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Old 01-20-2015, 02:15 PM   #1
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2nd gear start, possible?

I've wondered this for some time, would it be possible to set my van to start in second gear for certain occasions like driving in the snow and ice? Frankly I wonder if it would be enough for most every day driving as well in the interest of mileage, but I'm mostly interested in the snow/ice scenario. I would envision this being done via a custom tune and my SCT unit possibly? Has anyone looked into this or had any interest? I have the 6.0 diesel, 5 speed trans, and 4:10 rear end.

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Old 01-20-2015, 02:20 PM   #2
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Can't you just shift into second? That's what I do in snow.

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Old 01-20-2015, 02:32 PM   #3
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

"2" and "3" are both manual selections. It won't downshift below that. But I bet 5-star could re-purpose the O/D button to be a snow-start feature, locking out 1st only but still using the rest of the gears. Lexus cars have that button.
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Old 01-20-2015, 05:26 PM   #4
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Thanks carringb, that would be a ideal. Yes the idea came to me having experienced it in a couple of Toyota products, initially a Land Cruiser then Lexus SUV. Would the torque converter still work properly and such at stop and take off in that scenario? I really don't have much knowledge here.
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Old 01-20-2015, 08:18 PM   #5
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Yes, the Torque converter still functions normally. It will even lockup still after a certain RPM with enough load.

3rd sounds like it would be too tall to launch with, but its actually the same ratio as 2nd in the 4-speeds, and I launch with 2nd semi-regularly when its icy. If its freezing rain, I usually don't even need to upshift, but for snow I pop it into drive once I get going.

If you did this while towing, and it's not cold outside, you'd probably overheat the transmission. But for normal winter driving I don't think you would encounter this.
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Old 01-20-2015, 09:52 PM   #6
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Thanks, great info. I would likely just have this on a tune I wouldn't use for towing. I have a mild driving tune, a tow tune which has no power mods only Trans tuning, and a slightly more aggressive driving tune which I don't really use. I'll pursue this when I can and let you know if anything becomes of it.
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Old 01-21-2015, 04:07 AM   #7
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Not sure if this still applies but once upon a time shifting into 2nd from a stop would allow starting in that gear----does that still apply with the 4R70W's and those in that family of auto transmissions?
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Old 01-21-2015, 07:34 AM   #8
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JWA
Not sure if this still applies but once upon a time shifting into 2nd from a stop would allow starting in that gear----does that still apply with the 4R70W's and those in that family of auto transmissions?
Yes, that's pretty much universal logic on Fords.
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Old 01-21-2015, 07:42 AM   #9
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Re: 2nd gear start, possible?

I'm not sure, I'll give it a try in the short term. I'd like to have something that is a bit less manual though that I can just set and have it function as such, shifting on through the gears as I drive and then back to second on a stop.
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