Posted: Nov 03 2004 at 7:35am | IP Logged

I have been having an intermittent problem with my Titan and I am wondering if anyone else had had the same problem.

With the truck in gear (Drive) and stopped on a hill, when I let go of the brakes to hit the gas, the truck rolls backwards as if it was in neutral. It does not happen all the time, but when it does it rolls just like it is in neutral.  So far, I have almost hit two cars and a tree behind me.  I have tested it by stopping on a hill (small incline, i am not talking major hills) and with no one behind me I let go of the brakes to see how far it would roll.  It rolled over 20 feet and didn’t stop until I hit the brakes. 

I dropped it off at the dealer this morning and the service guy already started giving me a story telling me that it could be normal because the Titan has a “free gear” transmission.  Huh????  I have driven a lot of automatic vehicles and I have never been in one that rolls backwards in gear.  I don’t see how this could be “normal”.

Anyone else have a problem like this?

Between the bad brakes, stereo problems, window problems, tires leaking air, and now this I am starting to get a little bummed out!

Thanks

 - darren

Posted: Nov 04 2004 at 7:33am | IP Logged

Mine does it.  I first noticed it while taking my boat out of the water!  I didn't exactly panic, but there was definitely a pucker moment when I took my foot off the brake, moved it to the gas pedal, and felt the truck start rolling backwards - i.e TOWARDS THE LAKE!!

Since then, my launch ramp technique is to brake with the left foot, throttle with the right, and when I feel the engine take up the load, I slowly let off the brake.

LOL....It spooked the wife once too even though I told her what needed to be done.  Thankfully, she's got the hang of it now.  

I'm thinking that the torque converter has a slightly higher stall speed than what we're use to.  If true, this would account for why our truck has such good towing performance numbers "off the line".  The torque converter allows the motor to build more rpm's before it starts locking up.  Therefore getting the engine into the meat of it's torgue curve.

Then again - I could be full of crap.

Tom

Posted: Nov 09 2004 at 6:58am | IP Logged

Can some of you do me a favor and just check to see if your truck rolls backwards on hills when it is in drive?  I'd really like to know if this is "normal".  The dealer is still telling me that this is "normal" and that they will not even look at my transmission.  I drove 3 Titans before I bought mine and I dont remember any of them rolling backwards while in gear.

Just stop on a hill, leave it in drive, and let go of the brake and see if it rolls backwards.  Mine will roll backwards as if it was in neutral. (make sure there are no cars behind you when you do it!)

Thanks!

 - darren

Posted: Nov 09 2004 at 3:44pm | IP Logged

I'm new to the forum i just found it yesterday...i think its a great way to transfer info.

I read this post yesterday and went home and did a test on my driveway (which is sloped).  In drive, i would have rolled into the street if I had not pressed the brake.  Next, I tried it with my wife's Camry...same thing, rolled backwards.  My guess is that this is normal. 

Posted: Nov 10 2004 at 1:51pm | IP Logged

Mine does it also. Had it in drive on my driveway which is slopped pretty good and she began to creep back a little. Never had a AT before in my other vehicles do that before. It definetly does not freewheel backwards tho, as if it were in neutral. You can tell that it is in Drive, when i was creeping back i put the tranny in neutral and the difference was huge, i immediatley began to pick up momentum going backwards.

I am not worried too much yet about it.

John

Posted: Dec 27 2004 at 12:06pm | IP Logged

Yep; my Titan Crew Cab rolls backwards in nuetral also.  Scared the crap out of me when it first happened.  I owned a Ford Explorer previously and it never occurred in that vehicle.