How do I gear down this 6-speed in the Mountains

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Jimmy - 31 Mar 2006 00:29 GMT

I got this new Ford Five Hundred with the 6-speed. The service
department did not seem to know what to say. They tried to contact the
service manager but he was gone for the day.

I would appreciate any advice on gearing down this 6-speed automatic.
Its only got Low, Drive, Reverse and Park on the selector. I heard
something about using low gear above 30 mph. I tried that coming down a
overpass and the revs quickly went to over 4000 rpm.

I wonder what would happen at 40 and 45 like I did in other automatics
that had a Overdrive button to shut off for 3rd gear and a 2nd on the
selector.

Thanks for any advice.

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Mike Hunter - 31 Mar 2006 00:47 GMT

Read you manual. Moving the shift leaver to low will reduce the gear ratio
to third. Naturally the RPMS will increase.

mike hunt

>I got this new Ford Five Hundred with the 6-speed. The service department
>did not seem to know what to say. They tried to contact the service manager
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thanks for any advice.

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Marc - 31 Mar 2006 12:48 GMT

> I got this new Ford Five Hundred with the 6-speed. The service
> department did not seem to know what to say. They tried to contact the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thanks for any advice.

Something to consider....

Brake pads are cheap. A transmission is not.

Your car's transmission should downshift on its own due to its
programming. Chevrolet Allisons will do this, as kind of a poor man's
"Jake Brake", but those are for trucks carrying heavy loads.

Is there some reason you feel the need to downshift? Is it icy/slippery
conditions?

Just a query.

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Backyard Mechanic - 31 Mar 2006 14:41 GMT

>> I got this new Ford Five Hundred with the 6-speed. The service
>> department did not seem to know what to say. They tried to contact
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Brake pads are cheap. A transmission is not.

Replacing rotors before driving the rest of the way home from a trip to
the mountains is NOT especially CHEAP!

> Is there some reason you feel the need to downshift? Is it
> icy/slippery conditions?

However This is correct... long downhills should be the only need.

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Marc - 03 Apr 2006 16:33 GMT

> Replacing rotors before driving the rest of the way home from a trip to
> the mountains is NOT especially CHEAP!

Rotors are not cheap. I have a '93 Ranger with 126K miles, on the
original rotors and second set of front pads.

If they make rotors so cheap that they wear THAT fast, then times have
definitely changed.

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Backyard Mechanic - 05 Apr 2006 03:00 GMT

>> Replacing rotors before driving the rest of the way home from a trip to
>> the mountains is NOT especially CHEAP!

> If they make rotors so cheap that they wear THAT fast, then times have
> definitely changed.

Not wear, warp. Bear in mind the thread subject.

Signature

Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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