Clunk when engine kicks in

[Longhorngary]

If your truck requires the windshield recall expect two to three days downtime.

I'm lucky as I just missed the windshield recall

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[Wilsons66605]

AN observation:

I just purchased a 21 Escape Hybrid. It has a CVT transmission so no gear shifting issues.
My first impression is that the Escape Hybrid is much more refined than the F150 Hybrid.
It runs on battery much more and is super smooth.

 

[BudLeary]

Same clunky - hunt 'n peck style shifting issue here on my powerboost limited. It is embarrassing for a premium truck. I will def have them adjust/flash transmission as described above ! Hope it works and thanks to all who have shared !

 

[PReam]

Same issue...Just picked up my truck today at the dealer and immediately realized the clunk shifting right off the lot. Headed back tomorrow to see if they can fix with what others have suggested.

 

[Snakebitten]

With just short of 4 years experience in a 2018 (early build) 3.5EB with the 10r80 transmission, I can tell you that the Ford shifting strategy in "Normal" mode was absolutely 1,3,5678...
In other words, it was normal for the transmission to skip 2nd (and 4th). I despised the strategy because the truck would feel like it was falling on its face at those first two shifts, especially if you were taking it easy.
It wasn't really a problem for me (and MANY others on another forum) because we chose "Sport" mode for our normal mode. In fact, we argued that since the 10r80 is a 10 speed, using all 10 speeds would be NORMAL, therefore we argued Ford just used words like "Normal", "Eco", "Sport" as some arbitrary label to give to the various shifting strategies they make available to the truck owner. Or put another way, "Sport" doesn't really mean Sport literally, so just get that out of your head. Lol
Based on that reasoning, most of us agreed that it was almost impossible to discern the difference in the shifting strategy between Normal and Eco. If you didn't look at the dash, you couldn't really know.

Fast forward to my new Powerboost....
The first thing I noticed is that the so called "Normal" no longer always skipped 2nd, and has yet to skip 4th. YEA!, as far as I'm concerned! Also note that when you use Sport mode on the Powerboost that you do not experience that "clumsiness" described in these posts. To me, that was the biggest hint on what seems to cause the issue. Based on that my theory is that since Sport Mode does NOT even consider using EV mode, and especially not from a dead stop, it takes that decision for the computers out of the equation. And since it also isn't going to be determining whether to skip 2nd or not, that decision is gone as well. As a result, the truck just runs pre-determined and isn't falling in/out of the parameters that determine EV or ICE, 2nd or skip and go to third instead,......
What I'm saying is that in the so called "Normal" mode, which is really nothing more than Fords DEFAULT mode, the very very complex parameters are all in play and the truck is being indecisive at some throttle/load-requests and that clunkiness is you actually feeling it changing its mind.

Try this if you can and it will amaze you. Hook up a light trailer. A utility trailer weighing maybe 1500-2000lbs. Light enough that there is no reason to consider tow-haul mode.

Leave the truck in default, or let's call it "Strategy #1" (Normal lol)

You will LOVE how the truck now is never clumsy. It might, but rarely will skip 2nd gear. And whether it does or doesn't it won't be clumsy. It's like it knows what it should and IS going to do. And also notice that it won't even consider being an EV truck from a dead stop because the additional load exceeds that parameter.

If I could have the truck any way I wanted it, or if Ford would let ME tell them to adjust the software, I would tell them I want the programming of "Sport" mode from a dead stop <> 20mph, then back to "Normal" mode the rest of the way. And then label that mode "Normal".

But the simplest way to fix it is just to adjust the software to not even consider EV mode at all from a dead stop if I apply throttle. Leave it out of the equation. I personally believe the culprit lies there.

Note that I only want to drop EV if I apply throttle. But I LOVE EV for just letting off the brake and inching forward or rolling around the parking lot, etc. Ironically Ford did a brilliant job using software to make the electric motor behave like a gas motor idling with your foot off the brake. You do realize that is completely fake idling. It's synthetic. The electric motor wouldn't normally turn without you turning the dimmer switch a little?

I'm blown away by this amazing truck. But I admit that it's just not polished from a dead stop in default mode.

 

[Kefoster2]

With just short of 4 years experience in a 2018 (early build) 3.5EB with the 10r80 transmission, I can tell you that the Ford shifting strategy in "Normal" mode was absolutely 1,3,5678...
In other words, it was normal for the transmission to skip 2nd (and 4th). I despised the strategy because the truck would feel like it was falling on its face at those first two shifts, especially if you were taking it easy.
It wasn't really a problem for me (and MANY others on another forum) because we chose "Sport" mode for our normal mode. In fact, we argued that since the 10r80 is a 10 speed, using all 10 speeds would be NORMAL, therefore we argued Ford just used words like "Normal", "Eco", "Sport" as some arbitrary label to give to the various shifting strategies they make available to the truck owner. Or put another way, "Sport" doesn't really mean Sport literally, so just get that out of your head. Lol
Based on that reasoning, most of us agreed that it was almost impossible to discern the difference in the shifting strategy between Normal and Eco. If you didn't look at the dash, you couldn't really know.

