Over the past few weeks, a few times I've experienced a hesitation of the truck to go into reverse.

That is, I'll move the lever into reverse and hit the throttle, and the truck won't move. The motor will just rev, but if I rev it high enough, it'll lurch into reverse. If I move the lever back to park, then return it to reverse, it works just fine. And there's no problem with forward gears.

I don't believe there's any pattern to this problem. It happens randomly as far as I can tell.

Any idea how stressed out I should be about this problem? I really don't want to drop $4K on a new tranny.

Truck details are below. Unit has about 73K miles.

 

Reverse takes the most pressure to apply....there could be a pressure problem internally or could also be a valve body issue like a worn pressure regulator valve. I'm sure it could be repaired instead of a complete overhaul. Bring it to a good tranny shop in the area...someone that will repair it and not just install a complete unit.

 

did ya check fluid level?? and if level is ok, may want to try flushing the fluid first . i have seen it help many shifting problems

jeff

 

YIKES!!!! DO NOT flush the fluid! It'll most definitely make it worse. I have a tranny shop and read all the time in magizines like Transmission Digest that the flush machines cause more harm then good....DON'T DO IT!

 

There's a canonical dispute about whether or not to flush the tranny. I'm no expert, but maybe Mark Kowalsky will chime in here.

In my case, I had a flush done at about 60K so the die is cast.

 

Which trans is in your truck,? It's either the 4R100 or the 5R110 (Torqshift), they used both in the 2003s. Let me know which unit it is and I'll look into it for you. I know the earlier units(4r100) had some problems with the valve body that could cause your problems but the 5R110 has a different V-body.

 

I searched for the tranny build codes and didn't find them. On the build tag below "TR" I see a 9. Is that the tranny code? Other codes include C1 (which is the 3.73 limited slip) and a RC-23 above those two codes.

Are those the codes that describe the tranny? Thanks for looking.

 

Is it possible that your shift lever has some play in it? Check the torx screws on bottom of column to make sure they are snug. A little mis-alignment of the shifter position could be hanging the pump in neutral and you are dropping it in to neutral/reverse from forward position but not park to reverse.
A quick check before going to tranny shop.

 

All 7.3Ls had the 4R100 behind it. 6.0Ls got the 5R110 Torqshift.

What tune do you usually run with your tuner?

 

There's a thread here (few months back)about trans oil filter getting loose and causing similar problem and I think it was explained by Mark Kowalski.

 

I spend most of my time in 80 economy.

Good tip above on checking the torx screws. I'll do that today.

 

FWIW, his name is Mike KOVALSKY.

Searches can be done with his name as it's also his FTE "name".