Hello guys,

Just wanted to toss a thread up on an issue I am having with my truck up in TN. Its a 1993 Ford F-150 SCAB 5.0L Auto transmission and is 2 WD.

The issue I am having with the truck is that it will make a "ticking" sound coming from the transmission area, up underneath the truck. The truck has always been a slow mover off the line, not a light to light race queen by no means...even though I don't drive that way. I always thought it may have been re-geared by the PO since it was used to haul a trailer with lawn equipment. The truck fires up and runs well....just sluggish off the line and over the past month, has developed a "ticking sound".

I just did a transmission filter/fluid change and added that special clip that prevents filter from falling into the pan. I measured how much old fluid I removed and replace that much back into the transmission with a little more to bring her up to the right level on the stick.

Well even after the fluid/filter change, she still ticks and now is hesitant going into motion at times. Sometimes I can throw her down into D and she takes off, while other times she kinda has to sit a second and think about it, before it "slowly" engages and starts rolling forward. This happens for reverse too.

At speeds going down the road, the truck runs fine...its very responsive to throttle input once youre up and running....its just those dreaded take offs from a stop. Well actually lets say anything under 5MPH....she has acted like she has slipped a bit from a slow roll a few times too.

So I guess my first question is...what could be making that ticking sound...I only notice it in Park and Neutral. As far as the sluggish take offs that have seem to have gotten worse...I don't know what to think there.

I have asked a few other Ford people and they have said that sometimes new transmission fluid can cause more problems than what its worth, so thats why the never bothered changing transmission fluids (especially if they weren't leaking and possibly contaminated from outside elements). That really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but hey it was free advice. I have also been told that I should add Lucas Transmission Stop Slip to the transmission in hopes of "thickening" up the fluid and help worn parts. Not sure if the miracle in a bottle applies here.

Im not a transmission person by no means...so figured I would ask some real Ford people their thoughts.

Also there is no codes on the truck...its performs great other than what is listed above in this thread.

 

Does the ticking sound follow vehicle speed, or engine speed? Does it get louder the more gas you give it, or stay fairly consistent?

 

Hello....

Its pretty consistent from what I could tell...I got a killer dual exhaust on her and it kind of drowns out everything. I don't believe it matches engine speed or that of the vehicle...

 

Oh forgot to add....when I did my filter and fluid, the magnet was pretty gummed up with black stuff and metal deposits....nothing huge, just looked like black sand.

Filter and old tranny fluid was nasty though....I cant say fluid was ever changed....

 

How did you check the level on the stick?

The right way to do it is to park on a level spot with the trans already warmed up. Then with the engine idling you shift thru each position, starting and ending in park. Leave the engine idling and check the level a couple times to be sure you got a good reading.

The guys that told you changing trans oil will hurt the trans are referring to transmissions that have been neglected. The old fluid has crap and debris in it which helps the worn clutches maintain friction while engaged. Replacing it with new fluid causes the worn clutches to slip since they are being bathed in fresh lube oil. If you take care of your transmission in the first place, an oil change will never hurt it.

 

Yup...that's the way I checked it...or at least tried too

Make sense....Ill be back up there in June, so Ill go over it all again and see how it shakes out.

 

did you ever get a answer to your problem?

 

Hello,
Wow...I forgot about this thread, but recieved an email notification so here I am. I have since sold the truck and upgraded to a 98 Expy for a few years etc. I never found out
100% what the problem was, however when I got back up to TN I put a bottle of Lucas stop slip in it and drove it up and down HWY 27 over a weekend and noticed a vast amount of improvement. Ticking was still there...no idea what the heck that was, but the sluggish starts were pretty much cleaned up. Prior to selling, I did all the fluids and subbed another bottle of Lucas for tranny fluid. Cant say if second treatment/flush helped but the guy who bought it had no concerns with it whatsoever. Hope this helps.