10r80 issue or by design?

[blankman]

So I have been reading a lot on the forum about issues with the 10r80. After owning the car for a year and driving it a little harder here and there , I'm not sure if the little things I've started to notice may possibly be an issue with the trans, something that is normal with them, or something with the programming or adaptive learning.

Car is a '23 with 30k on it (so ive got the full warranty until...sale date?). I have to call the dealer this weekend or Monday to setup an appointment to do a recall, and look at something with the paint and passenger window. So I am going to ask them about the things I've noticed about the trans. I am just curious if anyone has had these issues and what to expect from the dealership.

Since lowering the car I've slowed down a lot pulling into my driveway. Ive noticed that after I start to pull in wether or not I give it more or less throttle the 2 to 1 shift is a real harsh downshift. I think it does a 2 to 1 downshift, if could be incorrect, when im slowed this much. It also happens sometimes stopping for a light. Very noticeable if I'm coming towards a red light and have the car in 3rd by flappy paddle and it resumes normal shifting.

I have to use a round-about everyday near my house and most of the time, regardless of drive mode, when slowing down to approach and then slow further if there's traffic or down need to slow as much and giving some throttle to pull into it seems like the trans hangs for a second or two and shifts into a gear.

Going to work i have a couple hills i climb, but nothing major, and the wether I'm manually on the peddle or cruise control it seems to take awhile to either downshift , or fluctuate and decide what gear it wants to be in.

Like I said I am going to report all this to the dealership, but I'm just curious about your thoughts and input about warranty stuff with these things.

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[W.O.T. Stang]

The self-learning feature is very adaptable, however i've even noticed with mine that it can learn some very strange driving characteristics. Its a shotgun fix, but i always go in and clear the adaptive tables for the transmission, and it drive like brand new every single time.

Mine would have harsher than normal downshifts into 3rd and 1st and doing that cleared it right up. Why it happens, i have no idea.. but its only happen a time or two to me. But now that im tuned, i never see the issue.

I have no doubt when you take it to the dealer, they are going to do exactly this. You need a higher level OBD scan tool in order to do it yourself.. however there are ways around that.. easiest being pulling the negative battery cable for a few minutes and reconnecting it. I believe there is a fuse you can pull as well that will do it. Im sure other's will have some more input on this.

I wish i had a more straightforward answer for you, but the 10R80 is very adaptive and usually does the right things, but it seems that sometimes it can get confused.. especially if you make a lot of short drives or do some out of the ordinary driving. Hopefully you can get it back to normal and im almost certain the relearn will do that for you.

 

[blankman]

To be honest I wasn't sure if the battery disconnect worked or not. When I installed a strut tower bar and hood struts (needing to disconnect the battery), it seemed like it helped, but I'm not sure if was a pseudo effect or not.

Ive got an obdmx+ and forscan, so I have just started to delve into to some things. I figured I should probably not reset the tables or turn off adaptive learning before I take it to the dealership.

I am going to ask them to check the trans fluid for me, as I've read some factory built trans don't have enough fluid upon being assembled and installed.

That also reminds me to say, regardless of trans temp, from 90 to 140 degrees its still the same. I thought that temp mightve been an issue but ive tested between those values.

 

[W.O.T. Stang]

Ive got an obdmx+ and forscan, so I have just started to delve into to some things. I figured I should probably not reset the tables or turn off adaptive learning before I take it to the dealership.

Excellent. It definitely has the capability to do the reset. I never like to suggest it because most people have no idea what it is and it requires a laptop and cable to even begin to understand how to use. Since you have that, you can definitely do that. I would highly recommend it, drive it and then see how it does for you.

However, if you are going to the dealer anyway, you will want those problems to be present for them to look into it. The issue of them being filled a quart low is definitely something ive read about too.

Keep us posted on what you find.

 

[blankman]

Yeah i definitely will. Oh I've already done some modifications to some of the files. Ill be doing some more this weekend. I will definitely be buying a license for forscan next weekend or after the extended trial is up.

Edit:: Maybe I will try to reset the adaptive learning. My appointment with the dealership for the trans issues, recall, mirror paint and passenger window is t until July 15th. I guess ford is super busy.

