2018 3.6L V6: Noise and Fury, not so Much Acceleration

[PowrRam]

I'm on my 2nd lease of a 1500 Big Horn with the 3.6L gas engine. My first one was a 2015; my latest one is a 2018.

I've noticed that sometimes with my 2018 I will want to accelerate quickly and the truck makes a lot of noise and commotion but the acceleration is delayed or there isn't very much acceleration. It seems like it's not fully engaging. This is in stark contrast to my 2015 which always answered the call with a healthy and urgent acceleration.

Sometimes the 2018 responds just fine, sometimes it doesn't.

So what's the difference between the 2015 and 2018 models that causes this difference in response?

Is this something related to the transmission, the electronic engine controls, or what?

Is it something that can be addressed by the dealer?

If I could have the acceleration performance of my 2015 in my 2018 I'd be a happy camper.

(No jokes about "I coulda had a hemi...")

 

[stimpy433]

It's the electronic pedal delay... get a pedal commander and that will solve all your complaints.

 

[rule18]

^ x2. Sport 3 or 4 for me and much of the delay is gone.

 

[RLJ10X]

Does that truck have the “adaptive gas petal” like my ‘14 Wrangler?

Turn on the key, but don’t start the engine, and hold the gas petal to the floor for a few seconds. Repeat that 2-3 times. See if that explains why sometimes the gas petal is responsive and sometimes not.

 

[stimpy433]

Does that truck have the “adaptive gas petal” like my ‘14 Wrangler?

Turn on the key, but don’t start the engine, and hold the gas petal to the floor for a few seconds. Repeat that 2-3 times. See if that explains why sometimes the gas petal is responsive and sometimes not.

I think so, that's what my Challenger had also....

 

[PowrRam]

It's the electronic pedal delay... get a pedal commander and that will solve all your complaints.

Yes, I've seen the pedal commander threads. Remember, I'm leasing so I don't think I would want to make this mod.

Regardless of Pedal Commander, I still would ask why my 2015 had way better response than my 2018. What's the difference in the model years that accounts for the difference in the acceleration response?

 

[PowrRam]

Does that truck have the “adaptive gas petal” like my ‘14 Wrangler?

Turn on the key, but don’t start the engine, and hold the gas petal to the floor for a few seconds. Repeat that 2-3 times. See if that explains why sometimes the gas petal is responsive and sometimes not.

What am I looking for ?

 

[GrumpyOleMan]

What am I looking for ?

Ditto ... Call me "clueless" I have never heard of an "adaptive gas pedal".
Please explain.

 

[RLJ10X]

The more aggressive you are with the gas pedal, the more aggressive the gas pedal becomes. To a point, that is. But it’s noticeable.

My ‘13 Mustang is the same way. I don’t think there was ever an official factory announcement made regarding that feature. It was common knowledge on the Mustang forums. Not so much on the Wrangler forums.

My truck does not have that feature. Maybe the new were ones do. My Hemi Fever Tune has an Accelerator Adjustment. So I don’t need the Petal Commander.

 

[Marine Les]

I have experience with one 3.6 other than my 2018 and it was another 2018 on a test drive the day I bought mine. Both had great throttle response and if the test drive had issues I would now be driving a Hemi. Sounds like yours has an issue.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

That doesn’t sound right. Mine doesn’t do that at all.

My dad’s ‘16 is a Hemi and first time he drove mine even he was surprised at how much the Pentastar threw you back in the seat.


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[huntergreen]

What am I looking for ?

Iirc, this will reset your fly by wire throttle response.

 

[Quyonmob]

Same gears in your 15 as the 18?

My 17 is slow with the 3.21. But throttle response to acceleration is adequate. Sometimes brutally slow to do a 8th to 4th shift to pull out to pass.

 

[PowrRam]

Same gears in your 15 as the 18?

My 17 is slow with the 3.21. But throttle response to acceleration is adequate. Sometimes brutally slow to do a 8th to 4th shift to pull out to pass.

Yup, same gears in rear end, 3.21.

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[PoMansRam]

That is weird, because like said, nothing has changed between the 2015 and 2018's power train hardware and the final drive ratios are the same. 3.21's.

Could it be software related like suggested? Pull the battery cables over night maybe?

 

[RLJ10X]

There was a guy on this forum that put 4.10s in a 2WD V6. He was the only guy I know of, that had 4.10s and aV6. He drove it once or twice, then traded it for a Mustang. Pretty sure it was a RCSB. But he acted like the gears really woke up that V6.

I wouldn't have 3.21s period. No matter what engine. No matter which transmission. If you have a 2WD, I'd be calling Matt@Moe's, and ordering gears.

I have a 14 Wrangler with 3.73s and a manual 6 speed, which is actually geared shorter than the 4.10s in my Ram. That thing romps for a Wrangler.

4.10s.

 

[PowrRam]

Of course I can't reproduce the problem on demand. I'll keep trying though, and maybe I can find the spot where it happens, whereupon I will bring it to the dealer.


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[rule18]

Yes, I've seen the pedal commander threads. Remember, I'm leasing so I don't think I would want to make this mod.

The Pedal Commander is a plug and play device, it does not permanently affect anything. It plugs in to the harness near your accelerator pedal. I've used it on many leases in the past.

 

[mlaugh]

I'm on my 2nd lease of a 1500 Big Horn with the 3.6L gas engine. My first one was a 2015; my latest one is a 2018.

I've noticed that sometimes with my 2018 I will want to accelerate quickly and the truck makes a lot of noise and commotion but the acceleration is delayed or there isn't very much acceleration. It seems like it's not fully engaging. This is in stark contrast to my 2015 which always answered the call with a healthy and urgent acceleration.

Sometimes the 2018 responds just fine, sometimes it doesn't.

So what's the difference between the 2015 and 2018 models that causes this difference in response?

Is this something related to the transmission, the electronic engine controls, or what?

Is it something that can be addressed by the dealer?

If I could have the acceleration performance of my 2015 in my 2018 I'd be a happy camper.

(No jokes about "I coulda had a hemi...")

I would certainly talk with the Dealer on this. It could be a tranny slip or something . Request them to flash the truck. That may help. My truck always is ready and responds pretty good.

 

[PowrRam]

I would certainly talk with the Dealer on this. It could be a tranny slip or something . Request them to flash the truck. That may help. My truck always is ready and responds pretty good.

It sort of feels like a transmission slip. If it is, what can they do to fix it?

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