Keep or return ‘21 limited powerboost with shudder

[TyThorn]

I’ve got about 60 hours left to return this ‘21 powerboost I just bought with 20,000 miles on it. I absolutely love the truck.

Problem is it has the “going up a hill” shudder. It didn’t come up in the test drive because we never got up to speed on a hill. Has that been satisfactorily fixed? Should I cut my losses and return it, order a new platinum for 30k more than this used one?

@Snakebitten

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[Snakebitten]

Lots of questions, but.....
First, it's still under drivetrain warranty, so no reason to purchase if the dealership would refuse to address it.

 

[TyThorn]

Because it’s a certified preowned and state law I think, there is a zero questions asked return policy for 72 hours.

I wrapped the manufacturer “bumper to bumper” warranty for 8 years. I think I’m covered for repairs if I want to keep it.

the question is, is there a known fix, or should I just return it and get my money back?

the shudder is going up a hill with cruise control on 65ish mph, as the engine lugs down it starts to vibrate, down shifting to 8th it alleviates.

 

[Snakebitten]

If 8th gear (1st overdrive) at 65mph alleviates the issue, first, that would be considered by many as one of the common nitpics of the 10r80.
Or put another way, if you are using one of the shifting strategies that has the 10r80 in 10th gear at 65mph, which depending on which final drive the truck is equipped with, you might be attempting an incline at 1200-1400 rpms. That will draw negative NVH feedback on a fair percentage of 10r80 transmissions.

But it doesn't present equal NVH on all 10r80s.
That suggests there could be a solution?

1. Transmission Fluid level adjustment
2. Transmission flush/exchange
3. Software update (run the latest PCM software available)
4. Torque Converter replacement

I'm not a 10r80 expert. I'm just someone who has been driving trucks with that transmission since 2017. I've personally owned 3 F150s with it. And the family fleet has had 4 others. It's a little amazing, to be honest, just how difference there can be between one and the next.

I will say that the aftermarket tuning of the 10r80 reveals just how much the transmission is software defined. I think Ford's calibration is heavily weighted for fuel economy, and as a result is way too eager to get into overdrive ratios and stubborn about staying there.

 

[TyThorn]

I would say that is what’s happening. Way too high of a gear.

My plan of attack:
Contact the dealer and ask for an extension of the no questions asked return policy.
Take it in, and run through your list. I’d really like to make this truck work.
thanks

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I would say that is what’s happening. Way too high of a gear.

My plan of attack:
Contact the dealer and ask for an extension of the no questions asked return policy.
Take it in, and run through your list. I’d really like to make this truck work.
thanks

Did you pull the service/maintenance records before you bought it?

 

[J17GT]

What you are describing feels more like an engine miss when lugging it at low rpms under a decent load (going up a hill). I’ve experienced that with my truck when I ran bad gas. Downshifting to get the engine rpms up alleviates it. I bet there is some junk 87 octane fuel in it that the dealer put in. If you put some nice 93 octane in it, I bet it will disappear.

 

[Eighthtry]

Return it. Nothing shutters on my trucks. Something is not right.

 

[TyThorn]

Did you pull the service/maintenance records before you bought it?

just what was in the FordPass, it’s been in for “electrical” and general servicing.

 

[TyThorn]

What you are describing feels more like an engine miss when lugging it at low rpms under a decent load (going up a hill). I’ve experienced that with my truck when I ran bad gas. Downshifting to get the engine rpms up alleviates it. I bet there is some junk 87 octane fuel in it that the dealer put in. If you put some nice 93 octane in it, I bet it will disappear.

I’ll see if I can get my return extended and take it for a drive, put some new gas in it and report back.

 

[HammaMan]

Remember, get it in writing or it didn't happen.

Sounds like a misfire or questionable fuel -- while the motors can burn 87, they'll continue to make more power and run better up until ~96 octane. Going from 10-8 doesn't happen often. The trans will skip shift but the PB's torque and gearing will usually have it grab 9 first in the scenario you describe. You could clear its shift tables and wake it back up. No telling what state its software is in. Send your vin to @rugedraw and he'll see if there's any updates/make sure it's been getting them. Someone with FDRS access can pull up what techs have done (if anything) to diagnose things when/if the truck was brought into service.

With a good warranty not much to worry about in the long run. 20k miles isn't much for one of these trucks especially for service intervals. You could spend more but not really get it. Ford deleted features each year subsequent with 23s really getting the short end of the stick. 21 & 22 can 'easily' accept tunes as well if you're into such things. 24s can no longer use 3rd party "hands free" ADAS (comma 3x).

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