I had my truck reflashed about 2 weeks after I picked it up. I had sluggish shifts/downshift dragging, crappy mileage, and real bad hesitation.

After the reflash, everything was great. I was averaging 15 or 16 in the city, and if I maintained 75mph on the highway, I would average ~18.5-19 on the highway.

For some reason the sluggish shifts/downshift dragging is back, and I'm back to crappy mileage. Took a 4 hour trip to Miami this week (275 miles each way). I averaged 15.5 on the highway @ 75mph, and 11 or 12 in the city (which i've been averaging for the last few days). If I dropped it under 2K RPM's (70mph or under) it would go up to 16.5~ish.

The only issue I haven't seen again is the hesitation..

I haven't changed anything. No mods, no change in driving patterns, same gas station.. What do you guys think?? What could be the issue? Does it need to be reflashed again??

 

I know this isn't the answer you want or want to hear but have you thought about getting a tuner?

 

Yes.. I do want a tuner, just not top on my list right now.. I've got other things planned first.

I feel this issue should be fixed by Ford, not by $700+ in aftermarket accessories..

 

Im still trying to figure out how he gets 19 mpg out of a 5.4 going 75 mph down the interstate.


Im sorry, but Im having trouble beleiving it.

 

I don't. I got 17 mpg going 75 mph all the way to FT Lauderdale with my wheels and tires.

 

I got 18.4 returning home from Mike T's last dyno day in my 6300# 4x4 SCrew driving about the same speed. Of course mine has the AF1, Magnaflow muffler (SI/SO) and Mikes custom tuning.

 

Well, usually when you flash the PCM it's not going to just lose its tune for no reason. That makes absolutely no sense. Also, since they overwrite the stock tune, and we're assuming that it COULD lose its tune, what would it default back to? Nothing? That's like saying "I just installed Windows XP and rebooted and now Windows XP is gone, it's gone back to Windows 95."

I think this is more a case of you (and me too) expecting miraculous results after the reflash. My truck was freaking awesome for a few days after the reflash, and once the adaptive shift strategy thing learned my driving patterns again, the "performance" has gone down. If I totally keep my foot out of it, I can get 16 MPG in town and 21.5 highway at 65mph (way less than 2k RPM). I think what has happened here is you thought to yourself "My truck performs way better," so you have subconsciously been driving more aggressively and aren't aware of it.

I know what's going to happen if you take it to the dealer, trust me I know. The tech is going to politely explain what I just told you and then after you're not around anymore, he'll make you the laughing stock of the whole shop. I work for a Ford dealer, I've seen it.

With all that being said, I would invest in a tuner of some type. I know you can get a 1714 for like $400 off eBay, if you really want SOMETHING other than the factory tune. I know I was dissappointed in the long-term results of the re-flash, but since mine is a lease, I won't be buying any tuners anytime soon. I'll wait till I buy my '07 diesel to make it super fast.

 

02SuperCrew4X has it right.



Although prices are way down on used tuners. Look in our classifieds right here. They run about 200 bucks used now.

Best of luck
Chris

 

Does all 06's that are hitting the dealer lots have the reflash code that everyone is talking about? Or, do I still need to check it because I am buying one before monday or tuesday.

 

My best guess is that adaptive strategy has re-learned your driving habits and has set fuel trims and trans tables accordingly. You could always disconnect the battery and flip the headlight switch on for a few minutes to clear the keep alive memory, then take it on a highway run and see how it acts just as an experiment. IMO, a lot of the improvements, felt or actually gained, is in the mind of the driver. Most of the improvements gained from a recalibration are so subtle that most people won't notice them. Kinda like automotive hypochrondia.

 

Quintin is right as usual, but I like to refer to it as the Super Placebo effect. Put any toy on a truck and Voila, instant ten more miles to the gallon.
Chris

 

I had mine reflashed a few months ago and I had a 2 hour drive today, and I averaged 12.8 mpg on the highway. . .

 

I was wondering if it would resort back also. I had mine reflashed early in 2005 because of a dowshift problem. Truck was built in October 2003. All summer when the AC was on and I got to about 50mph, I would get a jumpy downshift. I wasn't trying to slow down, but it's like 3rd and 4th gear was right around 50mph and I couldn't always try coasting at that speed, becuase it'd downshift kind of jumpy.

 

SAME problem I have.. feels like a bad dragging. I was thinking I was going nuts.. I just don't know what the fix is to this?

 

I agree, reset the KAM as the fuel trim curves adapt to your driving habits. I know it helped mine quite a bit.