Powerboost TSB Harsh 1-3 upshift

[Sbdavis1]

Went to my local dealer a few days ago for 10k mile service on my Lariat PowerBoost. Was experiencing the 1-3 hard shift from the start. Showed them the TSB and explained my issue and they told me it wasn’t showing as applicable to my PowerBoost that I had delivered in March of 2021 which is clearly wrong. Told me I’d have to leave truck for 3-5 days, with no loaner to diagnose any transmission issues. Can I apply this update with FDRS myself? Not going to give up my truck when the dealership clearly won’t even update PCM as requested.

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[DPTURBO29]

Some dealers, or rather service departments, are just dicks. You’d think spending $50-80K on a truck would at least buy you some consideration for your issues. I’d find a dealer with a better service department and never spend a dime with them again. The TSB clearly applies to your truck so they must be illiterate as well.

 

[PBXL]

Went to my local dealer a few days ago for 10k mile service on my Lariat PowerBoost. Was experiencing the 1-3 hard shift from the start. Showed them the TSB and explained my issue and they told me it wasn’t showing as applicable to my PowerBoost that I had delivered in March of 2021 which is clearly wrong. Told me I’d have to leave truck for 3-5 days, with no loaner to diagnose any transmission issues. Can I apply this update with FDRS myself? Not going to give up my truck when the dealership clearly won’t even update PCM as requested.

I have an April 2021 truck that was having this problem. The hardest part is finding a dealership service department that will work with you on it. I had no luck with the dealership closest to me. I found one 10 miles away with a great service rep that would actually hear me out and he called his technician and explained to him the TSB and they were able to get it done in a few hours. I got the TSB done on Tuesday and so far it is a noticeable improvement compared to how it previously was, especially the hard down shifts when braking. I recommend you go check out different service departments and find a rep that will actually hear you out.

 

[dmac]

I'm at 4k miles since I did this (just hit 8k on odometer). I now feel like this truck is going to last me a long time. First 4k miles, felt pretty nervous that I spent too much on a time bomb. It's shifting really smooth now.

 

[toyko joe]

With another 500 miles on the TSB and it is shifting harder 1-3 and electric motor transmission than ever before... Not sure what I am going to do next, fuel economy is the same as a 3.5EB so that is not a great thing and I just got a NHTSA Recall on the electrical parts touching the driveshaft.

 

[Sentinel1201]

With another 500 miles on the TSB and it is shifting harder 1-3 and electric motor transmission than ever before... Not sure what I am going to do next, fuel economy is the same as a 3.5EB so that is no a great thing and I just got a NHTSA Recall on the electrical parts touching the driveshaft.

The TSB didn't do much for me either, shifts the same as before.

Your fuel economy will be same as non-hybrid if your use case is the same as non-hybrid. Meaning, if you go 80 mph on highway, tow a lot etc. the hybrid won't do anything for you. Hybrid only shines in around-town / light use. Which is a majority of driving for most Americans, so hybrid will benefit most people, but not all.

 

[toyko joe]

The TSB didn't do much for me either, shifts the same as before.

Your fuel economy will be same as non-hybrid if your use case is the same as non-hybrid. Meaning, if you go 80 mph on highway, tow a lot etc. the hybrid won't do anything for you. Hybrid only shines in around-town / light use. Which is a majority of driving for most Americans, so hybrid will benefit most people, but not all.

We do light errands around town ~75% of the time I would guess, the rest of the time we travel at ~67-69mph on the freeway, I am very aware of the aerodynamics of this truck and its GARBAGE that I am getting the same exact numbers as a standard 3.5EB engine, but FORD can just say "actual experience may vary" and brush me to the side, all systems 'seem to be functioning properly' per the service tech... I have no recourse unless enough people are having the issue and we can get a solid response from FORD as if they have false advertising or pay for an upgraded battery/motor or give us funds back for the cost of fuel difference... But all of this could only happen if enough other people are experiencing it and can band together to get FORD corporate to do something!

The fact that I am averaging 20-25% lower fuel economy than sticker with 0.0 miles driven with a trailer should speak volumes to how this is a problem.

If I were within 5-10% fuel economy I would expect that I just have a different driving habit, but 20-25% on a stock truck when it is mostly driven in ECO-mode... GARBAGE The more I think about it the more mad I get, my 2018 2.7EB had nothing wrong with it, I jumped to the PowerBoost because it was supposed to yield better numbers fuel economy. It has not.

