Does my ED have a kick down cable? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

YOOT · 07-07-2003, 16:18

I noticed my car changes gear early at about 4500rpm in power and in the past I know it used to run to 5100rpm.

Since having the exhaust on it I noticed that it is now 4500rpm change and it feels too early, the car is still pulling and then it changes.

Is my throttle cable stretched or is the kick down cable stretched? Do i have a kick down cable on the 4spd ?

BlownV8 · 07-07-2003, 17:02

You do not have a kick down cable on your car. As a test, i would put your car in 1st, and put it in power mode, accelerate the car until about 5100rpm. If it gets there, no probs with the car, just the computer. Disconnect the battery, and turn your car to accessories, this will disolve any charge in your battery. Leave it disconnected for about 30mins. ( i think this is how long it takes to reset ecu, correct me if i am wrong ) then reconnect the battery. Start your car and take it for a drive, actually, more like a flog, in power mode, accelerate to 5100rpm in 1st and 2nd, this should then re-learn the ecu.

YOOT · 07-07-2003, 21:54

On the relearn proceedure drive ... 'flog' ... should i change gears manually? Or let the auto well, be auto?

I assume you mean flog it manually so as to make it hold the gear.

BlownV8 · 07-07-2003, 22:09

you want to do both, but make sure, when in auto mode, ie drive, that you make the engine rev to the maximum shift point, i used to drive up a steep hill with my foot flat on the gas, as this loaded the engine and gearbox up.

YOOT · 07-07-2003, 22:19

Ok - and how many times should I do this? More than just one?

BlownV8 · 07-07-2003, 22:22

once the car is warm, driving it hard for about 5 minutes will do the trick. Thats all i used to do in my EB fairmont, it used to work a treat.

Good Luck.

YOOT · 07-08-2003, 06:09

Well I tested it tonight on the way home. Put her back in first and power and then floored it, she kicked back and ran through to the rev limiter and then I had to shift her up to second, but I didn't keep going from there cause I had to turn off to go home.

I 'll test the full auto mode tomorrow and if its still crook I'll try reseting the computer and running her hard a couple of times through first and second.

BLWNEB · 07-08-2003, 08:08

Your throttle cable could be streched causing the computer to change the auto, as its not sensing wot.

YOOT · 07-08-2003, 15:12

How hard is it to change the throttle cable? They aren't dear are they?

Sounds to me like like a good thing to do anyway if its cheap and easy to replace.

EDFUTURA · 07-08-2003, 23:41

BLWNEB's comment is spot on - the first thing you need to do is check that you're getting WOT at the Throttle Body with the pedal flat to the floor - do it without the engine running - ie. have a look at what's physically happening at the Throttle Body while someone holds the pedal flat for you. I don't remember now - but if it's not reaching WOT there might be some adjustment for the cable down on the support bracket near the Throttle Body?

If you're getting WOT then Blown V8's computer reset suggestion is worth a try.

Hey, do keep in mind that the only time you should really get shifting at 5100rpm is at WOT - if you USED to get gear changes at 5100 with less than WOT before the exhaust was done then that was the unusual / incorrect way for it to run - maybe because the exhaust was restricted - ie. engine down on power (the vehicle speed vs engine rpm vs throttle position relationship goes out of whack if the engine is sick or being restricted).