I have owned a '20 1500 for about two "miserable" years and 20k miles. It has been in twice and I've gotten the same response from the techs. It shifts fine. ...another time I was told that "it shifts like a truck". I asked the kid (I'm 54) if he owns "a truck". He sheepishly said no. This thing shifts like a 16 year old learning how to drive a manual transmission. This thing thinks that it is in a sport mode and likes to rev up and then shift. ...and the torque converter doesn't unlock until about 12 mph. ...downshifting also sucks. Everyone (like TFL on youtube) talks about the ZF trans like they are smooth and quick shifting (that alone garners a laugh from me) I have test driven a couple of other 1500's over time. They do it also. I do question if it is a matter of poor programming of the ECM. If I drive it like I stole it... It does shift somewhat normally. But with kids in the truck, that's not an option.
...as I've been told that the fluid level is in spec. My next move is to try a pedal commander. Maybe this will mask the issue enough. ...$300 is cheaper than the price of a new truck.
Mark
As a side-note... I've contemplated the godzilla motor, but I can't stand the Ford '90's interior!
"shifts like a 16 year old learning how to drive a manual transmission"
I seriously doubt that, and have no idea what you're trying to say. Grinding gears? Stalling the engine?
"likes to rev up and then shift"
Yes, that's generally what it's supposed to so. Or did you mean something else? If so, express it clearly.
"torque converter doesn't unlock until about 12 mph"
I assume you are now talking about slowing down, although you didn't say, but what don't you like about it? Do you think it should unlock sooner? Later? What speed would be good for you?
"downshifting also sucks"
Yeah, "sucks" is pretty unclear. Do you want it to downshift sooner? Later? Never? Harsher? Gentler? Give someone a clue.
"They do it also"
Do what also? One or more of the above things that you didn't explain at all clearly? If so which one(s)?
"If I drive it like I stole it... It does shift somewhat normally"
So what are we supposed to make of that? Maybe what you think is like you stole it is really almost normal for the rest of us, and what you think should be normal is just barely pushing on the pedal and wondering why it won't go.
"My next move is to try a pedal commander"
I don't see why you think that might help if you've already decided the problem is the transmission. I guess it is adjustable. Maybe it will make it run like you stole it all the time.
"As a side-note... I've contemplated the godzilla motor"
Thought you had kids in the truck and driving like you stole it wasn't an option.
So I try not to go off on people, but I'm actually having trouble figuring out what's making you "miserable". If the description you're giving the dealer is as clear as what you posted here, I can understand why the techs would just throw up their hands.
I can tell you that mine is pretty smooth. I think it has about three more gears than it needs, and sometimes wish I had more manual control over what gear it uses, but those are first world problems, right?
I can also tell you that the transmission tries to "learn" and adapt its shifts to conditions and input from the driver. So if you are a very erratic driver, you may be teaching it bad habits. I've heard it's possible for the dealer to clear the transmission's learned timing tables and make it re-learn everything from scratch. Maybe something like that would help you(?)
