Got a 94 f150 4x4 5.8 two days ago. Love the truck has 240,000 miles and starts right up no problem. The transmission shifts hard especially sitting still going into reverse. Sometimes it doesn't do it as bad as others. The only light on is the flashing airbag light. The cruise control doesn't work either. Thankful for any input!

 

Check the transmission fluid on the dipstick, if anything I would first start with a full tranny fluid flush and refill w/ a new filter.

Has 240K on it, who knows maybe it's never had a tranny fluid change since it rolled off the assembly line.

 

Pretty sure it has but I still plan on changing it. I believe its a sensor because it seems like it shifts a little early to.

 

Witch transmission do you have??

 

E40d transmission

 

The E40D... What a lovely transmission there... You are on the right track thinking that it could be a sensor. I drive a F-450 tow truck with a E40D in it and have had a couple of problems with sensors going bad or even just corrosion on the connectors. I would start with what minnesotafisherman said and do a complete flush filter and fluid change then check all your plugs and connectors first. It could just be a case of corrosion...

 

Yea, thanks for input. I been reading for hours and everyone who had this problem has a different sensor issue or something else.

 

Check the motor and transmission mounts as well. Mine were shot causing harsh shifting.

 

check the spider gears in the rear if all else fails , my 95 did the same thing ,it needed a rear

 

Pull codes.

 

Tried pulling codes but check engine light doesn't work I don't believe. Heard there was way to do it with a voltmeter but I haven't looked into it yet.

 

I have a 1991 with ODB1. I went down to Auto Zone and got an OBD1 scanner for $35 + a $6 9 volt battery. Plugged it in and got a code 67, which meant "manual lever position sensor" aka neutral safety switch was not reading correctly. I crawled under the truck and readjusted it by putting the truck in neutral and aligning the marks. Since then I haven't had any hard shifts (it was hard shifting going from 1st to 2nd on occasion, sort of like yours, not always but sometimes, leading me to think it wasn't a worn tranny).

I'm betting a fluid and filter change doesn't help one bit.

I'm guessing yours is OBDII. I would get an OBDII scanner, unless they cost more or you don't want to spend the $$$ in which case Auto Zone may be able to pull your codes for free (you can have them even if the check engine light isn't on).

 

The OP's truck is OBD-I, just like yours. Ford did not starting using OBD-II on the light duty trucks until 1996.

 

I had hard/funky shifts on a 93 and it was the throttle possition sensor, also check out the VSS on the rear end had a 94 E350 hard shifting and it was the VSS and a Bad Pigtail to it

Good Luck