2024 XLT 4x4 Transmission Slipping or Clunking Only 3rd Gear

[1996-to-2025]

No shifting issues for me. Just commenting on the 1 to 3 shift. Mine always skips 2nd gear (verified through OBD2 data). I imagine if you are towing, loaded down, or maybe on a very steep grade, it will use 2nd.

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[dbcallaw]

My service advisor called me yet again to reschedule my appointment to June 15. Ive been trying to get this truck in since March. I asked to speak with the service director and the advisor said the service director was the one telling him to reschedule. I was super fed up and called the sales manager and told him I'm interested in selling the truck and getting out of the Ranger because I can't my truck service and what good is a warranty if I can't use it. He spoke with the service director who in turn called me and asked me to come in this morning. He said he's going to log some data on the truck and drive it with me to see what the issue is.

Hope this leads somewhere. I love the truck otherwise, but this third gear dead spot it driving me insane.

 

[ElectronNinja]

My service advisor called me yet again to reschedule my appointment to June 15. Ive been trying to get this truck in since March. I asked to speak with the service director and the advisor said the service director was the one telling him to reschedule. I was super fed up and called the sales manager and told him I'm interested in selling the truck and getting out of the Ranger because I can't my truck service and what good is a warranty if I can't use it. He spoke with the service director who in turn called me and asked me to come in this morning. He said he's going to log some data on the truck and drive it with me to see what the issue is.

Hope this leads somewhere. I love the truck otherwise, but this third gear dead spot it driving me insane.

Standard dealer shenanigans. I've never been able to sort out why automotive is so much worse than dirtbike dealers on average....

Anyway I did the same this week.
I've gotta go back and checked the tagged spots, but cursory glance didn't seem to show the ECU messing with the throttle position or strange shift patterns.

I'm going to hit a parking lot and narrowly check 3rd gear and see if anything odd is present with the solenoids.

 

[dbcallaw]

Thanks for posting info and results. I took the service director for a drive this morning. He felt the dead spot and saw it on the tach. He was concerned and said there's definitely something funky going on. He thinks it's hanging up wanting to shift into 4th too early then forcing itself to stay in 3rd gear for the correct duration. He looked at store codes and saw several instances of communications dropping with the central communications module (the name escaped me right now. I'll edit this post with the correct name if I remember) and the telematics control unit. He doesn't think that would cause the issue but he's open to the possibility.

I am dropping the truck off on Thursday morning and he is going to spend the day logging data on the truck to help diagnose it. Fingers crossed!

 

[superj]

Nice

 

[ElectronNinja]

Thanks for posting info and results. I took the service director for a drive this morning. He felt the dead spot and saw it on the tach. He was concerned and said there's definitely something funky going on. He thinks it's hanging up wanting to shift into 4th too early then forcing itself to stay in 3rd gear for the correct duration. He looked at store codes and saw several instances of communications dropping with the central communications module (the name escaped me right now. I'll edit this post with the correct name if I remember) and the telematics control unit. He doesn't think that would cause the issue but he's open to the possibility.

I am dropping the truck off on Thursday morning and he is going to spend the day logging data on the truck to help diagnose it. Fingers crossed!

Hmmmm.....

My bet (and hope) is on shift logic or a sensor cal in the PCM, just because it seems a lot (read: most) of 2.3L 24 FX4s seem to do it. My build date is in Oct for the record.
A friend has an FX4 24 as well from Job-2 and his does it as well.

I'd be curious what the director thinks finding out that there's a non trivial number of trucks doing it. I'd wager most people don't even notice it.

Good to hear they aren't giving you the "yeah that's normal" deal

Good luck (for all of us) and thanks for keeping us in the loop!

 

[ElectronNinja]

Thanks for posting info and results. I took the service director for a drive this morning. He felt the dead spot and saw it on the tach. He was concerned and said there's definitely something funky going on. He thinks it's hanging up wanting to shift into 4th too early then forcing itself to stay in 3rd gear for the correct duration. He looked at store codes and saw several instances of communications dropping with the central communications module (the name escaped me right now. I'll edit this post with the correct name if I remember) and the telematics control unit. He doesn't think that would cause the issue but he's open to the possibility.

I am dropping the truck off on Thursday morning and he is going to spend the day logging data on the truck to help diagnose it. Fingers crossed!

Callaw did you ever hear anything back from the dealer about diagnostics?

Couple runs in a parking lot confirmed it happens regardless of any shift mode. Throttle plate doesn't appear to be moving when it happens either.

