My expensive lawn ornament was "taught" a bad habbit a few days ago, and what is the best way to "unteach" it?

Base V6
Current Mileage : 4100
Purchased New 8/9/13 with 221 miles on it

A few days ago I was going to take it out on a spin down the interstate for an hour or so to let it "stretch its legs". I-20 here is the main artery between Dallas & Atlanta. The local speed limit is 75 MPH, and traffic typically flows between 80-85 MPH. Slow drivers drive at their own risk here on the Texas Autobahn. (I`m not kidding ).

Normally, I`d agree that with a Mustang, and those conditions that life is not just good....but great.



While merging unto the Interstate via the on ramp ( and trying to get up to merge speed ) The outside lane on the interstate is packed solid, the inner lane I was going to merge unto was clear, and behind me is a big SUV on my rear like glue matching my merge speed mph per mph. Just as I was nearing the end of the on ramp, a d@mned fool driving a mini-van decides it`s time to leave the left lane and get into the right lane which will force both he & I to arrive at the same place at the same time -- Which would not be cool. I cant slow down because the Urban Assult Vehicle behind me would just simple go over what it could not go around ( i.e. Me ). With no other option.... I give the car the pedal to the metal command and very quickly we go from 70MPH to 115 MPH and leave the fool in the mini van in the rear veiw mirror now contentending with a very large vehicle wanting the space he was in.

Suprisingly the car handled quite well, and seemed to want even more as I let off the gas and allowed it to coast back down to 80. Ever since then, everytime I get out on a road and start to speed up that first shift isnt as smooth as it used to be because the computer seems to think it`s going on a 0-60 run. Is there anyway to make it stop thinking "sport mode" is daily driving mode without taking it to the dealership to reset it? Its nothing major, nothing is broken, and the normal driver probably wouldnt notice it.... It just annoys me though.

 

Reset the PCM, I believe it is just unplug the positive power cable and hold the brake for a while to drain it, then plug it back up after about 30 minutes and see if it has unlearned the "bad habit".

 

Disconnect the battery. Touch the positive and negative cables together. This will erase all the learned memory and start back from scratch. It may not feel normal for a few drive cycles until it learns all new parameters. Just drive it normally as you would and it should be fine.

 

Continue to drive like a grandmother for a couple of weeks, or reset the battery.

Or just say screw it and hot rod it all the time!

 

If you don't keep driving it like you stole it, it will adapt to your "new" driving style. To re-start the process sooner you can yank the battery cable (negative one) as suggested; or, go under the hood, locate fuse #47 in the fuse box, pull it out for ~10 minutes, then replace it. That should clear the memory of the engine control module controlling the adaptive shifting of the automatic transmission. It's easier and safer than yanking a cable, and you won't loose any presets or other stored info.

 

Thanks everyone, it is shifting smoother now.

 

The correct answer is number 2.

 

I honestly had no idea the car would... "learn" driving styles.