I hate my Powerboost

[jesaf00]

I'll add my anedote with this. Background: About 2 weeks ago I asked for PB feedback as like OP I am not finding my PB not functioning well, getting noticeably worse around the 1000 mile mark. No overnaly harsh shifts, rather pedal on the floor giving a stuttering ICE (off the line in sport mode especially bad) and free wheeling converter. I reset my PCM as well and Transmission tables and decided to try learning in sport mode.

Its been nearly 200 miles using Sport mode. It has definitely changed behavior. Some of it has been interesting and I learned a bit. Its seems to have confirmed for me they can lock in some bad habits. Its still in the process of changing, but here are some things I noticed:

The PCM reset prevents it from going into Electric mode at stops for the first 50 miles or so. After that, if you come to a full stop the ICE will shut off and in electric, as soon as brake pedal pressure is changed the ICE comes right back on and purrs without confusion wtihout trying to constantly shut down to go to electric. Previously in Sport, the ICE was not coming back on when fully off the brake and it seemed to struggle to figure out if it should be on or off (wait what mode am I in?). On rollout or even light power braking the ICE kept wanting to cut off and go into electric. This explains why it would stutter and struggle to get moving when giving it the berries off a start. Isnt doing that right now.
Overall throttle response is better. For now.

Transmission. I was seeing long delays with gear selection and converter lockup In sport, it seems to not hold gear for any longer than Normal mode. It still takes it time to lockup, but it definately holds in gear longer before shifting. Slightly faster shifts than before.

As far as the low gear shifting, where its typically expected that reset will make it harsher initially as it goes back to learning, it actually didn't revert nearly as far as when new. I would call them more positive at worst. I really had smoothed out by 300 miles from new and its still pretty close that that. Generally what I noticed over the 200 since reset is the shift and throttle timing are jelling better. Initially the timing is offset the throttle is set on before the shift point. Now that transition is better timed. Depending on how someone perceives clunky, that bit should help.

There is one new quirk though. My Stability control seems to have become overly sensitive and turning onto roads will continue to give heavy ignition cuts for several seconds even after turn completed and wheel staight (holding light steady throttle). Have to fully release the gas for a second or two for it to reset. For some reason it seems to think its crashing even though its going 15mph straight ahead at 0 body yaw or roll. For now I am disabling TC and Stability control every drive.

OP, depending on the range of things you want to improve, if you don't get all that you want, consider resetting the PCM next. I think it did worlds of good for me. The two have to work together so I am sure it couldn't hurt and could help if the trans alone doesn't give you the desired results.

Good luck, look forward to seeing how your experiment pans out.

Is that the PCM module reset or reset all adaptations?

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[oneinch]

Blah blah blah

I'm sure the Pro Power has served your RVing needs well. Of course your reply is completely out of the context of my statement. I still stand by my statement that'll it'll supply power to a house, but actually powering a house is another story. For many houses consessions will be required. This isn't so with 20 kWh whole house NG/propane generators. I said nothing about RVs. Nonetheless, many have used the Pro Power to either supply power to their homes or power their homes. It's certainly a nice thing to do with their trucks. I do believe Ford overstates it's abilities though. They don't lie or mislead really. They just inflate reality. Happy RVing and enjoy your AC.

 

[erixgix]

Is that the PCM module reset or reset all adaptations?

That is a great question. I hate to admit that 2 weeks is long enough to elude my memory for that detail. I want to say PCM, but not absolutely sure. Power of suggestion is making me doubt it though I recall thinking at the time that was the safer sounding option I would have opted for (being the first time).
I think your question may have ramifications around the KAM data. iirc it would reset the door code as well (which I never use) so I might go check to see provided that is true. If I can find what the factory door code was...
Sorry, age and memory aren't working for me.

 

[Atlee]

Blah, Blah, Blah

My reply wasn't out of context. Besides the powering the house statement, you also called the PB 7.2Kw a party trick. I disputed the notion the generator was nothing but a party trick.

