Tow Haul button does nothing

[SnoKing]

Well, it seems to be working now. The dealership must have actually done something other than give me grief because I bought it elsewhere. I just got back from a 200 mile excursion.

With the tow haul button on (the dashboard light has always come on), and the exhaust brake in full mode, it now brakes and downshifts very aggressively. There are teeth marks on the steering wheel to prove it.

I was only able to get the transmission to drop down a gear by engaging the tow haul button while I was on a steep incline. I was able to get it to do this several times today, but only while climbing, but the truck was empty and not towing anything. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do this. I tried it often on my 600 mile trip two weeks ago while towing my RV with no luck.

As far as the mileage issue, we’re talking about 60 mph two lane rural highways here in Idaho. When not towing and staying under 65, my truck will get 26 mpg. Repeatedly. Just not when towing. I have checked that manually, and the results with the dash computer are very close.

I really appreciate any and all responses! This diesel truck ownership is new to me and is quite a learning curve. I have learned a lot from the forum that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

P.S. what the hell is the difference between 6th gear showing on the dashboard, and no gear showing on the dashboard?

26 MPG - Must be an imperial gallon!!!! Or they have some kind of super Diesel in Idaho. My BIL's 2008 deleted 2WD will get that kind of mileage, however I have never heard of an un-deleted DEF truck getting that kind of mileage. Is it April 1st?

Oh, yeah the TH does not work and mysteriously now works???

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[Rand Kibodeaux]

Glad to hear it’s working now.



When you use the ERS it shows you 2 numbers. Ones is the gear you’re in, the other is the highest gear you want it to use. It can be used to lock out higher gears, or manually select a gear.

There are minor shift point changes when using ERS too. It will hold gears longer than T/H, or so the stock 68RFE tune shows.

My dash will only display a single number. According to your response, should I always have 6th gear on display if I happen to use 6th gear while towing?

 

[Rand Kibodeaux]

26 MPG - Must be an imperial gallon!!!! Or they have some kind of super Diesel in Idaho. My BIL's 2008 deleted 2WD will get that kind of mileage, however I have never heard of an un-deleted DEF truck getting that kind of mileage. Is it April 1st?

Oh, yeah the TH does not work and mysteriously now works???

#ad

Yes....and yes! Ain’t technology grand? It’s not like I’m getting paid to lie about it. And maybe the dealership actually did fix it, cuz it ain’t running like it did before.

 

[SnoKing]

dupe post.

 

[SnoKing]

What is the trim level of your truck? Do you have the 7" ElVIC in the center of the cluster? The highest gear selected shows up in the lower right on the 7" EVIC display along with the actual gear the transmission is in. SnoKIng

 

[Rand Kibodeaux]

What is the trim level of your truck? Do you have the 7" ElVIC in the center of the cluster? The highest gear selected shows up in the lower right on the 7" EVIC display along with the actual gear the transmission is in. SnoKIng

View attachment 114191

I have the Tradesman model. It ain’t fancy like yours. My display looks nothing like yours.

 

[AH64ID]

I have the Tradesman model. It ain’t fancy like yours. My display looks nothing like yours.

Gotcha... so yours will just show the highest gear that you're allowing with ERS. Here is an exerpt from the diesel supplement.

Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the
driver to limit the highest available gear when the transmission
is in DRIVE. For example, if you set the transmission
gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmission will not
shift above fourth gear, but will shift through the lower
gears normally.

You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any
vehicle speed. When the gear selector is in the DRIVE
position, the transmission will operate automatically, shifting
between all available gears. Tapping the ERS (-) switch
will activate ERS mode, display the current gear in the
instrument cluster, and set that gear as the top available
gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the ERS (-) or (+) switch
will change the top available gear.

To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the ERS (+) switch
until the gear limit display disappears from the instrument
cluster.

 

[SnoKing]

I have the Tradesman model. It ain’t fancy like yours. My display looks nothing like yours.

OK, if I understand things, the Tradesman will not display the two gear display like the 7" EVIC on trim levels that have the that display.

What does your last service report state about what they did to the truck? SnoKing

 

[Rand Kibodeaux]

OK, if I understand things, the Tradesman will not display the two gear display like the 7" EVIC on trim levels that have the that display.