 

[Sentinel1201]

We do light errands around town ~75% of the time I would guess, the rest of the time we travel at ~67-69mph on the freeway, I am very aware of the aerodynamics of this truck and its GARBAGE that I am getting the same exact numbers as a standard 3.5EB engine, but FORD can just say "actual experience may vary" and brush me to the side, all systems 'seem to be functioning properly' per the service tech... I have no recourse unless enough people are having the issue and we can get a solid response from FORD as if they have false advertising or pay for an upgraded battery/motor or give us funds back for the cost of fuel difference... But all of this could only happen if enough other people are experiencing it and can band together to get FORD corporate to do something!

The fact that I am averaging 20-25% lower fuel economy than sticker with 0.0 miles driven with a trailer should speak volumes to how this is a problem.

If I were within 5-10% fuel economy I would expect that I just have a different driving habit, but 20-25% on a stock truck when it is mostly driven in ECO-mode... GARBAGE The more I think about it the more mad I get, my 2018 2.7EB had nothing wrong with it, I jumped to the PowerBoost because it was supposed to yield better numbers fuel economy. It has not.

Dude. You are getting the same mileage as a 2.7L motor in a 3.5L motor that puts out 570 ft-lbs and 430 hp and has a generator built-in? Even if that were true, I say that's still a worthy upgrade.

Have some patience. Winter MPGs are always bad. It will get better in summer.

 

[toyko joe]

Dude. You are getting the same mileage as a 2.7L motor in a 3.5L motor that puts out 570 ft-lbs and 430 hp and has a generator built-in? Even if that were true, I say that's still a worthy upgrade.

Have some patience. Winter MPGs are always bad. It will get better in summer.

Have owned the truck since July, the summer mileage was the same. 18.6-19.1 MPG. The truck has never posted 24MPG on any tank summer or winter, city or country road or highway. No patience left, this truck has never gotten close to posted fuel economy. 19.1mpg is only 79.6% of the rated fuel economy.

 

[TheGoatman]

For some unbelievable reason I get better mpg with 87 octane

 

[Mhubbardva1]

I have a March build PB Lariat SC that sat n the boneyard missing chips until late July. Early on I averaged 24-25 MPG. about 4k miles the rough shifting began. Shortly after the MPG fell to 19. Took it to my dealer where I purchased and it sat without a diagnosis. After fussing with them I took it to another dealer. They performed the TSB at 14k. For the first 2k the shifting was fixed and MPG was back to 23-24. Now at 17k a few weeks later the shifting is much worse than original and MPG is back below 19. Now the brake pedal is randomly sluggish. Don’t know what to do next.

 

[Sentinel1201]

Sharing my experience. 18k on my PB, I usually get excellent MPG - 22-24 around town and 22+ on highway.

I recently did an 800-mile towing trip towing 5k. HEAVY headwinds on way back, was doing 8 mpg keeping up 72 mph. Trip ended and for about 200 miles afterward my MPG still sucked even on an unloaded truck. So I fired up forscan and reset all adaptive values and bam MPG is back up to 22-23 around town like before.

Suggestion to everyone: Just reset adaptives as a regular maintenance item every oil change or maybe even every 6-8 weeks. PB seems sensitive to learned values.

 

[toyko joe]

Sharing my experience. 18k on my PB, I usually get excellent MPG - 22-24 around town and 22+ on highway.

I recently did an 800-mile towing trip towing 5k. HEAVY headwinds on way back, was doing 8 mpg keeping up 72 mph. Trip ended and for about 200 miles afterward my MPG still sucked even on an unloaded truck. So I fired up forscan and reset all adaptive values and bam MPG is back up to 22-23 around town like before.

Suggestion to everyone: Just reset adaptives as a regular maintenance item every oil change or maybe even every 6-8 weeks. PB seems sensitive to learned values.

I really need to get this ForScan link ASAP then.

 

[Shooter56]

2021 Powerboost. Had the rough shifting issues from 1-3 also. Took the truck in to the dealer and this is what they did yesterday.

I’ve only driven a few miles since I got it back, but it is now very smooth.

 

[toyko joe]

2021 Powerboost. Had the rough shifting issues from 1-3 also. Took the truck in to the dealer and this is what they did yesterday.

I’ve only driven a few miles since I got it back, but it is now very smooth.

Seems as though you have a really good Tech, I wonder what misfire codes were and how that effects your fuel economy. Did you get any SES or other warning lights for misfire?

 

[Sentinel1201]

@tokyo joe, what oil are you running? Ford recommends 5-30 and heavier/thicker oil can cause slight drop in mpg. It wont be major but it can likely be a factor.,

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