 

[jesaf00]

That is a great question. I hate to admit that 2 weeks is long enough to elude my memory for that detail. I want to say PCM, but not absolutely sure. Power of suggestion is making me doubt it though I recall thinking at the time that was the safer sounding option I would have opted for (being the first time).
I think your question may have ramifications around the KAM data. iirc it would reset the door code as well (which I never use) so I might go check to see provided that is true. If I can find what the factory door code was...
Sorry, age and memory aren't working for me.

Thanks. Hopefully someone else knows which one.

 

[oneinch]

My reply wasn't out of context. Besides the powering the house statement, you also called the PB 7.2Kw a party trick. I disputed the notion the generator was nothing but a party trick.

To•mah•toe to•may•toe. Yes, you did take my words out of context. Within the context of my words, a party trick is a fair description when comparing the little 7.2 kWh generator to a 20 kWh generator to power a house; as I did. Let's not forget when my power goes out I sit in the dark for 10 seconds and my lights come back on without lifting a finger. It is a great party trick to power you're house with your truck. Quite useful if you otherwise would be without power. Out in the boonies it is the bees knees.

 

[astrand1]

"Great party trick"? Hardly.

The 7.2Kw generator is one of the best options I've ever gotten. I use my travel trailer a lot. About 40% of the 100K miles I put on my old 2014 HDPP truck was towing miles. Way more than 1/2 of the 8k miles I have on my current Power Boost, with the generator, has been towing. A lot of those towing trips are boondocking ones.

This party trick has freed me from hauling 2 Honda EU2000i generators and the 16 gallons of gas needed to keep them running, along with the attendant problem of deploying them. At 75, I'm not getting any younger. Also, this party trick has allowed me to use my A/C when passing an area in hot weather and stopping at a Walmart.

Same! Although I’m only 49 ? but I got it for all the reasons anybody has stated. I needed and wanted a truck. Had not had one for a few years. This truck checks all the boxes. Yes I’d like to get a standby whole house generator but they are just stupid expensive. Having this truck allows me to not have to use my noisy propane generator when house power goes out. I’m getting a solid 25+mpg I can power my travel trailer and of course use it for truck things. I’m very happy with it.

 

[Snakebitten]

@jesaf00 there's a PCM update popping up for Powerboosts today. A few guys have reported it.
My April 2022 build doesn't have it yet.
I look at your August 2021 VIN and you don't have it yet either.

I'll shout if that changes.

 

[Atlee]

@jesaf00 there's a PCM update popping up for Powerboosts today. A few guys have reported it.
My April 2022 build doesn't have it yet.
I look at your August 2021 VIN and you don't have it yet either.

I'll shout if that changes.

I can rest assured it will not pop up for me.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

You have a great memory.

I did attempt to use the factory shift strategy of Sport Mode during the adaptive stage of the transmission, just to see if perhaps the No-gear-skipping nature of Sport Mode might have a positive influence on the values that quickly populate the adaptive tables.
I personally prefer the shift strategy of Sport Mode for that reason as well as its the least confused strategy of all the modes. (my opinion). It's as if Ford removed most of the variables and options that in other modes, especially normal and Eco, have the transmission indecisive at times. Confused. Hunting even.

It's completely anecdotal, admittedly, but I put a couple of hundred miles on it in Sport and then returned to Normal ONLY because I want the daily advantages of the Hybrid in fuel economy.
And yes, to answer @jesaf00 Ford in all their silly marketing of drive modes decided for us that Sport Mode should pretend to be something more than what it actually is. (A transmission shift strategy, with a bit of additional tip-in on the throttle mapping.
Which both I find wonderful. But not for hustling, but rather just driving the truck normal)

They NIX EV cruising in Sport Mode. Basically they kill the Hybrid. For absolutely no logical reason at all. 45mph is 45mph, whether you are in 5th or 7th. Cruise control is cruise control. Why not disable cruise control in so called "Sport Mode" ? Afterall, it's for hooliganing, right? ??