What does your last service report state about what they did to the truck? SnoKing

Service report says “ Unable to verify concerns at this time. Manual range selector working properly, tow/Haul mode working as designed. No codes found. all ECU’s currently up to date.” Another weird thing that happened a few days before I dropped it at the dealer. is that The manual range selection switch did not function, either. Several times I went to set the gear on 4 for around town driving and nothing happened when I pressed the “minus” button.

 

[SnoKing]

Service report says “ Unable to verify concerns at this time. Manual range selector working properly, tow/Haul mode working as designed. No codes found. all ECU’s currently up to date.” Another weird thing that happened a few days before I dropped it at the dealer. is that The manual range selection switch did not function, either. Several times I went to set the gear on 4 for around town driving and nothing happened when I pressed the “minus” button.

Like I said earlier my button is bit finicky. Sometimes I have to push it a couple times to get it to work. BTW just pushing TH will keep it in lower gears around town. Snoking

 

[mpaulson]

Yep, the shift button can be a pain. You have to deliberately and firmly press it. My wife chuckles at my pounding it with my finger when it doesn't work on the first try.
I as well as most guys here, always use Tow/Haul & full brake mode all the time. On the last two trucks, I've sold them with the OEM brake pads on them at around 156,000kms due to always letting the truck slow itself down and not using my service brakes.

 

[SnoKing]

Yep, the shift button can be a pain. You have to deliberately and firmly press it. My wife chuckles at my pounding it with my finger when it doesn't work on the first try.
I as well as most guys here, always use Tow/Haul & full brake mode all the time. On the last two trucks, I've sold them with the OEM brake pads on them at around 156,000kms due to always letting the truck slow itself down and not using my service brakes.

I am going to try something the next time I drive the truck. That is hold the button long each time I push it. the signal from the button has to transverse a couple three computer and back. Maybe we are just to quick with the button.

 

[Cummins12V98]

When someone tells me they get 11 mpg towing 35k like I do I just r

I have the Tradesman model. It ain’t fancy like yours. My display looks nothing like yours.

HA, now you've seen "FANCY" HAAAAA.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 2011 HO DRW shift toggle worked VERY easily with just a tap. My 15 you need to PUSH it.

 

[Rand Kibodeaux]

My 2011 HO DRW shift toggle worked VERY easily with just a tap. My 15 you need to PUSH it.

It wasn’t that the switch was hard to push, it was completely dead several times over the course of two days. No amount of pushing it made it respond. It was kaput.

 

[Rand Kibodeaux]

When someone tells me they get 11 mpg towing 35k like I do I just r



HA, now you've seen "FANCY" HAAAAA.

View attachment 114199

I would wind up in the ditch if I had to keep track of a dashboard like that. My touch screen radio is distracting enough. I hate that radio. It’s the worst feature of the truck in my opinion. I try using the voice activated feature to change the radio stations but the snobby chick just wants to argue with me. If I wanted that kind of service, I’d go to Starbucks.

 

[Cummins2014]

When someone tells me they get 11 mpg towing 35k like I do I just r



HA, now you've seen "FANCY" HAAAAA.

View attachment 114199

What I would like to know who is doing the photo shoot while you are towing 35K at 75 mph, and 75 towing that weight or do you get 9 mpg running empty

 

[Cummins12V98]

Current MPG was 9 but the average for the tankas 7 as seen in the pic.

I took the pic, I am a very talented guy. Ever eat a burger while driving?

 

[Cummins2014]

Current MPG was 9 but the average for the tankas 7 as seen in the pic.

I took the pic, I am a very talented guy. Ever eat a burger while driving?

I suspect all the deaths from cell phone use thought the same , how talented they were. Yes I have ate a hamburger while driving ,there was a day I did that stupid Sh!!. But like many if we survive doing stupid sh!! we grow up, and get a little smarter .

 

[Wiredawg]

It wasn’t that the switch was hard to push, it was completely dead several times over the course of two days. No amount of pushing it made it respond. It was kaput.

Ron,
The reason the trans toggle switches are harder is they are NOT electric, they ARE connected to the trans via mechanical linkages. Sometimes the bind a little with ALL those angles.

You have to admit, the thought IS funny. I wonder if they are deliberately harder to prevent accidental activation?

I've only used mine a couple times, once going DOWN Teton Pass, and the other on another really steep grade down.

Cheers, Ron