Ecoboost "D" indicator changes intensity going up hills

[Scott Asheville]

Last night going up some hills, I noticed something that somehow escaped me for the last two years of ownership. When my ecoboost downshifted to go up the hill, the "P" indicator in the driver display got brighter. Then it went back to normal on a downshift. I paid attention, and that seems to be a normal operation feature. I assume it's just letting my know I'm in a low gear - not sure why I would care, but there it is.

Just funny that I hadn't noticed this in two years of driving.

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[Nw_adventure]

Last night going up some hills, I noticed something that somehow escaped me for the last two years of ownership. When my ecoboost downshifted to go up the hill, the "P" indicator in the driver display got brighter. Then it went back to normal on a downshift. I paid attention, and that seems to be a normal operation feature. I assume it's just letting my know I'm in a low gear - not sure why I would care, but there it is.

Just funny that I hadn't noticed this in two years of driving.

Never noticed this either- Will be looking for hills this weekend

 

[PNWMaverick]

Never noticed.

I'm too busy yelling at the truckers who decided to break the law by getting over into the far left lane, on our steep hill climbs, at 43 MPH, just to try and pass another truck that is doing 42 MPH.

 

[CajunMick]

Weird you seeing this.
l lucky, unless an overpass steep, no hills, high hills in my area.

 

[Scott Asheville]

I should clarify I only noticed it in the dark, under 35 mph or so, going up a modest hill, when the transmission kicked down. Bright while in the lower gear, then goes back to normal when it upshifts. I'm sure some transmission engineer at Ford made it do that to tell me something meaningful. Just can't find any reference to it in the online manual. I'll look at my printed manual today.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Never noticed.

I'm too busy yelling at the truckers who decided to break the law by getting over into the far left lane, on our steep hill climbs, at 43 MPH, just to try and pass another truck that is doing 42 MPH.

Hmmm, thought they only did that on I-81 between Briston TN and Roanoke VA. LOL

I should clarify I only noticed it in the dark, under 35 mph or so, going up a modest hill, when the transmission kicked down. Bright while in the lower gear, then goes back to normal when it upshifts. I'm sure some transmission engineer at Ford made it do that to tell me something meaningful. Just can't find any reference to it in the online manual. I'll look at my printed manual today.

Well, I'm definitely going to have a look at it at night now in my EB.

 

[kjb13]

Maybe when kicked down to lower gear, the engine is at a higher rpm and putting out a higher voltage causing the light to be brighter. Conversely, when shifting back to a higher gear the rpm's drop, lowering the voltage output.

 

[RobN]

I've got a hybrid and the D indicator changes between red and green as I drive. Doesn't seem to be affected by whether the gas motor is running or not. I've never figured out what it meant.

 

[dldjtad]

I’ve had this happen to me as well. In addition, there was another light (can’t recall what it is right now) that would also brighten and dim along with it. I could not discover why it was doing this.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I've got a hybrid and the D indicator changes between red and green as I drive. Doesn't seem to be affected by whether the gas motor is running or not. I've never figured out what it meant.

The indicator on the dash instrument cluster or the indicator on the shifter knob? Or both?

 

[Scott Asheville]

For me, the gear indicator along the bottom of the driver display. I drive an XLT LUX ECO. Next time I think of it, I'll put it in neutral and rev the engine to see if that makes it brighter. But I have a theory it is related to being in a low gear. I might depress the L button on the console to see if that brightens it too. It's not a small difference. You can see it switch bright to normal as the gear changes.

 

[Jah.]

Yea , never noticed and probably never will . More interested in what is going on in front of me than looking down at the gear shifter .

 

[Scott Asheville]

Yea , never noticed and probably never will . More interested in what is going on in front of me than looking down at the gear shifter .

Gear indicator, not gear shifter. And it's in front of you. You know, right below "useless" things like your speed indication.

 

[DoubleR]

I've noticed it on my Maverick. But it's not just the D, it's the brightness of the dash lights. Like it can't tell whether or not to dim or not.

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