Senior needs help with "resetting" A10 transmission

[LOEzell]

I love my 2018 Mustang GT premium conv., PP1, A10, 401A, Magneride, etc. However, the A10 is spoiling my fun. The A10 shifts fine except for the 3-1 downshift (its very clunky) and it sometimes jerks ahead furiously when shifting to drive from park. This jerking scares my wife and she won't drive the car.
I have taken it to 3 different dealers with the same results each time: Scanned, no error codes, test drive, normal characteristics for that drivetrain, reset KAM. And it always shifts much better after resetting the KAM. However, after a 2-3 months period, I have (I guess) unintentionally retrained to A10 so shift roughly again. Here is my request for you help:
1. Can you recommend a simple scan tool that will let me reset the KAM without taking it to a dealer? I had rather not use the "disconnect the battery cable method" as all my radio setting and other setting are also reset.
2. I understand that many parameters are reset when one clears the KAM adaptive tables. Am I risking harming the engine or other systems with I reset the KAM?
3. I always ask the dealer to also reflash the transmission controller in case some of its memory has become corrupt. But the transmission tech refuses to reflash. I suspect the tools he uses will not let him simply reflash if there has been no software changes to the transmission code. Anyone have insight here?
4. Any other recommendations?

Thanks so much for helping this old 71 year old Mustang fan.

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[Gregs24]

Reflashing will make no difference unless there is a firmware update. It will either work or be corrupt. Very unlikely you would have any sort of memory corruption without it being a failed memory chip in which case it just wouldn't work.

Not certain with the Mustang but certainly in some cars disconnecting the battery would force a relearn. I don't quite understand what would make it jerk going into park - the other way around maybe but it is going via reverse anyway.

Not something I have experienced on mine (yet)

 

[Nagare]

If you have a tuner you can do it easily through that, takes less than a minute. On my X4 it is under Special Functions.

 

[DickR]

Simply keep a foot on the brake when shifting from park so the car cannot move. Left foot braking and simply using the initial faster idle for backing out of garages or parking spaces makes everything very smooth in mine. When the idle is down to normal or you need more throttle at very low speed simply modulate movement by releasing the brake pedal left foot pressure while squeezing on gas with the right foot. This approach also makes accelerating from a stop or "crawling" in traffic or drive through lanes or other congested areas much smoother and if done properly does not result in extra brake pad wear. It really isn't any different than modulating clutch and gas with a manual transmission.

Also for all normal driving using D shifter position and normal drive mode combined with the lfb described above can be very smooth for sensitive passengers and/or drivers. Been there done that. :-)

 

[Cobra Jet]

Do you know if the Service Center has ever reflashed the Transmission so that it has the most up to date software?

Here’s my thread that contains all of the most up to date Ford docs pertaining to the S550 10R80:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...ost-recent-tsb’s-in-here.102918/#post-2336328

Clearing the KAM is not the same as updating the software, so if the Dealership has never updated the software for your 10R80, multiple KAM resets won’t solve the issue.

Quite a few members have had the 10R80 reflashed by their Dealers with success in a better shifting 10R80. Here’s the thread where members have had their 10R80 reflashed:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/2018-gt-a10-jerking-into-gear.110890/

If the reflash does not work, then there is another underlying issue that may need mechanical diagnosis.

 

[Jetnoise]

Can clear the pcm by disconnecting negative battery cable and with some alligator clips and jumper wire connect negative cable to positive battery cable....like this.
Helped me in my wife's f150

 

[Torched10]

Can clear the pcm by disconnecting negative battery cable and with some alligator clips and jumper wire connect negative cable to positive battery cable....like this.
Helped me in my wife's f150

You can buy a cheap 9v battery set up that plugs into your light to prevent resetting your radio when battery is unplugged.on my 2014 Shelby,I had battery changed twice and didn't lose settings.

 

[Torched10]

You can buy a cheap 9v battery set up that plugs into your light to prevent resetting your radio when battery is unplugged.on my 2014 Shelby,I had battery changed twice and didn't lose settings.