 

[dbcallaw]

Callaw did you ever hear anything back from the dealer about diagnostics?

Couple runs in a parking lot confirmed it happens regardless of any shift mode. Throttle plate doesn't appear to be moving when it happens either.

I just dropped the truck off this morning at 8. The service director said he would be logging data himself. We'll see. He said his transmission guy wouldn't even be able to look at the truck until June 9.

I did my own runs before dropping off just to confirm it happens in every drive mode. Of course it does.

I'm hoping there's a way for him to see solenoid activity, or to see fuel pressure completely dropping. Im not convinced and transmission or shift-logic issue, but again, I'm not a professional.

 

[ElectronNinja]

I boofed and totally realized you meant _this_ Thursday

I had the solenoid pressures and voltages logged. Nothing looked immediately strange but I was also driving. I'll see about posting some screencaps today or tomorrow morning.

One of the test runs was in manual mode to slow down and accelerate through the dead spot without any shifts in 3rd.
There shouldn't be any clutch pack or solenoid actions from the PCM in there and it didn't look like it in the moment.

The RPM drop and pause in vehicle speed was absolutely noticeable on the chart though. Two identical little drops that are nearly the same in every occurrence.

 

[dbcallaw]

I boofed and totally realized you meant _this_ Thursday

I had the solenoid pressures and voltages logged. Nothing looked immediately strange but I was also driving. I'll see about posting some screencaps today or tomorrow morning.

One of the test runs was in manual mode to slow down and accelerate through the dead spot without any shifts in 3rd.
There shouldn't be any clutch pack or solenoid actions from the PCM in there and it didn't look like it in the moment.

The RPM drop and pause in vehicle speed was absolutely noticeable on the chart though. Two identical little drops that are nearly the same in every occurrence.

Service director drove it today and tried to log data. He saw nothing in data that was out of the ordinary and he says he couldn't replicate the problem. Of course as soon as I pick it up, I get the two rpm drops in 3rd gear.

I figured this is where I would eventually end up...and I am considering just selling or trading in.

 

[ElectronNinja]

Service director drove it today and tried to log data. He saw nothing in data that was out of the ordinary and he says he couldn't replicate the problem. Of course as soon as I pick it up, I get the two rpm drops in 3rd gear.

I figured this is where I would eventually end up...and I am considering just selling or trading in.

Dealer shenanigans.... especially after seeing it before agreeing to take the truck in 🫠

Was hoping for better news. Guess I'll try my local with logged data to show them.

On the flip side, the data I pulled on the lock-up clutch signals coincides with the rpm drop. I dug around and the 5th gen guys apparently ran into this with the 10R80.

TLDR: this might be normal...just really annoying. You'd think it'd do a better job of going into lockup. Curious to try driving a 25 and see if it does it (or see if there's a PCM update to smooth it out)

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/rpm-drop-in-3rd-gear.6692/

 

[ElectronNinja]

Pulled a log to put here regarding the TC lockup. It doesn't exactly look smooth, and as we know doesn't feel like it. The 2025 gang doesn't seem to run into this so I'm thinking either a firmware or maybe design issue on the 2024s?

My thought is to take this data to the local dealer and ask their techs straight up Is This Normal? If it is, then whatever. But if not, I'd rather a slipping clutch be fixed before it gets expensive. I'd sooner think not as Ford does actively seem to try and address driveability issues.

At any rate, SSLU is the TC lockup clutch amperage to the solenoid. RPM is above it. You can see the shudder on the tail end of the TC lockup if you look close. Trans clutches are below. Third gear starts when the C clutch goes low the first time.

 

[dbcallaw]

Pulled a log to put here regarding the TC lockup. It doesn't exactly look smooth, and as we know doesn't feel like it. The 2025 gang doesn't seem to run into this so I'm thinking either a firmware or maybe design issue on the 2024s?

My thought is to take this data to the local dealer and ask their techs straight up Is This Normal? If it is, then whatever. But if not, I'd rather a slipping clutch be fixed before it gets expensive. I'd sooner think not as Ford does actively seem to try and address driveability issues.

At any rate, SSLU is the TC lockup clutch amperage to the solenoid. RPM is above it. You can see the shudder on the tail end of the TC lockup if you look close. Trans clutches are below. Third gear starts when the C clutch goes low the first time.

Sorry to say I gave up on the truck. The dealer texted me on Friday they needed to reschedule my June appointment for September 23. I traded it in on Monday for a 2025 Maverick XLT Hybrid FWD. I'm digging the fuel economy so far and it's acrually fun to drive. I'm super bummed about the Ranger.

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