I love this truck. Huge fan of it. It's an amazing drivetrain. But I'd be happier if they'd let ME decide what I want the truck to do.

Mini-rant over. Lol

By the way, this is my 4th personal 10r80 and it's the best day to day shifting of them all. It has the occasional stumble every once in a while, but that's the nature of a 10-speed with a ton of solenoids, clutch packs, a locked torque converter 90% of the time. Nobody could write enough code to guarantee every possible circumstance is accounted for elegantly.

How do you correctly reset the adaptive transmission in Forscan?

 

[Snakebitten]

I can rest assured it will not pop up for me.

Yea, after I posted that Jesse pointed out to me that our trucks (2022) already have received this PCM update.

 

[Snakebitten]

How do you correctly reset the adaptive transmission in Forscan?

2:30 mark in this video
(PCM module "clear transmission adaptive table" procedure)

 

[jesaf00]

@Snakebitten do you recommend resetting the pcm or the pcm all adaptations along with the transmission tables?

 

[RedLightning86]

I have had a '21 powerboost for a full year now with 15k miles. Beyond issues with stupid things from day 1 like power mirrors not working and the 11 month debacle that has been, I just really dislike the ride. I was so excited to have this truck, after my '20 Ram was rear-ended and totaled after less than 2 years, because after living through the Texas snowpocalpyse the 7.2kw generator in this truck seemed to make it perfect. But since day 1, my Lariate pb has been a downgrade and disappointment from my Laramie 1500.

First, I love the idea of a hybrid with great mpg, lots of power and speed, and the built in generator. Not to mention the fact that I was able to put a hefty sum down and get 0% interest in Oct 2021. I thought this truck was going to be the best of all worlds. But what I found was this truck drives like complete crap. There are very noticeable jerks when switching between gas and electric plus accelerating or decelerating, especially around 3rd gear is extremely rough. Every time I accelerate or decelerate I feel these jerks, pauses, and jolts and it is driving me insane.

When accelerating up a hill I will hit third gear and then it feels as if it downshifts and throws me in to the back of my seat as it shifts higher. When decelerating it can be very sudden that it shocks people in the vehicle. Sometimes there is a hesitation when accelerating causing me to hit the gas a little more which then leads to a jerk forward once the truck catches up. Nothing about the ride is consistent or comfortable. I hate comparing it to the ram but the hemi ram was smooth in acceleration and deceleration all the time. During the last 11 months of dealing with other issues I have mentioned the issues with the ride quality each time I took the truck into service and the dealer has done nothing for it. On the work order it says "no work done." I Paid 68k for this truck, full sticker 1 year ago, and I couldn't be less happy with it.

Most likely I will need to hold onto this truck because current interest rates are terrible and no one will give me a decent trade in. I am one service appt away from filing a lemon law claim here in Texas for a buy back. If we have a power outage in the next winter or 2, the generator may be the only saving grace, if it's not in the shop.

I like my PB, but agree with you about the transmission. You would think from how jerky it is that it was the first time Ford was trying out this new-fangled Automatic transmission... I can't believe it is all due to the electric motor, either, given the difference in how it feels in Normal vs Eco mode. I am glad my Lightning should come in a few months, with no transmission shifting to jerk around.

 

[mbouck3]

I'm sure the Pro Power has served your RVing needs well. Of course your reply is completely out of the context of my statement. I still stand by my statement that'll it'll supply power to a house, but actually powering a house is another story. For many houses concessions will be required. This isn't so with 20 kWh whole house NG/propane generators. I said nothing about RVs. Nonetheless, many have used the Pro Power to either supply power to their homes or power their homes. It's certainly a nice thing to do with their trucks. I do believe Ford overstates it's abilities though. They don't lie or mislead really. They just inflate reality. Happy RVing and enjoy your AC.

You do know you are in the minority of house with needs of 20 KW. and most are not buying a PB just for running their house. It's a package with many pluses that can be put to use. As just one example I have an acquittance that bought a xl trim PB that uses his as his generator for a new construction carpentry business and has now become his most used office space.

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