Clunky 10R80- do i just live with it?

[freewayman]

I have a 23 F150 Tremor with the 3.5 EB with just over 34k miles. Last month I brought it to the dealer as I was getting a clunk when on and off the throttle in 6th gear at low rpm around 20 mph. I verified this on a test drive with a technician. He inspected the driveline, checked for updates (there weren't any), and he reset the shift adaptations and told me to monitor.

It's been about 1500 miles and over a month since then. I was told it would only take a couple weeks to learn, however, I am still getting that same clunkiness around 6th gear when on and off the throttle, furthermore I am getting clunks when the transmission downshifts as i brake to a stop (I only occasionally had this issue prior to the reset, however it seems more frequent now). It doesn't happen always, I would say 50/50. Sometimes its more of a jerk, sometimes I don't feel it and its more of a mechanical clunking noise. I can't seem to even pinpoint the conditions where this happens, it will happen sometimes braking slow, braking medium, uphill, downhill, etc. I will also note that I only ever notice these clunks in Normal Mode. In sport mode and tow/haul the transmission is very smooth. Ive tried eco mode as well, only for a short time, but i didn't really get any clunks in that mode either.

I'm fairly certain this behavior isn't normal. I've driven work trucks before with the same/similar trans- a F250 with the 6.2 and 10 speed, and a F150 with a 3.3 and 10 speed, neither of these had any clunks that could remember. So I don't know really if these clunks are just how the 10R80s are with the 3.5 EB or 5.0, or if there's something wrong with mine.

Luckily, I am still well within warranty. However, I'm unsure if it's even worth it to get it checked out again. The reason being is every single upshift ever has been 100% smooth, and every downshift is smooth aside from what I mentioned. I never get any slipping, etc. Also, I'm not sure if 1500 miles has been enough time for the trans to learn. I'm happy if anyone could give me some input if you have had similar issues before. Should I bring it in again, or is this just how the transmission is?

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[22Platinum]

I had the same, and I had similar going uphill and dropping from 10 down to 8 or 9, and cold going from 3 to 1 at very low speed.

I have lessened this considerably by doing a drain and fill on the transmission. It is nearly non-existent now. I expect the trans fluid probably needs to be changed before 30k miles. I think I have seen some threads claiming the factory transmission fill is low (sadly, your last visit to the dealer probably didn't even check the fluid). Ford dealer isn't going to do this for you under warranty; you'll have to pay for this or do it yourself.

Here's the thread to where I did it. Highly recommend.

 

[freewayman]

I had the same, and I had similar going uphill and dropping from 10 down to 8 or 9, and cold going from 3 to 1 at very low speed.

I have lessened this considerably by doing a drain and fill on the transmission. It is nearly non-existent now. I expect the trans fluid probably needs to be changed before 30k miles. I think I have seen some threads claiming the factory transmission fill is low (sadly, your last visit to the dealer probably didn't even check the fluid). Ford dealer isn't going to do this for you under warranty; you'll have to pay for this or do it yourself.

Here's the thread to where I did it. Highly recommend.

That's good to know. I was planning to do this at 50k miles (I think Ford recommends 150k miles?) however I didn't expect this to be an issue at less than 35k. This truck has seen mostly highway driving in fact, and has rarely ever towed or hauled heavy loads. However recently I've been driving in a hilly city somewhat often. I'm just surprised it wouldn't be able to handle light duty like this, given Ford's super long intervals for the fluid.

Do you think it would be worth it to bring it up to the dealer at least? If the fluid is indeed needing to be changed and it's what is causing the hard shifts, I don't see why it can't be under warranty.

 

[Groovicles]

Quite a few people have had the same issue. With many, the issue was scoring on the crap quality CDF drum and many of us had ours replace under warranty after we went through the same old resetting of adaptive tables.

 

[freewayman]

Quite a few people have had the same issue. With many, the issue was scoring on the crap quality CDF drum and many of us had ours replace under warranty after we went through the same old resetting of adaptive tables.

My truck was built on Aug 2023, I have been told that Ford released a new CDF drum for trucks built after Aug 2022, so I'm pretty convinced it's not that.

 

[Blue22]

I wouldn't think your problem is a CDF drum issue since yours is a 2023 so here's something to consider. While my truck was at the dealer to look at some warranty issues, I asked them if they could check the tranny fluid level. I only did this because I have read about trucks coming from the factory several quarts low. Well my service advisor informed me mine was 1.5 quarts low and they topped it off.

I have only a little over 7k miles on mine and wasn't experiencing any transmission issues but I thought it was worth asking. If you don't want to take it back just to have them check the fluid level, I would ask them to do it the next time it's in for its state inspection.

 

[SumGuy]

I wouldn't think your problem is a CDF drum issue since yours is a 2023 so here's something to consider. While my truck was at the dealer to look at some warranty issues, I asked them if they could check the tranny fluid level. I only did this because I have read about trucks coming from the factory several quarts low. Well my service advisor informed me mine was 1.5 quarts low and they topped it off.

I have only a little over 7k miles on mine and wasn't experiencing any transmission issues but I thought it was worth asking. If you don't want to take it back just to have them check the fluid level, I would ask them to do it the next time it's in for its state inspection.

I’m not sure what a state inspection is, but I am shocked(not that shocked), that the trans is low from Ford.

 

[Groovicles]

My truck was built on Aug 2023, I have been told that Ford released a new CDF drum for trucks built after Aug 2022, so I'm pretty convinced it's not that.

