[vinodam]

I ordered a Pacifica on 7/25 and it arrived at the dealer on Saturday. I went in and signed all the papers on Sunday. The van wasn't ready to drive home (service dept not open on Sunday). But I did see the van in a service bay. It had no power, and the advisor told me that's how they all come, and service had to put in fuses.
Today, Monday, they called and said that they cannot release the van since it needs a software update, and they don't have the tool to do it. Apparently, they're getting the tool overnight'd to them.

Has anyone been asked to come in for a software update? The advisor didn't know what the update was for. The last 6 of my vin is 566xxx. Seems a bit odd that a van that just came off the line needs an update.

 

[BrettP]

Mine goes in tomorrow to get parking assist checked. I'll ask about software updates.

 

[Pappa60]

That does sound odd, especially if it came right off of the line. But subassemblies like the transmission might be older stock and need an update.
Please let us know what the software update is for. I waiting for an update for the camera system, so it doesn't go black when backing into my garage when it's daylight.
I do remember them mentioning a software update for the transmission (that's why I mentioned it).
It would be great to hear what they have been working on.

 

[Damoncaravanman]

following

 

[vinodam]

I took delivery of the car today. The sales advisor said that the software update was indeed for the transmission. I had asked him earlier in the day to ask the service folks.

I loved the 1 hour ride home in the van. It's a velvet red limited with alloy interior. It only had 6 miles on it when i picked it up.

 

[Pappa60]

Congratulations on the new van! Welcome to the forum.

Guess I'll have to call about the transmission software update. Mine will only shift into 9th when going less than 60 mph. Not sure if it did that since day one. I have 3800 miles on it now. Kind of frustrating on an expressway to slow down to 60 and then speed up again anytime in downshifts.

 

[vinodam]

Thank you Pappa60.

I'll keep an eye on mine to see if it shifts into ninth above 60. With all those gears, how do you know which gear it's in?

 

[Pappa60]

I really don't, but at 60mph the lowest rpm I've observed was 1,250. From there on up it never shifts into a higher gear (showing a lower rpm). So I am assuming it is in highest gear (nineth).

 

[generaltso]

So I am assuming it is in highest gear (nineth).

Not necessarily. I've never seen my Jeep Cherokee use 9th gear. Not even once in over 2 years of ownership.

 

[daniel9478]

For what it's worth, and assuming a locked torque converter, I made up a spreadsheet for myself to see what RPMs would be expected at different speeds for each gear. (Note that this also assumes the 17" tires currently on our Pacifica, although there shouldn't be a ton of difference in the other stock sizes.) My data points on 9th gear are:

- 1084 RPM at 60 MPH
- 1265 RPM at 70 MPH
- 1445 RPM at 80 MPH

For Pappa60 above, my calculation for 8th gear shows 1310 RPM at 60 MPH, so my money would be on you being in 8th if observing approximately 1250 RPM.

 

[Pappa60]

I thought Chrysler changed the final drive on the Pacifica so it was not having the same issues the Cherokee has.

Thanks for sharing, that makes it sound like nobody has been getting into 9th gear then.
So, if I've only been in 8th as the highest gear what does it take to get this transmission into 9th? Driving off a cliff? Geez....

 

[Knucklehead]

Congratulations on the new van! Welcome to the forum.

Guess I'll have to call about the transmission software update. Mine will only shift into 9th when going less than 60 mph. Not sure if it did that since day one. I have 3800 miles on it now. Kind of frustrating on an expressway to slow down to 60 and then speed up again anytime in downshifts.

How do you know what gear it is in? Display only shows "D"

 

[Tsuter]

My question as well, no indicator of what gear it's in.

 

[Fastskiguy]

maybe rpm at 60mph or something? I had 1404rpm at 60mph the other day

 

[daniel9478]

How do you know what gear it is in? Display only shows "D"

I believe for these, we're unfortunately going to have to go strictly on RPM, unless you are extremely observant and can count all of the shifts.

I did put together a spreadsheet for this for my own use. Maybe if I can clean it up a bit it would be worthy of sharing..

 

[Fastskiguy]

I believe for these, we're unfortunately going to have to go strictly on RPM, unless you are extremely observant and can count all of the shifts.

I did put together a spreadsheet for this for my own use. Maybe if I can clean it up a bit it would be worthy of sharing..

That....and a scangauge...would be pretty fantastic!

 

[daniel9478]

That....and a scangauge...would be pretty fantastic!

Here's what I have at the moment.. I hope it works. :smile2:

You can select a factory size in the green shaded pulldown or clear that field and type in custom values under it if you want a non-OEM size.

Note that this is simply based on the math and doesn't take into account slight variations in tire size due to wear, etc. or the accuracy of the speedometer or tachometer.

 

[Fastskiguy]

Hey that is pretty handy! It doesn't match up with my "1400rpm at 60mph" exactly (thus the disclaimer) but I obviously have another gear...or two...to go. Thanks!!

 

[cbandk9s]

I needed two software updates right after driving mine home. Seems they did not do that as per of dealer prep to deliver to buyer. I need to go back because throttle sensor started coming on about 2 weeks after the update. Wondering if something else is wrong

 

[Gohawks1224]

Here's what I have at the moment.. I hope it works. :smile2:

You can select a factory size in the green shaded pulldown or clear that field and type in custom values under it if you want a non-OEM size.

Note that this is simply based on the math and doesn't take into account slight variations in tire size due to wear, etc. or the accuracy of the speedometer or tachometer.

Thank you.

Here is an example of a Touring L Fleet that I rented. Had 17's. You can see from the pictures, 1900ish RPMS at 70, and then it dropped to 1600ish RPMS at 70. You can also observe the MPG increasing a tad from 28.9 to 29.1 at same speed. Using your cool chart, That would be 7th and 8th gear respectively. Thanks!


Now to utilize the chart for my purchased Touring L Plus with 18's.