2024 tranny questions

[fh4ever]

I have just over 30k miles on my recently purchased of an used 2024 edge 2.0.  I have noticed a couple things regarding the transmission.   I have noticed if I pull out onto a street that is steep and allow it to coast downhill to get up to speed (without pressing the gas pedal), it seems the torque converter is already locked up.  As the car goes downhill faster, the engine rpm increases to a point the tranny shifts into the next gear.  The rpm falls back with the gear change, and as the car picks up more speed again, the rpm goes up to a point and again shifts to the next gear.   This repeats a few times until 25 or 30 mph is reached.  At that speed, its hard to tell if the engine is still holding the car back.  

My question is, did Ford design the transmission to operate this way?  All other automatics I have ever owned have freewheeled going downhill and will go faster and faster without the engine or transmission ever holding the car back.   I asked the "very young" service tech at the dealership about this and he said with his 2 years on the job, no one has ever complained about it.

My second question... I have noticed in heavy stop and go traffic, there is some tranny shudder around 20-25 mph while barely giving it throttle.  Almost as if it it hunting the gear it needs to be in...or as if the torque converter is already locked up not allowing smooth shift.  It seems this is more noticeable on the hot summer days in heavy stop and go traffic from stop light to stop light.  If you give it more gas and go on and accelearate, I do not notice it.  I have also noticed at less than 20 mph speeds, when you let off the gas pedal, the engine is slowing the car down...again as if the torque converter is already locked up. I would expect you could coast to a stop with the engine slowing you down.  Anyone elses Edge do the same thing? 

Todays trannys are so complex, temperamental, and costly that if there is an issue, I want to address it before the warranty expires.  

[Samurai Edge]

First and most obvious question:

 

Was the transmission fluid ever changed?  Most likely not and you probably have no idea how that car was treated before you bought it.

 

Step 1:  Change the transmission fluid

 

Whenever one buys a used car, one has to expect to perform routine maintenance, at least, on the car just purchased.

Edited 22 hours ago by Samurai Edge

[1004ron]

Transmission fluid change at 30~40K miles might be prudent for a vehicle that's frequently used for towing, otherwise around 50~60K miles for typical use - being a used vehicle with unknown history is may be good insurance to change it early.

 

@fh4ever I have owned other vehicles that exhibited similar transmission behaviour you describe and it was considered normal.

 

If still in doubt take a test drive in a similar vehicle at your local Ford Dealership, and if still in doubt after that have it checked by a transmission specialist shop.

 

Do you still have warranty on your vehicle? - if so submit a warranty request.

 

 

[fh4ever]

1004ron... I had all fluids changed by the dealer shortly after buying the car at 30k miles.  The car still being in warranty is why I went to the dealer to ask about the way the tranny operates.  But I felt brushed off by the young technician and I felt I had more mechanical abilities than he did after talking with him.  He said something about the only thing he knew of was a "converter" issue, I said torque converter? he said it was inside the transmission and explained it has a planetary gear???  I know the trannys now are sophiticated these days, but I dont see a "converter" having a planetary gear.... doesn't make any sense to me.  But the fact that he said "converter",  I cant help but think it could be torque converter and it is not uncoupling from a lock up position.  That could explain the "engine braking" and no free wheel coasting, and shuddering gear changes at 20-25 mph.  Maybe I need to go to another dealer for another opinion.   The transmission shop is a good idea too.  

I live in relatively flat areas so the engine braking is not much of an issue, but the 20-25 mph shudder is still there.  We visit relatives in the mountains occasionally and that is where I first experienced the engine braking when it should freewheel and coast downhill.   

[1004ron]

@fh4ever with it still under the Ford warranty make sure the service writer checks it in with the written concern clearly spelt out on the job sheet and that way you'll have a legal record in the event there's a failure after the warranty period.

 

Also a good idea to contact Ford Corporate and let them know that you don't believe the dealership tech has fully understood and investigated the concerns.

 

Yes, a second dealership is a good idea.

 

The specialist transmission shop is good, but with it being under warranty I'd pursue Ford first. 

[1004ron]

52 minutes ago, fh4ever said:

1004ron... I had all fluids changed by the dealer shortly after buying the car at 30k miles.  

If you asked them to "change all fluids" that would not necessarily include the transmission seeing as its not listed as due for replacement in their documentation.

[Samurai Edge]

4 minutes ago, 1004ron said:

If you asked them to "change all fluids" that would not necessarily include the transmission seeing as its not listed as due for replacement in their documentation.

 

Agreed.  They would look at the service schedule and go by that.

 

Check your paperwork on the transmission check performed by the dealer to see if anything is noted.

Check your paperwork on the vehicle sale / service at time of purchase and see what is states for fluid changes.

[1004ron]

Check the reports in the below link - sounds similar to what you're experiencing and the repairs are costly out of warranty.

 

https://www.fordforums.com/threads/2019-ford-edge-sel-trans-issues.315266/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

[STBEAST]

The shuddering should definitely not be there.

I know that Ford has had a lot of issues with the transmission control module on the Edge ST and even offers out of warranty coverage. 

Mabey applies to the 2.0 as well. 

Edited 13 hours ago by STBEAST

[fh4ever]

Having heard of the all the horror stories of PTU and diff failures of earlier models, I made them understand that I wanted the oil changed in the tranny, PTU, and rear diff. every 30k miles regardless of the factory recommendations.  And, I wanted the dealer to do the work so it was in their records and there would be no question if warranty work was later needed.  

1004ron... that article sure shows that 2019 torque converter had an issue.  I wonder how similar it is to a 2024.  

come monday morning, I'm taking it back and demanding they look at it. 

It is subtle, and the wife doesn't even notice it.  but me being a gearhead, I definitley feel it.