I have had my 98 F150(auto, 4.2l V6) chipped with the superchip for three weeks now. The problem is when I stomp on it at a dead stop the first to second shift is still hard is this something I have to get use to or will it get better as I use it more(does hard shifts harm your auto trans?). I read something in one of the posts that you have to give the chip some time before it gets use to your driving style if so how long should it take? Other than that one small problem I love everything the chip has done for my F150 who would have thought that you could make a V6 with an auto trans chirp the rear wheels at 60 mph going from 2nd to 3rd gear!!

 

The hard shifts are an advantage and you want your trans to shift that way. The hard shifts result in less wear & tear on your trans which will ad to its life and you will find the trans fluid temp will be lower (also a "good thing"). These are added advantages to the better performance you get with the hard shifts.

 

It sounds like that chip is working really well for you! Chirping @ 60mph going into 3rd gear,WOW. That's what that "hard shift" is doing for you!! That's an advantage!! The chip firms up or gives you a "hard shift".

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

As a general rule, you want the shifts to be firmer, as that tends to help these transmission last longer, by reducing slippage, and the heat that comes with slippage.

The shifts don't get really firm with the Superchip until you really give it the gas, so to speak.

I have to confess that I've never heard of *any* F-150 automatic *ever* chirping the tires on the 2-3 upshift, ever! Not even the new Lightning!

From your post, you were experiencing hard upshifts *prior* to the Superchip, and the Superchip definately won't "fix" that, it will tend to aggravate that instead, that's a different problem altogether that your dealer needs to look at, since you should still be under warranty.

I would pull the chip, and have your dealer take a look at this right away. Then once it's fixed, whatver it is, put the chip back in. The Superchip simply cannot cause enough line pressure to cause a chirp on the 2-3 upshift, (on some V-8 F-150's like the Nascar trucks, it will chirp on the 1-2, but never the 2-3) all it does is to increase firmness by 20%. It sounds to me like you definately have something else going on there, and I would have it checked soon.

And please let us know what you find out at your dealer!

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 07-26-1999).]