I drove to FL today from SC and I'm having a bit of trouble with my brand new trans built by a very reputable builder. I put about 500 trouble free miles on the trans before the trip. The trip was about 500 more miles which were also trouble free. Once I got into town where my parents live is where I ran into trouble.

The tranny will shift into 1st, then 2nd, then wont shift into 3rd or 4th.

Under normal acceleration it will not shift out of 2nd causing the rpms to simply climb towards redline.

At a slow cruising speed it will shift out of second and revs as if it is in neutral until I come to a stop, then it downshifts back to 1st gear and will go again.

I immediately turned off the truck and had a friend of mine pull it back to my parents house.

What can I check or do to see what's going on? I am what you would consider a "shade tree mechanic", but tranny's have always been a great mystery to me.

Thanks

 

I assumed that you checked tranny fluid and found it was normal. Sounds like something valve wise is stuck, or something came loose. Wait for that Mark K dude who haappens to have helped design these trannies, or perhaps Madvan. Sounds like your going to need a shop though. I might try calling the place that you had build it and perhaps they can work a deal out with someone where you are to fix it, just a thought,,,

 

You didn't mention it, so the first thing I'd check is fluid level. If that's good, check the electrical connections.

You might have to drop the pan and check the electrical connections inside.

If all that is good...I'd have to ask someone else. Any codes?

 

Alright, I took it for a drive just now and it was still doing the same thing. I pulled over, disconnected the batteries, reconnected the batteries, and shazam! Back to normal shifting again. I drove to Autozone and they checked the codes via the connector under the glove box. There were no codes present.

The fluid is full and brand new Amsoil.


The SES light and the O/D light never came on at any time.

I am afraid to drive it home now. I don't trust it.

 

By disconnecting the batteries you cleared the codes. I would give the shop a call that rebuilt it, explain to them what happened and see what they say. If you start dropping the pan and stuff like that you may void the warranty.

 

perhaps a shift solonoid issue? make sure the main trans connector on the right side just above the pan is connected good, if so the disconnect it and check for water or dirt,

 

would simply disconnecting the battery on an obd2 truck clear the codes? I thought you would have to reset it with a scanner.

 

nope, no battery, no codes...............

 

there is a valve in the valve body that is stuck it is the "2-3 shift valve" i have had many problems with this particular valve. it gets stuck in the 1-2 position and the tranny wont shift from 2-3 w/o this valve moving. you will have to take the rear valve body off and clean the valve. you may find a tranny shop that will do this w/o wanting to rebuild the entire thing. i am 99.9 percent sure that this is your problem. the valve body can be taken off w/o removing the whole tranny.

 

Cancel the OD to check if lamp comes on.
If you did reset a code it could have been in limp mode.
Your going to have to drive it until it limps again and get the code.
It will give a general direction to go in.
Call the builder and advise of the issue. Iam shure he would not want to see the towing charges back to his shop.

Bill

 

Cancel the OD to check if lamp comes on.
If you did reset a code it could have been in limp mode.
Your going to have to drive it until it limps again and get the code.
It will give a general direction to go in.
Call the builder and advise of the issue. Iam shure he would not want to see the towing charges back to his shop.

Bill

 

Truck has been running fine for 6 hours today. The builder called and we discussed what happened. He theorizes that when Ford flushed my tranny coolers there may have been some residual matter that was loosened but not removed and the heated fluid generated on the drive from SC may have caused it to break loose causing the valve in the valve body to stick. He said that he had used a brand new Ford valve body to make my valve body, b/c he was out of usable cores at the time. He also said that 3rd and reverse use the same clutches, and that if I have reverse, which I do, then the tranny internals are most like likely fine. He said to drive her around locally for the next few days and report any problems to him. Great customer service.

The truck drives and shifts fine now. Pretty un-nerving though when you just dropped $4700 on a tranny, converter, cooler, shipping, and installation.

 

Did you have Ford rebuild your trans? or just do a flush? if there is residual matter maybe you should get the fluid and filter changed keep the receipt and get whomever to reimburse you just a suggestion considering you did make quit the investment

good luck