Sensor problem solved. In 1999 the VSS is the same as the ABS sensor. This is not the first time Advance Auto has steered me wrong when using their website for my parts. They also sent me the wrong water temp sensor and it was ship to home only, not available in the store. They were nice, though, and took it back through the store. Now that that is installed my ABS light has gone out too. Now I just keep scanning the truck and see of the tranny thing ceases too.

 

OK, still having issues and looking for help with this pesky tranny.

Here's where it stands:

Truck has non-chipped tune of some sort. Got reman tranny about a two months ago because other one had a leak. Other than the leak the other one worked fine. Reman tranny seems to be dropping out of high gear into third for no particular reason at highway speeds. It does not do it all the time and stopping and putting into neutral or park for a moment seems to cure it. The tune locks the TC down in high gear and high gear only, did same in old tranny. It throws no codes to AE.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mark

 

I'm finding (have been for a while) the VSS wire harness connectors going sideways. Ford sells a new connector that can be soldered in. I would imagine you guys in high Salt use areas or down in the gulf states would have these issues even more.

What happens if you eliminate the tune?

 

I have not eliminated the tune yet. The mechanic is thinking it is an option. I would have to go to a Ford dealer and have them clear it out and reset to default settings and I don't want to do that if it is not the problem. I like having the tune and I suspect it would cost hundreds to remove and replace it. And since the problem did not exist before the tranny was replaced I'm not inclined to think that is the problem.

 

Geez, that can't be fun to deal with….Hopefully they gave you a new torque converter with the re-man

 

Definitely need to see what happens with the stock programming before you go any further.

 

If the tune is burned on the PCM then swapping to stock is not cheap and easy. Seems to me if the tune worked before, the problem now is from something new.

Does the light on the shift lever come on? Do you have a real trans gauge? An overheating trans will kick itself out of OD, IIRC.

 

No on the OD light and yes on the trans gauge. Has a deep trans pan and runs cool at about 125. And yes it bites to spend that much money and have this problem.