Fast forward to my new Powerboost....
The first thing I noticed is that the so called "Normal" no longer always skipped 2nd, and has yet to skip 4th. YEA!, as far as I'm concerned! Also note that when you use Sport mode on the Powerboost that you do not experience that "clumsiness" described in these posts. To me, that was the biggest hint on what seems to cause the issue. Based on that my theory is that since Sport Mode does NOT even consider using EV mode, and especially not from a dead stop, it takes that decision for the computers out of the equation. And since it also isn't going to be determining whether to skip 2nd or not, that decision is gone as well. As a result, the truck just runs pre-determined and isn't falling in/out of the parameters that determine EV or ICE, 2nd or skip and go to third instead,......
What I'm saying is that in the so called "Normal" mode, which is really nothing more than Fords DEFAULT mode, the very very complex parameters are all in play and the truck is being indecisive at some throttle/load-requests and that clunkiness is you actually feeling it changing its mind.

Try this if you can and it will amaze you. Hook up a light trailer. A utility trailer weighing maybe 1500-2000lbs. Light enough that there is no reason to consider tow-haul mode.

Leave the truck in default, or let's call it "Strategy #1" (Normal lol)

You will LOVE how the truck now is never clumsy. It might, but rarely will skip 2nd gear. And whether it does or doesn't it won't be clumsy. It's like it knows what it should and IS going to do. And also notice that it won't even consider being an EV truck from a dead stop because the additional load exceeds that parameter.

If I could have the truck any way I wanted it, or if Ford would let ME tell them to adjust the software, I would tell them I want the programming of "Sport" mode from a dead stop <> 20mph, then back to "Normal" mode the rest of the way. And then label that mode "Normal".

But the simplest way to fix it is just to adjust the software to not even consider EV mode at all from a dead stop if I apply throttle. Leave it out of the equation. I personally believe the culprit lies there.

Note that I only want to drop EV if I apply throttle. But I LOVE EV for just letting off the brake and inching forward or rolling around the parking lot, etc. Ironically Ford did a brilliant job using software to make the electric motor behave like a gas motor idling with your foot off the brake. You do realize that is completely fake idling. It's synthetic. The electric motor wouldn't normally turn without you turning the dimmer switch a little?

I'm blown away by this amazing truck. But I admit that it's just not polished from a dead stop in default mode.

I have noticed the same issue about skipping second while in Sport mode. it is "almost" non-existent as far as the clunking. Since my truck was reflashed about 50% of the time I get a light jump from first to third not as bad as it was.

 

[Snakebitten]

I've never seen Sport Mode skip 2nd in either of my 10r80 equipped trucks.

 

[Littlefield82]

I’m at 3800 miles and just got the clunk for the first time today. Notice it when going from electric to hybrid. Will be headed to the dealer if it doesn’t work itself out soon. It’s a noticeable jarring that has never happened before today.

 

[Littlefield82]

Just reset my transmission tables using Forscan and the clunk is gone.

 

[vtron]

There's another thread related to this talking about a TSB out to fix it. Mine's at the dealership now hopefully updating the ECM per this TSB. Of course they don't take my word for it and just take the 20 minutes to update the ECM. They have to diagnose/test/blah blah blah. Assuming they actually do the fix, I'll report back on the results.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/powerboost-tsb-harsh-1-3-upshift.7204/

 

[Nighsight]

There's another thread related to this talking about a TSB out to fix it. Mine's at the dealership now hopefully updating the ECM per this TSB. Of course they don't take my word for it and just take the 20 minutes to update the ECM. They have to diagnose/test/blah blah blah. Assuming they actually do the fix, I'll report back on the results.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/powerboost-tsb-harsh-1-3-upshift.7204/

I had the TSB done on my truck yesterday and the shifting now is great. If your truck was built before 4/23/2021 (not delivered) you should have this PCM update done. I posted the TSB in the thread above.

 

[vtron]

Well I was supposed to get this done, but when I called at 4 after the truck was at the dealership, I was told the "transmission specialist was out sick" and I could leave it there overnight and maybe he would be back to look at it. Given their absolute trash COVID protocols, I just took my truck home. I'll bring it back when Omicron dies down.

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