sluggish over 75MPH

[Bill D]

I like to use the select semi manual transmission....when going 70 MPH or so......seems sluggish to get over that speed. Any suggestions...please.

[Gobird]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Don't have that trans on my 02 but you might want to go to a dealer and have the trans reflashed. Many on here have done this.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Don't have that trans on my 02 but you might want to go to a dealer and have the trans reflashed. Many on here have done this.

I thought all the transmissions were the same on the retro birds. My 02
lets me shift through the gears manually if so desired. I have a Mazda with
a automatic that I can put in manual mode and just tap the shift lever up
or down to change gears. In the case of both cars neither one is going to
let you do anything stupid. If your trying to wind out second past seventy
its just not going to happen. Its been proven time and time again unless
your a pro your not going to out perform a automatic with a stick.

[Gobird]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

03 and above have select shift. Different trans then the 02's.

[DavidA]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Select shift is hand when driving mountain or hilly roads. It helps to downshift when you want to. I have it on my Magnum and Sonata and like it a lot. I do wish I had it on my TBird but not having it is not the end of the world.

For straight-on drag racing, leaving it is "D" is the best option by far.

[Banar]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

While at Borla I noticed a 2003 MSG,it was Wesley's, had the "H" select shift patttern- that is as long as I was looking at it correctly. My 2003 has the standard line shift pattern. All 2003's were not created equally...or is someting fishy going on with my Bird? I thought the select shift patern started in 2004.??..or did it come out mid year.?..
While rebuilding my sun visors, their insides state that they were built on January of 2003. Not sure what number on the VIN Code states the month of manufacture. The Door Plaque states it was Born 02/03. Did Ford just get a few 2002 left over trans mission shifters into the 03 line up?
I already fixed the Dreaded "E" code.
I'll take any answers out there on this one.
2nd Mate Tom Banar

[islandtime]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Tom - when I ordered Goldilocks, select shift was an option, and I ordered it. I have it on both of my '05s. I hate it; don't use it (except on the road down Roan Mtn in TN).

[Banar]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

So the Select Shift was an available option for 03 and up? Looked through a few other threads here and found out not much of anything solid for an answer. The transmissions are supposedly the same for the 03--05 years, but it just seems like Select Shift is a pacifier for those that wanted to get a "Five Speed" feel when driving their automatic.
Now on to the next question;
Did Ford realize and fix the "E" problem in 2003 for 04 and 05 during production?...has any 04-05 come forward with an "E" code?
2nd Mate Banar

[5bird7]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

So the Select Shift was an available option for 03 and up? Looked through a few other threads here and found out not much of anything solid for an answer. The transmissions are supposedly the same for the 03--05 years, but it just seems like Select Shift is a pacifier for those that wanted to get a "Five Speed" feel when driving their automatic.
Now on to the next question;
Did Ford realize and fix the "E" problem in 2003 for 04 and 05 during production?...has any 04-05 come forward with an "E" code?
2nd Mate Banar

Basically you've got it. The transmission was the same for all 4 years, just a different shifter (SS) was available from 03 to 05, and the basic h pattern was stock/standard.

The 03s had the "E" problem and apparently cured during 03 but the 04s and a few early 05s needed an additive to make them shift correctly. Most 05s that I know of have been problem free.

[5bird7]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

While at Borla I noticed a 2003 MSG,it was Wesley's, had the "H" select shift patttern- that is as long as I was looking at it correctly. My 2003 has the standard line shift pattern. All 2003's were not created equally...or is someting fishy going on with my Bird? I thought the select shift patern started in 2004.??..or did it come out mid year.?..

2nd Mate Tom Banar

Select Shift was available at the beginning of the 03 model year, which actually didn't start until mid November 2002. The mix of the two styles of shifters was about equal so you will find more of either style.

[Rondor]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I like to use the select semi manual transmission....when going 70 MPH or so......seems sluggish to get over that speed. Any suggestions...please.

What is sluggish,, shift or speed? If you are runnig full throttle from standing start and shift into a higherb gear at 70 + what happens what is tach reading? If it loses power you may have a blocked cat. If shifts slow may need a transmission flush.

[jerrym3]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I use my select shift frequently in my retro and my LS.

I use it for gentle downshifting when slowing down, and riding in a lower gear when merging into highway traffic. (Allows me to accelerate quickly without having to floor it to get a gear downshift.)

Also, on more rural roads, when climbing or declining, it works great and makes the car more fun to drive especially if the roads are curved.

[Meowgal]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH


I have select shift...and do not know how to use it...out of fear, I've never even tried. Yep, I'm embarrassed....

[aztomic]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I'm only 55, but I'm somewhat sluggish.

[Banar]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Thanks Dot, it is fun to learn about our cars. It is most definitely nice to get information on them and not get laughed at because you may not know every liitle tid bit or detail.
I too am curious to know next what sluggish is after 75MPH.
There is not a lot of gearing to this car, it is a street cruiser not a quarter mile monster. I found it to be decently responsive when driving at highway speeds, "passing gear" kicks in just about the same as my Town Car's did. My 03 will jump from 65-68MPH to 102MPH when I stomp into "passing gear". I love the smile Kim gets on her face when it sets her back in the seat-Cheshire Cat Grin. A trip to a diagnostic computer may be in order to tell if your car is sick, or an over/under estimation of performance is going on.
2nd Mate Banar