I just bought a 97 F250 Heavy Duty, 4x4 and have already experienced transmission issues upon picking it up. It was used most of its life as at a tree nursery for hauling tree bulbs and various other equipment, so im sure it has seen some abuse in its time. Once I got it on the road, the transmission failed to shift into 2nd gear. I feathered the pedal giving it more and less gas trying to entice it into gear with no results. If you really give the truck some gas the transmission with lunge into 2nd for a brief moment but, it will then jump between 1st and neutral once you let off of the pedal. I've made sure that the transfer case is in 2H and not 4 but, at this point I am at a loss. This being my first Ford, Im not even sure where to start. Any suggestions as to where to start looking or an immediate fix would be greatly appreciated.

 

the first place to start with the E40D trans is pulling the codes.
inspecting all the wire plugs.pulling and cleaning them.then address the codes.
sounds like it might be a failing MLPS.but best to read the codes first,replace parts latter.

 

Could be the MLPS out of adjustment. Simple to correct.

Could be the wiring from the trucks EEC (computer) circuitry doesn't match the "version" of MLPS you have, at the harness connector..... ie. pin out in the harness plug hasn't been set up correctly to match the MLPS on the transmission.

That's a little tricky to correct however..........

Bob

 

fortunately for him,the updated MLPS came out in '95.so his '97 is all set there.he doesn't get to experience playing with repining the sensor.lucky SOB hey? lol.

 

True, but, he just got the truck and doesn't know the complete history of who did what to it, and what parts they may have used.

He may be a lucky SOB, or he may be a very UN-lucky SOB.

Bob

 

thats very unlikely because the auto parts stores have only been selling the updated mlps for several years.
had someone actually received the older style,it wouldn't have plugged in,and they would have just returned it because there are no instructions,nor old outdated pre '95 style plugs in the kits for going backwards.someone would have to go through a whole lot of effort to backdate it to pre '95 purposely.anyone who ever made it work,would have had to research it greatly,and at that time,they would have learned to simply not even try.

 

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Thanks for the advice guys. First things im going to tackle are inspecting and cleaning all the wire plugs and getting the codes out of it. The truck has been sitting in a field for somewhere between 2-3 years and has a very large amount of mud and rock caked to the underside of the trans. Im assuming that this could be a possible source for my problems? Also, is it possible that the torque converter could be the culprit? The trans shifts when accelerated hard but, bounces between gears when let up....

 

If you really give the truck some gas the transmission with lunge into 2nd for a brief moment but, it will then jump between 1st and neutral once you let off of the pedal.

One of the symptoms of mine caused by POSM, After checking everything else including a new VSS replacing it with one from the bone yard corrected the issue. Other symptom it had was shifting rapidly through all gears to final drive before getting say 100 yards or so. It'd do one or the other, IIRC first one was rapid shift to OD then it started the all a sudden go into natural, then slam into gear when got hard into the pedal get it moving thing.

Truck is a 94 but has a 95 model year reman in it.

Not suggesting run right out get another POSM, check over system first make sure its not something simple as a screwed up wire. As suggested run the self test first see what if anything it tells you.

"Sat in a field" has tendency to lead to mice chew on/through wires in and or under the truck! All it take is one screw up the way it shifts, if it shifts.