Land28BH wrote:
Slight deviation from OP topic. Can someone comment on the effectiveness or usefulness of the grade braking feature on this transmission? Familiar with engine braking on a diesel but not sure how this really works. Haven't had any experience yet with my new van.
It just downshifts into lower gear ranges to help slow you down. Usually, a tap of the brake pedal will indicate the speed you want it to keep, and it will downshift to try to keep that speed. Another press of the pedal will initiate a downshift, and so on. It isn't 100% reliable, of course (sometimes I'm expecting a downshift and don't get one), but it works pretty good. My experience is that it works very better on the freeway or at higher speeds. On pretty much every Interstate grade that I can recall towing down, I haven't had to take over and manually shift. On steeper and slower roads, I usually have to take over, as it isn't great at shifting down into 2nd (which I often need to do).
Good luck!
