]

Yep. If I'm in a hurry, I let the Merc shift into third before I really get on it. Also easier on the transmission. Think of it this way- the fewer times it has to shift, the longer it'll last. It's the actual shifting gears, not the miles, that wears them out.

 

[1970Custom]

Next time I'm getting a stick...

 

[blackhat620]

Yep. If I'm in a hurry, I let the Merc shift into third before I really get on it. Also easier on the transmission. Think of it this way- the fewer times it has to shift, the longer it'll last. It's the actual shifting gears, not the miles, that wears them out.

Exactly, and running in OD in the hills forces the transmission to hunt and unlock the TC repeatedly. OD should be turned off in the mountains.

 

[1970Custom]

Exactly, and running in OD in the hills forces the transmission to hunt and unlock the TC repeatedly. OD should be turned off in the mountains.

I've learned that much over the few years I've been driving, it was off even on the down side, I just ended up in a position where it had to go further down to do what it needed to do...