Delay in power delivery

[760Bronco]

I’ve been noticing over the past few weeks, as the weather heats up near me, that I’ll step on the gas from a stop and it takes 3-4 second before the bronco actually starts to accelerate. It’s gotten to the point a few times that I thought the car wasn’t going to go at all. It acts fine when it’s not extremely hot but if it gets over 105 degrees during the day it starts doing it.
Anyone else?? Going to give Ford a call to look at it. a few times I’ve pulled out and gotten worried the oncoming traffic was going to have to slam on their brakes because my car wouldn’t accelerate. Can this be the nature of a turbo?

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[brockdog12]

I was sure I commented on this...yes I have had this same problem, but not just on my BS, on every Ecoboost Ford I have owned. I have had a Flex, two newer F150's, a 2019 Ranger and now the BS with Ecoboost and all of them have had zero throttle response from a stop at times and lack of throttle response when accelerating to say pass someone, easing into the throttle it fails to quickly respond and goes nowhere, you have to sometimes stomp it to get it to go.

 

[69cuda340s]

I was sure I commented on this...yes I have had this same problem, but not just on my BS, on every Ecoboost Ford I have owned. I have had a Flex, two newer F150's, a 2019 Ranger and now the BS with Ecoboost and all of them have had zero throttle response from a stop at times and lack of throttle response when accelerating to say pass someone, easing into the throttle it fails to quickly respond and goes nowhere, you have to sometimes stomp it to get it to go.

My '16 F150 3.5 ecoboost never had that issue? Never any hesitation ever none.

 

[omahafordowner]

I’ve been noticing over the past few weeks, as the weather heats up near me, that I’ll step on the gas from a stop and it takes 3-4 second before the bronco actually starts to accelerate. It’s gotten to the point a few times that I thought the car wasn’t going to go at all. It acts fine when it’s not extremely hot but if it gets over 105 degrees during the day it starts doing it.
Anyone else?? Going to give Ford a call to look at it. a few times I’ve pulled out and gotten worried the oncoming traffic was going to have to slam on their brakes because my car wouldn’t accelerate. Can this be the nature of a turbo?

What drive mode are you in? Does it take that long for the start/stop feature to engage?
My wife's Highlander is very sluggish sometimes when in ecomode.

 

[SportWest]

If I'm understanding correctly, you put your foot to the floor and the vehicle doesn't move for 3-4 seconds? Does the engine rev but no power to the drive train for several seconds? Sounds like a problem and not a 'characteristic' of the 1.5L motor and drivetrain.

The only time I 'notice' the 3-cylinder is when going uphill, otherwise no problem with delivering power -- this is not to exaggerate its capabilities, but to say I've never had a "wtf is wrong?" moment with power delivery. Highest temp I've driven in: 97 deg F.

 

[brockdog12]

My '16 F150 3.5 ecoboost never had that issue? Never any hesitation ever none.

That's good, hope you don't.

 

[69cuda340s]

That's good, hope you don't.

Yeah cause if I do dealer wont have a clue. Prob have to data log send off to tuner specialist to figure out.

 

[brockdog12]

If I'm understanding correctly, you put your foot to the floor and the vehicle doesn't move for 3-4 seconds? Does the engine rev but no power to the drive train for several seconds? Sounds like a problem and not a 'characteristic' of the 1.5L motor and drivetrain.

The only time I 'notice' the 3-cylinder is when going uphill, otherwise no problem with delivering power -- this is not to exaggerate its capabilities, but to say I've never had a "wtf is wrong?" moment with power delivery. Highest temp I've driven in: 97 deg F.

My experiences have been you take off from a light, press the gas, no revs, just no initial throttle response. And when rolling about 35 to 40mph or whatever, you gradually press the gas to overtake and pass someone, it fails to respond initially causing you to press further down on the pedal, then the system goes oh, driver wants more power, then it kicks in causing an rpm burst and then acceleration. Mine experience has been with the 1.5, 2.3, 2.7 and 3.5 ecoboost engines from 2011 models and newer.

