I just recently bought an automatic 97 f250 powerstroke. It has over 200,000 miles on it. I have some concerns on the shifting. From 1st to 2nd, the truck shifts hard and seems to rev up too much before shifting. From 2nd to 3rd, doesn't shift as hard, but still seems to take too long. From 3rd to 4th, it shifts hard, but way too soon. 4th to 5th seems normal. I've been told that it is either a warn out transmission or the computer is telling it to shift at the wrong time. It is not chipped. Has anyone else had these problems?

 

Hi Dan. Welcome to FTE.

Seems like your concerns are warranted.....sounds like there is quite a bit of slipping. BTW, a 4th to 5th shift is quite abnormal for an automatic, it's a four speed transmission.

 

its probably the tc lockup in 4th he is mistakin for a5th gear shift. sorry i cant help with the question im defently no tranny expert, all i know about trannys is re-re and cluch jobs

 

Mine was doing almost the same thing, 1st to second could snap your neck 2nd to 3rd wasn't to bad but had to rev to get there, and 4 was TC then shift little bump kinda, I found out that mine was chipped, Have a 97 350 but behind right kick panel really hard to see and get to, ask a friend of mine about it if it could be chipped and he wipped it apart looked up there said yep its chipped, so pulled it out and truck drives great now 3rd to 4 is still a little bumpy but works fine ,I take mine out of OD in town. I put a pic on here and it was also confirmed it was aftermarket chip.

 

But by all means check your fluid ,smell it and probably change it and filter ,pull your inspection cover under flywheel and turn if need be and see if you have a plug in TC and if you do drain also.

 

So....the "short shift" I thought I was feeling was the tc locking? Boy, I feel a little stupid. 4X4 factory- you said behind the right kick panel? Is that drivers side or passengers side? I checked behind the drivers side kick panel and found no chip. Is there also a computer on the other side? The fluid is still red, but not bright red. It doesn't smell burned. Maybe I should focus on that instead of the computer? Sorry I'm not very informed. This is my first diesel and my first Ford. I love the truck though!!

 

To check for a chip you have to pull the kick panel and the parking brake mechanism. the PCM is behind there.

 

Sorry meant left side driver, and said right behind ,anyway its hard to see, look up under Ebrake pedal and there is a hole, its right against the fender panel, If you look outside the truck under hood and on same side you will see plug ins to PCM it is connected to that but inside truck, It took me awhile to find it had to get my helper with better younger eyes to get it out. I wish I had a pic to show you but I don't. Just see hat you can find out maybe someone here has a pic where it is. Do a search in this forum for NAWA 6 and you'll find my post from the other day and there is a PIC there and in my gallery link in signuture. at least what it looks like out,plugs in on top of PCM thats why is so hard to see,

 

Does OD lamp cancel lamp work?

Bill

 

The OD/cancel OD does work. I'm just trying to determine if it is the computer causing my problems or the transmission. Doesn't the computer tell the transmission when to shift??

 

Yes it does. But is allways changing according to load.
Could be programming, input signals or hydraulics or combo of.

Bill

 

I'll probably have to take it in. I was just trying to get an idea so I could tell them where to look. Thanks for your help.