We just finished a 10,000 mile trip, with about 2000 miles towing 5000 lb. When the speed would drop about 1 mile or it would drop out of over drive. If the speed continued to drop when it had dropped another 3-5, the transmission would drop another gear, which would cause the RPM's to jump to over 4000. then I would cut the cruse. If after dropping out of overdrive the speed returned to the set speed and then if the speed dropped 1 mph. the transmission would drop another gear and the RPM's would jump to over 4000 RPM's. When the RPM's jumped to over 4000 I'd turn chicken and kick the cruse out.
This is a '02 E-350.
What is the top PMs on these V-10's
It appears that these cruse control/transmissions are a two stage and yours is not shifting down in the first stage. I'd find a good Ford dealer or go to Ford.
On this trip we were needing to get the E-350 serviced. We pulled into a Ford car dealer just east of Houston. They were a car dealer and would not service the MH. About 4:30 that after noon we pulled off I-10 somewhere west of Houston and right there was a Ford car/truck dealer, Chuck Brown, Yes they could get us in right away, I think it was quitting time. The service manger and a mechanic both worked on it and were done in about 20 minutes. And it cost only about $35.00 I'll if you took your cruse trouble there they would find the problem.
Thanks everyone. Sounds like I am not the only one to experience these issues with cruise control. I bought the MH in Texas, but actually live in Central Florida, so I will try to find someone around here to check it out. It would be great if it can be adjusted, cruise control makes the driving a bit easier. At least it would if the engine did not sound like it was about to blow. Many times we chickened out also and tapped the brakes to make it shift, the high RPMs freaked us out.
My 04 seems to do all the things described when in a less than level area no matter towing or not but a bit more dramatic with toad. It is not much different with my Grand Cherokee, Santa Fe or Prius. All react about the same when losing speed on a hill so I get used to disengaging the cruise in those situations. Truly many of us will change our driving habits with fuel price increasing. I will be driving about 10 mph slower. I just took a 200 mile run and drove 55-60. I arrived about 20 minutes later than normal and more rested as it was easy driving. I improved my mpg from 8 to 11 by accelerating more slowly, taking a couple of inclines at 50 instead of 65, and using a half tank of gas instead of full. I am treating it as if tank is 30 gallongs instead of 55, At 8 lbs per gallon that reduces weight and who doesn't stop every 300 miles. At that rate I am saving about 37% and the recent acceleration of gas price has been about 46%. Hey net increase of 9% and I am not bouncing and charring myself and passenger around. Now for those bilstiens to make life perfect.
never use it espically now that fuel prices are so crazy. Ford should make a better effort on heat control at passenger feet area and discontinue the cruse control. JUst my thoughts
I vary seldom use it, when I do it works fine, but my mileage drops. I would rather control the gear, and engine speed, plus save on fuel.
I do a better job, I have eyes and can see whats down the road, it cant. All it knows is what the load is at the time, and what speed you want it to hold at, not what its going to need in 20 seconds.
* This post was
edited 06/04/08 01:05am by Cool Mike *
2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"
If someone is in good with a service writer OR Service manager and have them search for FORD TSB's on the subject, perhaps they could find something (Even just E450 chassis or E350 vans used as tow vehicles with similar problems)
I would think if there were TSB's a solution would just be a matter of flashing the PCM with a new program.
I have a 2005 31 ft. HR Atlantis and installed the K&N Cold Air Induction System,($300 online), and it made all the difference in the world when going over an overpass. I couldn't believe the difference! Most can be traversed without the cruise down shifting. When I'm towing it down shifts more often, but that is to be expected. Mine will down shift when the speed drops approx. 2 mph, but then up shifts usually at the crest and maintains the set speed reasonably well. It sounds like yours could use some tuning.
My wife, Janet and I, plus two cats, Misty and Tootsie, travel in style with our 31ft., 2005 HR Atlantis.
Dusty R wrote: We just finished a 10,000 mile trip, with about 2000 miles towing 5000 lb. When the speed would drop about 1 mile or it would drop out of over drive. If the speed continued to drop when it had dropped another 3-5, the transmission would drop another gear, which would cause the RPM's to jump to over 4000. then I would cut the cruse. If after dropping out of overdrive the speed returned to the set speed and then if the speed dropped 1 mph. the transmission would drop another gear and the RPM's would jump to over 4000 RPM's. When the RPM's jumped to over 4000 I'd turn chicken and kick the cruse out.
This is a '02 E-350.
What is the top PMs on these V-10's
It appears that these cruse control/transmissions are a two stage and yours is not shifting down in the first stage. I'd find a good Ford dealer or go to Ford.
...
Shifting down in two stages has nothing to do with cruise control, the transmission would do the same if you kept gradually pressing harder with your foot to maintain a set speed, which is what the CC is doing, pushing harder as the speed drops more.
Transmission seeks whatever gear lets the engine produce enough horsepower to overcome drag and maintain speed. Horsepower comes with RPM.
4000 RPM is the low point on the powerband for this engine. It puts out, at full throttle, 290+ HP from 4200 to 5500 rpm, peaking only slightly at about 4800. If you are not willing to let your engine run in this speed range, then you must accustom yourself to driving slower. For example, if you are not willing to let it get over 3000 RPM, it will not produce any more than 200 HP, and you might as well have bought something a lot less powerful. If you don't want to see anything over 2000 RPM, you limit yourself to about 150 HP, which is about what you need to maintain 65-70 mph in a typical widebody class C.
The test cell red line for the Triton V-10 is around 6200 RPM; it is a high speed engine, especially by truck standards. The ECM is programmed to make maximum throttle upshifts at about 5800, where the power is falling off, an the next higher gear will be around 4000 RPM, still in the power band.
Very seldom is maximum power needed, unless you are into drag racing. But you do need to be in the power band, 4000-5500 RPM, to maintain highway speeds on grades.
We have an 05 E 450 and on our trip to Utah, I used the cruise as much as possible on flats.
Before we got into a hil, I disengaged the cruise and let the tranny do its thing until getting to the top of the hill or pass then "I reengaged the cruise going down the backside.
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