1996 Eddie Bower holding shift in lower gears problem.

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Steve Whitby

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Hi guys, I have a persistent problem Ford can't even correct (And I'll qualify this by saying Ford did verify that this problem IS NOT the transmissions fault) I have a 1996 Eddie Bower unit with 351W 5.8. The problem I've been dealing with is that once the drivetrain warms up (driven maybe 3-5 miles) it's been holding the shifts in the lower gears, takes me quite a while screwing with the gas letting it off and on to try and get it to shift up to the higher gears. This of course has lead to some very BAD gas millage considering the tac's hitting above 3,200rpm before I can get it to shift. it's screaming.

This is what Ford found when their transmission specialist and I came up with after he connected his laptop to the connection under the dash, and we took a drive, and this is what I've done thus far.

Quote: "EEC test P0171 pending code system lean bank 2. Road tested with IDS scan tool, monitored with PIDS verified late shift. Holding in lower gears is a command from the pcm, not a transmission fault. Saw short term late command over 20% during late shift concern".

Now, their 1st recommendation was to replace my inline fuel filter on the drivers side frame, I did this as well as disconnecting the battery cable then reconnect to reset, made no difference after test drive, 2nd, then it was recommended I replace the mass air sensor unit, did that, again, made no difference on test drive, still holding lower shift. 3rd, I sprayed mass air senser spray (alcohol) around both sides of the top of the engine to see if there was a change in the idle in connection with a vacuum leak, found none. 4th, on recommendation, I replaced both upstream oxygen sensors on the two header pipes below the exhaust manifolds, and again, during this I disconnected and re-connected the battery cable to reset. And again, made no difference. I'm running out of ideas.
 

L\Bronco

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Hey Steve, sounds like you've been around the block on this one.
It appears that its seeing load that isn't there.
Try dropping the exhaust from the manifolds (If possible) and road test, you might have the early stages of plugged exhaust.
Throw a fuel pressure gauge on it and tape it to the windshield. drive through the late shift and see if fuel pressure drops off.
Ill think on it a bit and see if I can come up with anything else.
Hope that helps
Cheers
 

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