 

[760Bronco]

My experiences have been you take off from a light, press the gas, no revs, just no initial throttle response. And when rolling about 35 to 40mph or whatever, you gradually press the gas to overtake and pass someone, it fails to respond initially causing you to press further down on the pedal, then the system goes oh, driver wants more power, then it kicks in causing an rpm burst and then acceleration. Mine experience has been with the 1.5, 2.3, 2.7 and 3.5 ecoboost engines from 2011 models and newer.

this describes it perfectly. No engine revving so you keep pressing down and then all the sudden it’s like OH WE GOTTA GO and takes off. It’s kind of annoying though, I want to just drive normally and not have to take off like a bad out of hell at every stop light. I don’t think it feels normal for a new car to do, but I haven’t ever had an eco boost motor.

 

[DanielFE]

I’ve been noticing over the past few weeks, as the weather heats up near me, that I’ll step on the gas from a stop and it takes 3-4 second before the bronco actually starts to accelerate. It’s gotten to the point a few times that I thought the car wasn’t going to go at all. It acts fine when it’s not extremely hot but if it gets over 105 degrees during the day it starts doing it.
Anyone else?? Going to give Ford a call to look at it. a few times I’ve pulled out and gotten worried the oncoming traffic was going to have to slam on their brakes because my car wouldn’t accelerate. Can this be the nature of a turbo?

I just returned from an unusually hot week at altitude in Boulder Colorado and experienced the same turbo lag for the first (and second time).

The first time was during a series of switch-backs on Flagstaff Rd around 7k feet in elevation. As i slowed down to take a very hard right turn going uphill, I had to mash the accelerator to get the 2.0L Bronco to accelerate minimally and not come to a near complete stop. It was approximately 97 degrees with zero wind. No traffic thankfully. That's a dangerous road with fast drivers and roadies mixed together.

The second time was driving in traffic in the town of Boulder , around 5k feet in elevation, also around 97 degrees ambient temp. From a complete stop I started to take a left hand turn during a blinking yellow and absolutely nothing happened when i stepped on the accelerator. I had to brake and wait for another traffic opening. My passenger could feel the lack of acceleration and started to panic. As did I.

My conclusion was that the 2.0L does not like the combination of high and hot. It led me to wonder if the transmission was starting off in too high of a gear and if using the manual option would be safer in these circumstances. I started to use manual mode when pulling into traffic as we fished the rivers along the mountain road pull-off parking spots throughout the week. But i wasn't forced to really test that theory.

This is the first time I've considered whether a tune would decrease turbo lag overall and possibly change the shift points. The performance increase would merely be a bonus.

Daniel

 

[RSH]

This method works on other Ecoboost Fords. You can try recalibratiing the accelerator.
1. Press the start button so it's in the on position, don't start the engine
2. Press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor slowly
3. Let the accerator pedal come up quickly
4. Press the start button again to turn off.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 two more times
6. Start the engine and enjoy the drive, there should be a difference

 

[JerryC]

I've had this experience on a couple of my Fords. To me it seems like the computer is deciding what gear to use and the transmission just floats between gears and the computer cuts engine power until the transmission engages a gear. It can be scary as all get out when you need power NOW!!!! and the vehicle is simply adrift.

 

[fastlax16]

Sounds like heat soak. Turbocharged engines like cold dense air. Higher flowing intake and an upgraded intercooler are the fix. Splash of e85 can help with cooling too. I bet your IATs are sky high.

 

[brockdog12]

This method works on other Ecoboost Fords. You can try recalibratiing the accelerator.
1. Press the start button so it's in the on position, don't start the engine
2. Press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor slowly
3. Let the accerator pedal come up quickly
4. Press the start button again to turn off.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 two more times
6. Start the engine and enjoy the drive, there should be a difference

I tried this on my 2018 F150 2.7L when I had it, I didn't notice any difference, maybe some will.

 

[RSH]

Actually, the Ecoboost reset process is all over the internet. It's something you can do yourself, if it doesn't work, all you've lost is a few minutes of time, seems like it would be worth trying.

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