I am brand new to Ford trucks and have couple questions about my 99 F150 5.4 liter Supercab. The down shift from 4th gear (overdrive) to third gear (usually on a freeway when going up hill, accelerating, etc.) seems really slow. I feel like I have to put my foot down so far that once it does shift I accelerate far more than I really wanted to. Does anyone else have this problem? I guess it could be like this intentionally because I can always shift up manually with the button on the end of my shifter but that's kind of a hassle to do all the time. Also my power steering makes kind of a dull whinning noise, most noticable in parking lots at really slow speeds. Does anyone else hear this or could my pump be going? Thanks for any advice!!

 

downshift is normal, made the trucks run this way in order to smooth out the shifts for those who like smoothness. myself i don't like it. if you look in your manual it says in order to downshift the truck press the accelerator to the floor. which is almost what it feels like you have to do. i just got mine, had a 5 speed. bought the auto for towing cap. i think it stinks, wish i would've gotten super duty with 6 spd. but other then that i love the truck for the most part.
power steering whine has been part of ford trucks as long as i can remember, as long as it doesn't get to loud and the steering feels smooth and no fluid loss your pump should be fine. the whine on these trucks is very quiet but as you said noticable in parking lots and such.

 

the power steering pump noise is normal at low speeds. I took mine in for service and told 'em to fix it b/c it's annoying, but they said they could not duplicate and said that a little noise is normal anyways.

 

My main criticism of my truck new was the programming of the automatic shifting. Ford's 'soft shift' strategy STINKS, IMO. Now way I was ever going to get used to it.

One cure is to put in a Superchip. As an added benefit you will get more power from the engine, but the improved shifting is the big benefit, IMO. As a downside, you have to use premium fuel, but it is an easy way to make the truck shift like it should.

 

If all you want is an improved shifting trans., then you might want to look into a member on the Lightning board--Factory Tech. He is a Ford trans. expert and offers a 'valve body' that will greatly improve the overall shifting of the trans. It is a new Ford part with his modifications made to it. Here is a link to a supporting vendor that gives more info:

http://www.powersurgeperformance.net/shift.htm

They also offer the Ford 4X4 trans. pan which adds some fluid quantity.

Dan