204/304: Harsh Forward Only

Engagement Concern: Harsh Forward Only

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NOTE: This vehicle has been equipped with a special cold weather shift strategy. This was designed to maximize heater output. This new strategy operates under the following conditions: ambient air temperature at start-up is -4°C (25°F) or below and the engine coolant temperature at start-up is 38°C (100°F) or below. During this condition, the vehicle may experience slightly delayed shifts under light throttle. Medium and heavy throttle shifts will be normal. Once the engine coolant reaches 71°C (160°F) or above, normal shift scheduling will resume. If, during the diagnosing of a delayed shift concern, the concern goes away after the engine coolant reaches 71°C (160°F) or above, this is a normal operation of the special cold weather shift strategy. If this condition does not go away after the engine coolant reaches 71 °C (160°F), refer to Diagnosis By Symptom.

NOTE: All gasoline vehicles will have new adaptive shift strategies. Whenever the vehicles battery has been disconnected for any type of service or repair, the strategy parameters that are stored in the keep alive memory (KAM) will be lost. The strategy will start to relearn once the battery is reconnected and the vehicle is driven. This is a temporary condition and will return to normal operating condition once the powertrain control module (PCM) relearns all the parameters from the driving operating conditions. There is no time frame set for this process. If this concern is present during downshifts or converter clutch apply, it is not the shift strategy and will require diagnosis.

The customer must be notified that they may experience slightly different upshifts (either soft or firm) and that this condition is temporary and will eventually return to normal operating condition.