Paddle Shifter Disable ??

[pctek]

I wish Ford engineers gave me the option to disable the paddle shifters. Last night as I activated the turn signal to change lane (city speed), my fingers pressed the down shift paddle and the car bucked and tried to go into 1st. I have yet to drive in Sport mode. I drive in the standard "D"rive mode. I thought from reading the manual that if in "D", and I tried to shift into a gear that I shouldn't, the automatic trans would prevent me from doing it. Well, last night I found this not to be true! Is there a way to disable the paddle shifters? There could be some serious transmission damage cause by the poor placement of the paddle shifter next to the turn signal stalk!!! I'm ready to look for screws to take the paddles off. :rant:

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[JimmyTwoTimes]

I wish Ford engineers gave me the option to disable the paddle shifters. Last night as I activated the turn signal to change lane (city speed), my fingers pressed the down shift paddle and the car bucked and tried to go into 1st. I have yet to drive in Sport mode. I drive in the standard "D"rive mode. I thought from reading the manual that if in "D", and I tried to shift into a gear that I shouldn't, the automatic trans would prevent me from doing it. Well, last night I found this not to be true! Is there a way to disable the paddle shifters? There could be some serious transmission damage cause by the poor placement of the paddle shifter next to the turn signal stalk!!! I'm ready to look for screws to take the paddles off. :rant:

It is true; it won't let you shift into a gear you shouldn't -- for example, it won't let you shift into 1st gear if you're going 75 mph. It also hasn't let me shift up into 6th gear at 25 mph, as I've tried numerous times.

 

[pctek]

It is true; it won't let you shift into a gear you shouldn't -- for example, it won't let you shift into 1st gear if you're going 75 mph. It also hasn't let me shift up into 6th gear at 25 mph, as I've tried numerous times.

I was in the top end of second, and it shifted into first. It was not a good feeling! The paddle shifters, IMHO, should only be active when the gear select is in "S".

 

[ShoNuff]

They should only be active at that time. Continue your testing - and then report your findings to your dealer to get it fixed. If you're in "D", clicking the paddles should do nothing.

 

[10splaya22]

I wish Ford engineers gave me the option to disable the paddle shifters. Last night as I activated the turn signal to change lane (city speed), my fingers pressed the down shift paddle and the car bucked and tried to go into 1st. I have yet to drive in Sport mode. I drive in the standard "D"rive mode. I thought from reading the manual that if in "D", and I tried to shift into a gear that I shouldn't, the automatic trans would prevent me from doing it. Well, last night I found this not to be true! Is there a way to disable the paddle shifters? There could be some serious transmission damage cause by the poor placement of the paddle shifter next to the turn signal stalk!!! I'm ready to look for screws to take the paddles off. :rant:

Umm...no there won't...The shift logic won't let you engage gears that will harm the engine or transmission.

 

[Allerick]

They should only be active at that time. Continue your testing - and then report your findings to your dealer to get it fixed. If you're in "D", clicking the paddles should do nothing.

Based on my research this is not correct. I too thought for a while that D = Auto and S = Manual mode. According to several owners this is NOT the case. D and S just determine how aggressively the transmission shifts when shifting automatically. With the shifter in either of these positions it is possible to pull a paddle and take manual control.

 

[ShoNuff]

Based on my research this is not correct. I too thought for a while that D = Auto and S = Manual mode. According to several owners this is NOT the case. D and S just determine how aggressively the transmission shifts when shifting automatically. With the shifter in either of these positions it is possible to pull a paddle and take manual control.

Thanks for correcting me. I just re-read the owners manual and it says you can override automatic in D using the paddles (to achieve the manual mode). From the manual:

"With your vehicle in drive (D), the paddle
shifters provide temporary manual control.
They allow you the ability to shift gears
quickly, without taking your hands off the
steering wheel.
You can achieve extensive manual control
by moving the gearshift lever to the sport
(S) position.
• Pull and release the right paddle (+)
to upshift.
• Pull and release the left paddle (–) to
downshift.
E144821
The system determines when temporary
manual control is no longer in use and
returns to automatic control."

 

[B Gordon]

I'm ready to look for screws to take the paddles off. :rant:

Sounds like a few minutes with a hack saw will cure your problem.

 

[Branden]

Based on my research this is not correct. I too thought for a while that D = Auto and S = Manual mode. According to several owners this is NOT the case. D and S just determine how aggressively the transmission shifts when shifting automatically. With the shifter in either of these positions it is possible to pull a paddle and take manual control.

Coming from actual experience as I own a GT Premium Auto...

When in D you can take over with paddle shifters but after a few seconds of not shifting the computer will take over again. When in S if you engage the paddle shifters, the car is fully in your control and will not automatically shift unless the RPMs could hurt the car if it doesn't.

Like others said, the car won't let you hurt it. If you're doing 70 it won't let you drop it into first just like if you're doing 25 you can't go into 6th (sorry Jimmy). Although, one time I didn't hit the paddle fast enough and bounced off redline. The car didn't shift for itself, but killed power like it would in a manual. That was neat watching the gauges change color to red for a few seconds.

 

[pctek]

Coming from actual experience as I own a GT Premium Auto...

When in D you can take over with paddle shifters but after a few seconds of not shifting the computer will take over again. When in S if you engage the paddle shifters, the car is fully in your control and will not automatically shift unless the RPMs could hurt the car if it doesn't.

Like others said, the car won't let you hurt it. If you're doing 70 it won't let you drop it into first just like if you're doing 25 you can't go into 6th (sorry Jimmy).

Well it may not let me shift if the gear would hurt the car, but it did hop & skip just like when you watch somebody learn to drive a manual for the first time.

 

[Branden]

Well it may not let me shift if the gear would hurt the car, but it did hop & skip just like when you watch somebody learn to drive a manual for the first time.

I use them all the time and never had trouble. Thing is, D is very conservative with shifting, so if you hit the paddle once and dropped into 1st you were going quite slow to begin with. The car shifts into 6th around 45 I believe, so even at 20-30 mph you should be in 3-4th I'd imagine.

I'm honestly not sure how you hit first gear in that situation.

Edit: It does lurch a little if going from 2 to 1, but I've noticed it's much more pronounced if you do it and hit the brake at the same time. When I play with the paddles I try to not even use the brake because it isn't as smooth as it should be. I just downshift once the RPMs drop below 2k-ish. Were you braking at the same time perhaps?

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

They should only be active at that time. Continue your testing - and then report your findings to your dealer to get it fixed. If you're in "D", clicking the paddles should do nothing.

Incorrect. The paddle shifters will still shift when you're in "D," they just won't hold the gear they will in "S."

 

[SloS14]

Incorrect. The paddle shifters will still shift when you're in "D," they just won't hold the gear they will in "S."

^ this Also, correct me if I'm wrong: this is all how auto transmission cars with paddle shifters work.

 

[Wblv17]

Umm...no there won't...The shift logic SHOULDN'T let you engage gears that will harm the engine or transmission.

fixed

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