04 XLT Hesitation / Accelerator Delay

[04BlueXLT]

My 2004 XLT has a hesitation when doing a slight acceleration from a stop. It also does it any time I remove my foot from the gas and then apply slight pressure on the accelerator. When the vehicle eventually takes off, it kind of lunges. The dealer said the transmission is still learning. I have about 900 miles so far and haven't seen any improvement.
It seems like the drive by wire accelerator has a delay. It doesn't seem like the transmission since the RPM of the engine doesn't increase for a short time. When the RPM does increase the vehicle moves immediately.

Is this normal?

[ishop4less]

Is not normal...take it back. If dealer said normal then test different car in their lot, if it feel different ask them why then? why their car is not acting like your car? there is no such thing still learning...all i know the term is breaking in period, but it should not change the performance of the car.

[XLT03]

Time to bring it back. One thing, this trans does work differently from prior models. I have a 2003 and noticed the difference from my 92. However, your problem does seem different from mines. If you get no satisfaction from your dealer take it to another dealer including a Lincoln-Mercury dealership, the Mountaineer and Aviator is a rebadged Explorer. Let us know what happens.

[wrigley123]

I also have an '04 Explorer with 13,000 miles on it. My explorer does the same thing. Is this normal? I personally don't view it as a problem. I would ask the dealership where you purchased the vehicle if you could drive another one to compare. I would be willing to bet you that you will find they respond identically!

Mike

[rivguy]

the 04 with the drive by wire does have a lag time for the computer to open the throttle plate - this is normal - and the pcm does have a learn time - it should learn with about 1 tank of gas unless the vehicle has more than 1 driver with very different driving styles then the trainable computers have a hard time learning

[04BlueXLT]

Last Sunday the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. I took it to the dealer on Monday. They reprogrammed the PCM with updated software and reset the light. It is definitely a lot better. I still notice a little lag when driving at around 10-15 mph and stepping slightly on the gas. I now have 1600 miles on my Explorer and plan to just drive it and not worry about it.

[damianjudy]

I think we have a similar problem with our 04 Explorer, 2000 miles.
Upon acceleration or reverse, the car delays and then jumps or chatters... We've had the cellunoid replaced---they thought that might help? Seems pretty common---it was on backorder.
Anyway, our problem has been referred to "engineering"...how soon till we follow the Lemon Law?