I have a 3.0L 2007 Ford Ranger and when I bought it it was coming with the stock p235 tires. I asked if it was ok to upgrade to a p255 to give the truck a more beefy look. I was told it was ok and I ended up doing so. A while later I noticed when i shift the truck from Reverse to Drive that the trasmission seems to hesitate, and then feels like it slams into gear, which obviously isnt right. I took it to my local ford dealer, and they ended up telling me that this was normal and that it is the cause of the bigger tires. So I guess im wondering is this true or do you think they are trying to get out of work, or they are covering their rear ends for the mistake they made in the first place by allowing me to put on the p255s. Let me know! I really appreciate it!

Thanks
Chris

 

It shouldnt be because of the tires. There are many people on this forum that run bigger tires than that and have no problems.

 

define hesitation... like one second, or like 5 seconds?

 

Prob like 1-2 seconds.....it almost feels as if the truck is chugging.....like to describe it to you more in depth...Ill put the truck into drive after backing out of my driveway...coming to a full complete stop...I then proceed to get on the gas....and the truck just doesnt wanna go...and you can feel it trying to chugg along, and sometimes it just smacks into gear....almost as if you were to rev it in neutral and throw it into gear, the thing is, the rpms stay low for me when this happens. Its hard to decribe, but picture trying to drive a muscle car on low octane fuel, and when you put the pedal down...the car just stars chugging....similar sensation, but i beleive its def something to do with the tranny. Well at least I think. lol

 

Is your transmission fluid at the proper level? Does it happen if you go from neutral to drive or into reverse?

 

yes the fluid is at the correct level...the mechanic said everything was fine....and that it was "normal". I disagree! It always happens when Im backing out of of my driveway and then shifting to drive.

 

ps my truck is a 4x2 not 4x4. Dont know if this would make a difference or not! :S

 

what the dealer told you is bunk! my edge went from 245's to 265's and never had a "hesitation" or "slamed into gear" when engaging reverse. take it to another dealership and tell them of your reversing problems (don't mention about tire size, it's irrelevant)

 

ya thats what I thought, but I just wanted to see what other ranger owners thought of this! Ive had problems with m dealer before so im sure they are trying o get out of work....either that....or they are to dump to know!

What could be causing this problem then? Any Ideas?

 

I have noticed something like this if i am in a real hurry. But i am assuming your just expecting the truck to instantly be in gear and getting on the gas and not letting it "shift" to drive. Its not like a manual tranny and in the gear when you put it in gear.

 

i went from stock 235/75/15 to 31x10.5x15 and then to 33x12.5x15 and have had no problems at all... but i do have a manual

 

If you are backing up and dont stop all the way and put it into drive is when it will happen?

 

I have the same problem, and it's USUALLY always on either a cold start or a cold day. Your tires have nothing to do with your transmission. I also suggest never going to that stealership ever again, if they will lie about something like this then they more than likely do shady work.

 

The thing is I actually do let it get into gear. When Im done reversing, I can actually wait 2-3 seconds before I get on the gas and it still does it. And i think i know what your talking about when you dont let it get into drive. Then engine kind of revs up....then slams into gear. Mine is a little different situation where the engine actually wont even rev up...and the truck chuggs like its trying move forward....Its a difficult situation to explain...you would really have to exsperience the problem to understand. Its one of those "you have to be there to see it" kind of deals lol

 

I thought that was the case as well, but I actually stop for 2-3 seconds and then get on the gas, and then she still trys to chugg away, seems like something isnt engaging properly. You think 2-3 seconds would be enough to let the tranny shift...or I would be sitting on my busy street all day lol

 

This actually happend in the middle of summer...So the cold def had nothing to do with it! I dunno guess im going to have to take it in to another dealership!

 

i notice the same thing when i have my truck in 4 wheel low. if i get stuck and im rocking the truck back and forth to get it un-stuck, it feels like it slams into gear even though i give it a minute. i guess with it in a lower gear it is more noticeable when it engages. or is it not supposed to be like that at all?

 

right after i bought my truck I noticed the same problem. you will notice later on that you get a slight lag between changing from 1-2 and 2-3 gears too. i took it back and they said it was just a programming issue...


at the time my truck has 265/75r16s on it. they programmed my transmission for that tire size and it fixed the problem. oh and i had my speedo programmed for that tire size too...

but now i have 35s and its a whole new story