1996 F-150 EXT-cab Eddie Bauer 5.0L 302 column shifter OD button
ill try to keep it short
a freeze plug cracked in back of the passenger head.
a few people said try and drop the trans and fix it that way, it didn't work.

while i was there i changed the atf fluid and filter/gasket, i had to match up the old filter and gasket to the new ones, when the autozone guy pull up my truck on the computer there was two types he showed me both and nether was right.
they had a L shape in the corner of the pan, mine was all most square.
ended up at napa eyeing it up. all it said was 4WD on the package.

i then pulled the passenger head off fix freeze plug put back together.
started it up, i then could push the gas pedal to the floor and it would just idle
i turned the distributor a tad to the left and it would rev up fine.

took it for a drive. reverse works great slipping from 1 2 3 have to let off the gas to get it to shift gear to gear, 30mph it keeps slipping back into 2. thats q to head home

i pop the hood and the passenger header is glowing bright red
motor was cool while driving it when stop it over heated

im thinking my timeing is off thats why it over heating & glowing header. not to sure on that tho.

now my transmission
door sticker says trans code U for tranny 4R70W
my transmission has a plate bolted on passenger side stamped plate says AODE/W
the riveted passenger tag says f6sp-AA

when i look up a ATF fluid type chart there was no listing for AODE with my 1996 F-150

when i looked up f6sp-AA it listed as a 96-99 thunderbird transmission

i have no clue what transmission i have in my truck or if's original trans
i put the mercon atf in it, its what it said on the dipstick, ( no mercon 1 or 5 it just said mercon )
if i go by the door trans code U i can use ether mercon or mercon5
if i go by the trans numbers there is no listing for type of fluid for my truck,i checked a few atf charts they were all the same.

i have no clue if i put in the wrong trans atf in, cuz i have no clue what trans is in my truck
i dont know if my motor issue messing up the trans

im realy at a lost here with this transmission,, can anyone help me out a little?

 

Use this to id trans

 

You need to set your timing correctly first and foremost. There are a ton of threads in here on how to do it. Search and you will find.

How many miles are on the truck? What did the old fluid look like? You should have a 4R70W transmission. It's very similar to the AOD/E transmission. The filters and gaskets are (I believe) interchangeable.

 

ill be doing the timeing this weekend first
156048.4 miles
bottom right gasket aodew (4r70w) mine has that little narrow corner
the old atf fluid was dark lots of crap on the magnet too

 

Dark, burned fluid and debris on the magnet is not a sign of a healthy, well-maintained transmission. It's likely that the previous owner(s) didn't change the fluid often enough or at all.

I would start saving for a rebuilt transmission.

 

glowing headers are caused by one of 2 things. 1)timing is severely retarded, or 2) there is a fuel issue causing it to run lean.

as far as your auto trans problem, swap it out for one of the small block mazda 5 speeds. cheapest most reliable route.

 

yeah my cousin was the last owner lazy and like to get drunk and beat on the truck bad
he didnt even keep antifreeze in the motor. i did about 50 radiator flushes with every type of clear there is for radiator flushing, it all ways ends up light rust color with in the hour.

small block mazda 5 speed manual or automatic?
is there any thing thats needs to be modified to make it fit?
like drive shaft or electric connecters?


edit

one junk yard has a 4r70w for 400.00 i pull it. no other junk yard in my area has a trans for me

 

its a 5 spd manual. youll need a flywheel, clutch, hydraulics, brake and clutch pedals, and perhaps a computer. the shafts prob are the same length, if not its about 50-100 dollars depending on what needs to be done to lengthen/shorten them. if you found everything from a donor truck, it would be dirt cheap. way less than 400 . . . . .

 

Swapping to a manual is a big job. You will probably need new driveshafts. The Mazda 5 speed is not all that strong either. It probably won't last much longer than another automatic.

I can't really see that swap costing you "way less" than $400.

 

with the low power of these trucks in stock trim, the trans will last the lifetime of the truck. mine just blew with 280,000 miles, 302 power, and tons of 4wheelin abuse (all the use its seen in the last 6 years). granted theyre not strong in comparison to other trannys, but theyre a cheap alternative to an automatic, theyre a dime a dozen, and they hold up fine to stock power. . .

 

I'm glad that your M5OD tranny lasted 280k of hard work, but that doesn't mean everyone's will. There are plenty of stories of that tranny not making it past 100k behind a stock motor. Add in some towing and offroading and I'd go so far as to say your experience is the exception rather than the rule.

 

280k is phenomenal for any tranny. but im not claimin any rules for the mazda trans. but, what is undeniable is that manuals last longer than automatics (generally of course). . . .and stock for stock the mazda trans should be no different. even if it would last equal amounts as an auto, rebuilds are 1/2-1/3 the price, and junk yard replacements are all over the place. that doesnt take into account the DIY garage rebuildability of the mazda trans (its a very simple trans), whereas the auto would be much more complicated/expensive of a rebuild for the DIY'er. if hes that concerned about the strength of the mazda for his street f150, he could just find a zf for a few hundred more and call it a life.

 

my OD wires in the shifter were broken could of they arc out and killed some electric component?

 

Doubtful but possible. Basically a short would be.the same.as.pressing the button. Shifting in and out of overdrive a million times from an intermittent arc between the wires would certainly wear out parts both electrically and mechanically, especially if.its happening while.under load. I don't think this would be the case tho cuz you'd certainly notice the trans arbitrarily shiftin in and out of od. Fix the wires and move on would be my suggestion

 

Doubtful but possible. Basically a short would be.the same.as.pressing the button. Shifting in and out of overdrive a million times from an intermittent arc between the wires would certainly wear out parts both electrically and mechanically, especially if.its happening while.under load. I don't think this would be the case tho cuz you'd certainly notice the trans arbitrarily shiftin in and out of od. Fix the wires and move on would be my suggestion