How the Elite works with the ZF six-speed
BF and FG series Falcons with the ZF 6HP26 automatic have a separate Transmission Control Module (TCM) that does the actual shifting. The Elite doesn't replace it. Instead, the two computers share information over the car's CAN bus, much like the factory engine ECU did:
- The Elite tells the TCM how much torque the engine is making. The TCM needs this to set its internal line pressures, so clutches clamp firmly enough without harsh shifts.
- The TCM tells the Elite the most torque the gearbox will accept right now (a torque limit), and asks for short torque reductions, typically to smooth a shift.
The Elite has to honor those limits. Ignore them and you're putting more torque through the gearbox than it's asking for, which is how clutch packs and other internals get damaged. The same function also lets you change when the transmission shifts.
The Torque Model function must be switched on as well. It's where the Elite's engine torque figure comes from. Without it, the TCM has no torque value to base its line pressure on, and the two functions can't work together to apply torque reductions.
Wiring tab settings
There's no physical wiring to assign here, since the conversation happens over CAN. What the Wiring tab holds are two source options, and both need to stay on CAN Input for this gearbox to work properly.
| Setting | Options | What CAN Input does | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Torque Reduction Source | Disable, CAN Input | Accepts the TCM's requests to briefly cut torque | Leave on CAN Input |
| Transmission Torque Limit Source | Disable, CAN Input | Accepts the TCM's maximum allowed torque | Leave on CAN Input. This is the one protecting the gearbox. |
The only time we'd ever disable either one is for a short diagnostic test, and never while driving hard.
Tuning shift points with Shift Point Load
You'll find the table under ECU Navigator, then Automatic Transmission - Ford Falcon 6 Speed, then Shift Point Load.
Rather than tuning shift rpm directly, you tune a load value that the Elite sends to the TCM. The TCM then uses that value as the load input to its own shift schedule. So you're not replacing the factory shift logic, you're changing how hard it thinks the engine is working.
The axis: Engine Demand
The table's horizontal axis is locked to Engine Demand, so the gearbox always shifts based on what the driver is asking for. Engine Demand is closely related to throttle and pedal position, but it's a non-linear measure of how much torque the driver is requesting.
You can change where the axis breakpoints sit. Select the table, press F3, and edit an existing breakpoint or add a new one. When you move a breakpoint, ESP rescales the table values so the overall shape stays the same, so you won't lose your work.
How the values change shifting
The rule of thumb is simple: higher values hold gears longer and shift at higher rpm. That makes the car feel sharper and more eager, at the cost of fuel economy. Lower values shift earlier and more gently.
A good table runs from 0% at the low end of the axis to 100% at the top. Between those, shape it to suit the car.
Worked example
Say a customer's FG with a built engine feels lazy, short-shifting into a high gear and bogging. We'd leave the 0% and 100% ends alone and raise the values through the light and middle part of the Engine Demand axis, so the TCM sees more load and holds each gear a little longer when the driver is gentle. Then we'd road test at steady cruise as well as on part throttle, because this table has a big influence on how the car shifts on cruise control. If it starts hunting between gears while cruising on a slight grade, we pull those middle values back a little.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Usually |
|---|---|
| Harsh or flared shifts | Torque Model not enabled or badly tuned, so the TCM is working with the wrong torque figure |
| No torque reduction during shifts | Torque Reduction Source set to Disable, or no CAN communication with the TCM |
| Shifts too early and feels lazy | Shift Point Load values too low in the part-throttle area |
| Holds gears too long, poor economy | Shift Point Load values too high |
| Gear hunting on cruise control | Uneven or overly high values in the light-load part of the table |
ZF six-speed FAQ
Does the Elite control the ZF shifts directly?
No. The factory TCM still shifts the gearbox. The Elite supplies torque data, honors the TCM's limits and reductions, and influences shift timing through the Shift Point Load table.
Can I turn off the torque limit to make more power?
We don't recommend it. The limit is the gearbox protecting itself. If the car needs more torque capacity, that's a transmission upgrade conversation, not a setting.
Which Elite suits a Falcon?
For Barra-powered Falcons, the Elite PRO plug-in ECU for the Ford Falcon I6 Barra is the easy route. Read our Barra engine page, or book a free consultation to talk through your car.