 

[TXGTPig]

So I'm new to the 10R80 world; however, not the S550 platform. I recently picked up a '21 GT A10. When I first started driving it, I honestly thought it had an existing tune for some parts that were no longer on the car. It ran a tad funny and did strange things. I read up on the 10R80 and came across plenty of threads about it being "wonky", low on fluid from the factory, and all the other quirks. After I put about 500 miles on it I got it tuned. Tuner informed me the car was running a stock tune. This puzzled me as none of the MT82 cars I've had exhibited any of the things this one did. So I kind of chalked it up to the 10R80. After the tune, the car drives way better. The transmission still does some wonky things from time to time; however, I do know it's low on fluid. I plan to drop the pan, replace the filter, and refill. I'll report back here once I've done this to see if it helps any. I honestly believe it's less of a physical issue with the transmission and more of a programming issue with the TCU. I'm also sure the lack of fluid is contributing somewhat as well. Keep us posted on what the dealer says/does.

 

[SnowFox]

The 2-1 shift prior to a stop has always been a bit more abrupt for me. Even after putting the transmission through a "re-learn" it goes right back to it. Nothing's really wrong with it other than it's not smooth. I found driving style had the biggest impact. Spirited unpredictable driving seems to lead to quiker more abrupt down shifts. And it makes sense to me why that would be the case.

The dang thing is scrambling through 10 gears trying to anticipate what you going to do next. Cut it some slack

I had he same thing on my Bronco and F-150. But it learned it "away" my driving style is very different in those vehicles in than the Mustang.

 

[TXGTPig]

One other thing I'll add. I notice if I daily drive the car, the transmission seems to be smooth enough and "consistent". However, if I let it sit for 3-4 days, then drive it, it seems to be wonky for the first 5 or so key cycles.

 

[Xzavior1818]

The self-learning feature is very adaptable, however i've even noticed with mine that it can learn some very strange driving characteristics. Its a shotgun fix, but i always go in and clear the adaptive tables for the transmission, and it drive like brand new every single time.

Mine would have harsher than normal downshifts into 3rd and 1st and doing that cleared it right up. Why it happens, i have no idea.. but its only happen a time or two to me. But now that im tuned, i never see the issue.

I have no doubt when you take it to the dealer, they are going to do exactly this. You need a higher level OBD scan tool in order to do it yourself.. however there are ways around that.. easiest being pulling the negative battery cable for a few minutes and reconnecting it. I believe there is a fuse you can pull as well that will do it. Im sure other's will have some more input on this.

I wish i had a more straightforward answer for you, but the 10R80 is very adaptive and usually does the right things, but it seems that sometimes it can get confused.. especially if you make a lot of short drives or do some out of the ordinary driving. Hopefully you can get it back to normal and im almost certain the relearn will do that for you.

Honesty I clear mine every year when I do my oil change and put it up for storage in the winter. Seems to work out good for me so far

 

[Crew4991]

I think the issue is the 10r80 was designed.

Ford and GM codeveloped it. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[blankman]

Well i am going to be getting into some forescan this weekend, so im definitely going to reset the learning and see if that helps. I do definitely plan on getting a tune next year as its on my do to list for the car. I was watching a HPtuner vid on the the trans tunning and I'm amazed all that goes into what it can do for it.

 

[MAGS1]

I think the issue is the 10r80 was designed.

Ford and GM codeveloped it. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Having driven the A10 in a few Camaros, the GM programming is better than Ford’s. Would I say light years better? No, but it’s noticeable. It still hunts for gears like a blind one-eyed squirrel, but it doesn’t run smack into a tree on the 2-1 downshift like Ford’s sometime does. Mine A10 has been butter smooth since I had the fluid filled about 1,500 miles in (was 1 quart low from factory). Will get an occasional 2-1 jolt, but it’s rare these days.

 

[glockholiday]

That all sounds normal for stock tune, then after I tuned mine (SCT off the shelf tune) it was worlds better, it actually made me mad at ford for how crappy it was stock.

 

[Garfy]

I haven't had any issues with the my trans other than it upshifts somewhat early in the normal Drive position (probably for better fuel economy) especially if you make a turn at a light and then step on it it has to downshift but it doesn't do it until you step on the pedal more than normal. In Sport mode, it does very well but I just have to make sure not to touch the paddles as that will put it into full manual and you could hit the rev limiter (ask me how I know ).

 

[blankman]

Oh I also forgot. Reminded after reading about the paddles. Sometimes when using the paddles and downshifting, doesn't always happen, it'll feel like Trans isn't in gear for a second or two, feels like its coasting then bam its in gear and feels like it surges forward. So usually I'll have to apply more brake pressure. Happened a couple times coming off the highway onto the onramp and scared the piss out of me. It'll also happen if I double paddle to come down 2 gears. My gut tells me this isn't normal?

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