Best fix for hunting converter

1stMarauder

New member
I am new to the Marauder world. I know people say to do the J-mod to fix the infamous hunting torque converter but I am looking to keep mine stock as it came from the factory. What options do I have? Between 25 - 50 mph under light acceleration, the trans just feels like it's stuttering. It's incredibly annoying as most of my driving is done at these speeds. I do not race the car nor am I looking for performance mods. Just want it to drive like it did from the factory. Thank you in advance for your advice.
 
I can send you a tune that will fix that and help the car perform better as well.

Let me know if you are interested.
 
J-mod won't fix the "hunting" issue. A tune from Mo's (martyo) will fix the "hunting" issue. You won't believe how better you Marauder will run with a martyo tune.
 
I can send you a tune that will fix that and help the car perform better as well.

Let me know if you are interested.

Yes, it will. I had the constant "hunting" too especially on secondary roads with speeds in the 30-45 range. My car shifts much, much better since installing a tune more than 8 years ago. It'll also correct the Overdrive lock point so that it engages at more reasonable highway speeds rather than the 35 MPH factory setting which was a major contributor to the gear hunting issue.
 
get the martyO tune..You'll be able to retain the original tune if you ever need it. But once you drive it with the tune, you'll be amazed, it's like a new car..no shift hunting and a few extra hp...15-20ish.. It's all pluig and play with a SCT unit which Marty O can provide with the tune file in it. best simple mod out there
 
Between 25 - 50 mph under light acceleration, the trans just feels like it's stuttering. It's incredibly annoying
"Stuttering" and hunting are two very different things.

The stock shift schedule really does suck and it forces the car into a higher gear sooner than it should, then when you step on the gas even lightly, the trans either downshifts or unlocks the converter. This is hunting.

The stuttering you're describing sounds more like the infamous torque converter clutch shudder which occurs on light-throttle upshifts. Neither the JMOD nor a tune will fix that...the only cure is changing the ATF.

Try this next time...when it starts to "stutter", keep you foot steady on the gas and lightly tap the brake pedal with your other foot, just enough to turn on the brake lights. If the stuttering stops, you have TCC shudder. If it does not, then you probably have a mis-fire, which can be plugs, COPs, or a bad DPFE.
 
Please understand I was not in any way suggesting NOT getting MO's tune only that it won't fix a TCC shudder, if that's what the OP's issue is.

MO's tune and a JMOD will make you think it's an entirely different car!
 
It's definitely not a mis-fire. I was a certified tech for several years and know the difference between trans issues and mis-fires. I am just new to the panther platform. I am a GM guy and don't have much experience with Fords. After doing some research of the symptoms I have, it's without a doubt the torque converter.
 
Thank you all for your input! I greatly appreciate the advice. I am going to order the tune from Martyo and I will post the results!
 
When I first got my car 7 1/2 years ago, I took it to the dealer thinking something was wrong with the transmission. That's how bad the stock trans shiftng is.

The jerks charged me $90 to tell me it's normal.
 
can some one describe the torque converter "hunting" to me ? are we talking about the constant down shifting for 4 to 3 and 4 to 2 ?
 
It's been a while but I remember it shifting into OD like at around 30 mph then it would downshift if load changed then back to overdrive etc
 
can some one describe the torque converter "hunting" to me ? are we talking about the constant down shifting for 4 to 3 and 4 to 2 ?

It's been a while but I remember it shifting into OD like at around 30 mph then it would downshift if load changed then back to overdrive etc
these.
or it goes into OD under light load at low speeds, then you press the gas and it won't come out of OD, until you press harder. then it does shift down to 3rd, but then shifts too quickly back into OD
Same thing between 2-3 shifts and lock up.
it's really the shift schedule controled by the PCM, but results in feeling like the convertor is confused. that's why a martyo tune corrects the issue = nothing is mechanically wrong. it's factory tuning for fuel mileage.
 
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