Uneven/Abrupt Acceleration and Throttle Response

[budpalumbo]

Was digging around trying to find out what a tune would do to the selectable drive modes and found this. I had the same complaint. 23 4k fx4. And why I'm looking into a tune. (so if anyone can tell me what the livernois tune does to drive modes...)

Its like the truck is second guessing how much throttle I'm applying, and it feels like there is an abrupt point between acceleration like grandma is in the truck and getting out of the way of the oncoming traffic. For me its most noticeable when I'm behind other cars going down a road with a row of speed bumps. Stuck in traffic is too slow, its rolling from 5 up to 30+ mph where it really acts dumb. At first I thought it was a throttle or boost issue, but now think its a combo of those and gear choices it makes. Oddly enough, I also think the truck sitting for a few days makes things feel different. If it sits a week it seems to drive like it should a couple days but eventually the adaptations get stupid again.

I unlocked sport and eco modes with a forscan. They both feel better driving, but I don't like how long sport hangs in gear when I settle to cruise, and eco just isn't my style. Hitting a button multiple times just to make a truck driveable is annoying too.

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[bluesteel]

I added sport mode a couple days ago, with mixed results - it does seem a little better on acceleration from a stop or slow speeds, but there are other aspects of it that I don't like, similar to what budpalumbo said. I also agree that it seems to fluctuate from one trip to the next, but I can't say whether how long it's been sitting (or any other factor I can decipher) has any bearing on that.

 

[budpalumbo]

I had mine at the dealership for the second light bcm recall, I talked to the techs and the foreman. (I'm a euro mechanic, this may also be why the mav shifts upset me so much) I was told it drives like they all do. I'm starting to think that whatever is wrong with this truck isn't tranny mechanical or the turbo but there must be something different in the programming between AWD and FWD trucks that affects shifting. It seems most shift quality bitching is from people with FX4 and/or 4k trucks.

It bothers me enough that I'm going to void the warranty with a tune. Livernois if they ever answer an email, cobb and custom if they don't. I'm not really after more juice, I just want a 2023 vehicle with an 8spd tranny that shifts like cars have been able to for the last 20 years. I won't complain about the added ponies though.

 

[notgoosemaverick33]

Sorry if I am late to the response party, but recently I had my truck at the dealer for a recall and they futzed with the airbox and left one of the clamps undone (the back one). I noticed that I could hear the turbo much better and that was what told me the clamp was undone. When the airbox is sucking in more air than usual, it has significant throttle delay.

 

[Mav_27]

I’ve been complaining about this issue forever and have never had it fixed after multiple dealer visits. I don’t know what the problem is but my issue goes away once the truck is warmed up (or right away if I warm up/remote start the truck).

Can anyone suggest what might cause that? O2 sensor, MAF, fuel pump?

 

[Superg0]

Transmission fluid is up to operating temp?

 

[colinl]

I’ve been complaining about this issue forever and have never had it fixed after multiple dealer visits. I don’t know what the problem is but my issue goes away once the truck is warmed up (or right away if I warm up/remote start the truck).

Can anyone suggest what might cause that? O2 sensor, MAF, fuel pump?

it's not the MAF sensor for certain because the truck doesn't have one.

review my other posts (and everything else) in this thread if you haven't already. it's likely the transmission. it does behave worse when low on atf, so you might consider having your Ford dealer drain & refill. they will likely tell you it's not due for service until 150k miles, you can feel free to laugh at that... I would.

 

[budpalumbo]

I know this thread is getting old, but just wanted to say that at 14k I installed a livernois tune. In talking to a rep there, I got the impression that the weird issue we experience is due to the trans programming and Fords gear skipping. The tune eliminates 2nd gear, one that was very close to 3rds ratio and only used under specific situations.

The truck drives like it should, has the power I expect from a modern turbo 4. Fuel economy is relatively unaltered from pre-tune. I have an fx4, 4k. eco and sport unlocked via forscan.

My only noticed issues are: no more start/stop. I had a memory device that would keep it where I last had it set as I did like using it in certain situations. The other was a poor mileage trip in heavy traffic, the kind where speeds kept fluctuating up and down and never staying steady. I felt like the truck kept downshifting to accelerate when it didn't need to. I've been experimenting with sport/eco modes to hold gears in traffic like that but have no real results to speak of.

 

[Bullhead555]

Turn off Brake Assist. It will dramatically work better. I tried going into Sport Mode and even then it was hesitating from stops and getting on the accelerator while driving.

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