With tow/haul button, who needs a clutch?

[kober]

Went camping last weekend and had to navigate some 7 and 8% up and down grades. With my slide-in camper and the 18 ft bass boat, the Cummins hauled butt.



On the downhills, I locked the torque converter and descended 8% grades at about 47 MPH in 2nd without ever once touching my brakes. It was great! Lots of curves too. I'll bet the guys behind me thought my lights didn't work. :-laf



I've driven the same route dozens of times in my old truck with the same camper and boat and always had to brake to make it thru some of the curves.



So who needs a clutch anyway?

 

[klenger]

So who needs a clutch anyway?

I do, otherwise I grind the gears when I shift.

 

[gambler]

Who needs a clutch?

Oo. Just how did you lock up the torque convertor in 2nd gear?

Mine locks up in 3rd and 4th at 45mph, but doesn't lock up in 2nd. :{



2004. 5, 2whd, 4:10 , 48re auto,long bed 4dr.

 

[Okey0]

ya gotta have the selector in 2

if you have it in 'D' you wont get a 2nd speed lockup

 

[NIsaacs]

My tow/haul button says, Pac-Brake in fine print With 15 forward and 3 reverse gears, I got's to have a clutch in my Ford CTD

 

[XJSuperman]

Sounds like he was coasting downhill?? If so the converter wasn't locked (unless he has an upgraded transmission) and if he was truly in 2nd at 47 MPH that engine must have been screaming!!



I also wonder if he has a transmission temp guage? I'd bet his transmission temps were HIGH.

 

[kober]

Hmmm, I put my selector to "2" and dropped below 50 MPH. The transmission downshifted to second and stayed there. Seemed locked to me.



As far as the engine screaming, RPMs were at 2900. Nowhere near redline.

 

[kober]

I also wonder if he has a transmission temp guage? I'd bet his transmission temps were HIGH.

With the converter locked there is no reason for the transmission to overheat. The whole reason for the tow/haul button to lock the converter in 2nd below 50MPH is to allow for engine braking on downhills without overheating the transmission. At least that's what I read in my manual?

 

[kober]

I do, otherwise I grind the gears when I shift.

LOL! :-laf

 

[kober]

Oo. Just how did you lock up the torque convertor in 2nd gear?

Mine locks up in 3rd and 4th at 45mph, but doesn't lock up in 2nd. :{



2004. 5, 2whd, 4:10 , 48re auto,long bed 4dr.

Go from "D" to "2" and drop below 50MPH. Works just like it sez in the owners manual. Oh, and make sure you have the tow/haul button pushed.

 

[Flores]

Page 282 of my 2004 manual:



Towing with an auto transmission



Vehicles equipped with an auto transmission may into and out of overdrive,when driving on hilly areas,when heavily loaded,or when towing in heavy winds.



When this conditions occurs,press the TOW/HAUL button or shift into a lower gear to prevent excessive transmission wear and/or overheating,and to provide better engine breaking.



NOTE: Do not exceed the following RPM while mannually downshifting.



5. 9L Diesel Engines 3200 RPM



Doesnt say anything about it locking in 2nd. Ill have to give it a try. :-laf

 

[gambler]

2nd gear lock-up 48RE

Just because the trans selector is in 2nd and the trans is in 2nd, doesn't mean that the TQ is locked up. When manually shifted to 2nd gear, the RPM shouldn't buzz up when tapping the throttle, it should increase in proportion to the speed.

You can tell this by going to third or fourth gear over 50MPH and watch the RPM's as you accelerate.

Where in the Manual does it mention anything about 2nd gear lock-up. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I would sincerely like to know how to lock-up 2nd gear.

Thanx in advance for any help you can give on this sub ject. Oo.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

(yawn... )



Sorry - I'm not ABOUT to toss my dandy 6-speed manual for an automatic - just select the right gear regardless of load or grade, uphill or down, and GOOooooo! Oo.

 

[kober]

Just because the trans selector is in 2nd and the trans is in 2nd, doesn't mean that the TQ is locked up. When manually shifted to 2nd gear, the RPM shouldn't buzz up when tapping the throttle, it should increase in proportion to the speed.

You can tell this by going to third or fourth gear over 50MPH and watch the RPM's as you accelerate.

Where in the Manual does it mention anything about 2nd gear lock-up. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I would sincerely like to know how to lock-up 2nd gear.

Thanx in advance for any help you can give on this sub ject. Oo.

No Problem, we're not arguing. Like you, I'm here in this forum to learn.



I read the manual and an on-line description of our 48RE transmission. Mebbe I read it online and mistakenly attributed the info to the manual. If so, I apologize. In any case, it works. Oo.



I will find where I got the info and post it here.



Kurt

 

[XJSuperman]

I still say your converter was not locked... if you shifted it into 2nd of course it will staythere... why wouldn't it?? (unless you were at low enough RPM's for it to shift itself into 1st).

And 2900 RPM's may not be redline but SHEESH!



And as for the transmission temp guage... if your converter is NOT Locked as I believe it wasn't... your temps were probably SKY high.



You have to figure when you are coasting downhill trying to allw for compression braking there is no line pressure on the transmission to keep the converter locked up as if you were going up a hill or on level ground... I don;t understand auto trannies extremely well but I think you're going to roast it if you keep that up. (if I am worng someone please correct me).

 

[kober]

Since I don't have a transmission temp gauge (yet) I don't know what the temp was but it had to be below 275 since thats where the warning light is supposed to come on.

 

[XJSuperman]

All well and good... but for all you now it was at 250*... which will KILL it. Once you hit the 275* warning light you're past it being just a warning.

I want to make it clear I'm not trying to argue here but help. It would stink if you blew your transmission when it could have been prevented.



And I admit I may be wrong in saying it wasn't locked up while coasting... BUT I don't think I am.

 

[RankRam]

XJ I know for a fact that my 03 does lockup the tc when the gear selector is placed in 2nd.



I do have guages and the transmission temps are always good. The highest my temps have been is 195 and this was in the city and towing.



Hope this helps.



Another note: The 2nd gear lockup is only good above 25 mph. From then on you are back to the slushbox mode. :{



Man I miss my 99 with an E-Brake.

 

[gambler]

2nd gear lock-up

Rankram-Maybe the 03 trans does lock-up in 2nd gear, but I thought we were talking about the 04. 5, which has, as I understand it, different electronics for almost everything. :--) including the trans.

 

[TPerrault]

mine also locks in 2nd when manually put into 2nd