Here's link to memory saver I use.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/COMPUTER...PeMK0uaCQRWlVi82yP_tuCHVuPQdJpL0aAkMxEALw_wcB

 

[Zinc03svt]

Disconnect both terminals of battery for 2-3 hours. Touch the - and + cable ends together for 10-15 seconds to make sure any residual power in system is gone. This works for X # of key cycles until the trans logic learns it’s bad habits again.

 

[2018OFPP1?2]

You don't perchance, happen to drive with two feet, do you? Inadvertantly resting a foot on the throttle while braking, or unintentionally depressing the throttle while braking?

 

[DickR]

You don't perchance, happen to drive with two feet, do you? Inadvertently resting a foot on the throttle while braking, or unintentionally depressing the throttle while braking?

Some info on how what Ford calls "Brake over accelerator" works. Basically as long as you don't use gas and brake simultaneously over about 10 mph there should be no impact on driveability. Conversely if you left foot brake in autocross, HPDE, etc. and sometimes even touch the brake pedal while accelerating you better have TC/AdvanceTrac disabled. I LFB an automatic on the street but RFB in autocross.

Brake Over Accelerator
Note: On some vehicles, for off road use the brake over accelerator feature can be disabled along with the electronic stability control system by pressing and holding the traction control OFF button for 5 seconds.

The brake over accelerator feature may not be active during low speed operating conditions. This enables unique drive maneuvers, such as trailer tow, boat launch and retrieval, or operation in hilly environments, where the operator may require the application of both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal during low speed maneuvering. The brake over accelerator feature will be active at speeds greater than 16 km/h (10 MPH).

In the event the accelerator pedal becomes entrapped, such as by an object lodging the pedal, the brake over accelerator feature will reduce engine power when the brake pedal is applied.

Operators that rest a foot on the brake pedal when also applying the accelerator pedal may activate the brake over accelerator feature. The brake activation is detected by the PCM from the electrical brake switch. In addition to brake over accelerator comments, the customer may bring the vehicle in for repair to address concerns such as a hesitation/stumble or a lack/loss of power. In the event of a hesitation/stumble or a lack/loss of power concern, carry out normal vehicle diagnostics for the appropriate symptom code. If the brake over accelerator feature is suspect, the BRKOVR_ACTION, BRKOVRD_POSS and DIST_BRKOVRD PIDs will display a brake over accelerator event occurred.

In the event the brake over accelerator feature is suspected as the cause of the customer concern, explain to the customer the details of the override system as described above. Additionally, make sure the customer is aware that resting a foot on the brake pedal while driving may cause the activation of this feature. This also results in activation of the brake lights on the vehicle while driving. For additional information, refer to the Owners Literature.
​

FYI if any autocrossers or open track drivers are reading this who LFB and also disconnect the "dyno plug" to make sure AdvanceTrac doesn't come back on during a run/session my testing indicates this does NOT disable brake over accelerator. I recommend that you test this yourself if it applies to you.

FYI #2 My automatic has been perfectly behaved since new for 18K miles with no battery disconnects or dealer updates or aftermarket tunes. Car was built just before Christmas 2017.

 

[Blown86GT]

I had this exact same problem. Unfortunately, disconnecting the battery did not work. However, learning to use FORscan and clearing the Transmission Adaptive Table did. Do a search and you will see several threads discussing the software.

 

[wanted33]

Larry, at 3600 miles my wife's 10 spd has started the same thing. The bump into D from P isn't as violent as yours, but It's there. My problem is that it doesn't do it all of the time, so it's gonna be a struggle to convince the dealer. Good luck, and keep us updated.

 

[Gargoyle]

Anyone confirm if Forscan is necessary or if the battery method described by Jetscan above ,who is I think, a Ford tech works?

 

[Finally21]

Get a tune from Wengerd Performance, smoothed out my A10. Was like night and day.

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