Yup, I heard the same about the '23's. However, based on very recent and ongoing crap quality control I honestly have doubts. Hopefully its just fluid levels, but as the problem persists I would be wondering.

 

[22Platinum]

(I think Ford recommends 150k miles?)

Oh I'm sure they do but its ill-advised. In fact, back in the 2000s the Escape/Mazda Tribute owner's manual had a 60k trans fluid change interval but when calling the Ford tech line for a spent transmission a pre-req for warranty claim was a 30k fluid change.

30k has been a long-standing number for Ford transmissions and I don't think it changed; I think the ink in the owner's manual is what changed.

Do you think it would be worth it to bring it up to the dealer at least? If the fluid is indeed needing to be changed and it's what is causing the hard shifts, I don't see why it can't be under warranty.

Yes you should ask them about a drain and fill, and I'm sure they'll do it for you, but from my experience as a tech (admittedly many moon ago) Ford does not allow claims for fuses or fluids to be a causal part for warranty concerns. Saleen961 probably can tell us the latest understanding though.

 

[freewayman]

Oh I'm sure they do but its ill-advised. In fact, back in the 2000s the Escape/Mazda Tribute owner's manual had a 60k trans fluid change interval but when calling the Ford tech line for a spent transmission a pre-req for warranty claim was a 30k fluid change.

30k has been a long-standing number for Ford transmissions and I don't think it changed; I think the ink in the owner's manual is what changed.

Yes you should ask them about a drain and fill, and I'm sure they'll do it for you, but from my experience as a tech (admittedly many moon ago) Ford does not allow claims for fuses or fluids to be a causal part for warranty concerns. Saleen961 probably can tell us the latest understanding though.

Thank you, I scheduled an appointment with my dealer for next week. I'll ask about this when I drop the truck off. Hopefully there's not a lot of downtime involved with this, if it turns out there's a bigger issue. But at the end of the day I want to make sure I get any potential issues sorted with the transmission seeing how expensive these are out of warranty.

 

[Snakebitten]

6th gear at 20mph?

How can any drivetrain find harmony in those circumstances?

Edit: a later post by the OP clarified that the circumstance for being in 6th at 20 mph was less about the hell-bent (my term) rush to get into Overdrive during acceleration (in Normal Mode), but rather more about the transmission not downshifting from a too-tall ratio as the truck is slowing down.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I have a 23 F150 Tremor with the 3.5 EB with just over 34k miles. Last month I brought it to the dealer as I was getting a clunk when on and off the throttle in 6th gear at low rpm around 20 mph. I verified this on a test drive with a technician. He inspected the driveline, checked for updates (there weren't any), and he reset the shift adaptations and told me to monitor.

It's been about 1500 miles and over a month since then. I was told it would only take a couple weeks to learn, however, I am still getting that same clunkiness around 6th gear when on and off the throttle, furthermore I am getting clunks when the transmission downshifts as i brake to a stop (I only occasionally had this issue prior to the reset, however it seems more frequent now). It doesn't happen always, I would say 50/50. Sometimes its more of a jerk, sometimes I don't feel it and its more of a mechanical clunking noise. I can't seem to even pinpoint the conditions where this happens, it will happen sometimes braking slow, braking medium, uphill, downhill, etc. I will also note that I only ever notice these clunks in Normal Mode. In sport mode and tow/haul the transmission is very smooth. Ive tried eco mode as well, only for a short time, but i didn't really get any clunks in that mode either.

I'm fairly certain this behavior isn't normal. I've driven work trucks before with the same/similar trans- a F250 with the 6.2 and 10 speed, and a F150 with a 3.3 and 10 speed, neither of these had any clunks that could remember. So I don't know really if these clunks are just how the 10R80s are with the 3.5 EB or 5.0, or if there's something wrong with mine.

Luckily, I am still well within warranty. However, I'm unsure if it's even worth it to get it checked out again. The reason being is every single upshift ever has been 100% smooth, and every downshift is smooth aside from what I mentioned. I never get any slipping, etc. Also, I'm not sure if 1500 miles has been enough time for the trans to learn. I'm happy if anyone could give me some input if you have had similar issues before. Should I bring it in again, or is this just how the transmission is?

If it’s not fixed, take that shit back

 

[freewayman]

6th gear at 20mph?

How can any drivetrain find harmony in those circumstances?

Yeah it won't upshift into 6th at those speeds however if it's already in 6th and I let off the throttle or brake a bit to slow down it'll stay in 6th until it has to downshift at like 18-19mph. Only in normal mode. I will add that I have the 3.73 rear end

 

[Micho523]

Valves sticking in the valve body is known to be the cause of the clunky 10-9-8 shifts. May be something similar for you.

 

[Snakebitten]

Yeah it won't upshift into 6th at those speeds however if it's already in 6th and I let off the throttle or brake a bit to slow down it'll stay in 6th until it has to downshift at like 18-19mph. Only in normal mode. I will add that I have the 3.73 rear end

I'm in no way saying it's normal.
And I would absolutely have the fluid level verified, especially since the truck is new. But that's just it too...... It's still very low mileage and I don't think the tranny is 100% "broken in" yet.

I'm not surprised the 10r80 is better behaved in the shift strategy labeled Sport and/or Tow-Haul. Both of those shift strategies are much closer to how someone would shift if the truck had 3 pedals. While Normal mode is borderline lugging the engine, in my opinion, putting unnecessary strain on the transmission especially.

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