First gear pop-out
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 48
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From: Maui, Hawaii
First gear pop-out
I have an E-250 van with a six cyl engine and a Ford 3.03 three-speed transmission with shift on the column.
It pops-out of first gear when decelerating and violently so when decelerating down hill; [it has never poped-out of first while going up a hill, accelerating or under light throttle].
I have placed a pin through the steering column locating hole for the shift levers and ckecked all linkage for free play. All of that appeared to be OK.
Where do I go from here?
It pops-out of first gear when decelerating and violently so when decelerating down hill; [it has never poped-out of first while going up a hill, accelerating or under light throttle].
I have placed a pin through the steering column locating hole for the shift levers and ckecked all linkage for free play. All of that appeared to be OK.
Where do I go from here?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green, Ohio
First gear pop-out
HJ,
1. Checking the linkage for looseness was the first thing I was going to suggest. So...
2. Roll under your van and ID the shift-lever for 1st gear. It is a lever on the side of the transmission, and it will have a metal rod attached to it. As I recall one lever is for reverse/1st, the other is for 2nd/3rd. Shift the van into 1st gear [oh. It should be ovious that the engine should NOT be running while you do this...] and roll back under van. See if you can move the 1st gear lever further into gear. If yes, this indicates that your linkage is out of adjustment and you are not sufficiently activating 1st gear. It is possible for the linkage to feel tight (as your post indicated), yet to not move the shift lever far enough into gear. Usually, however, this condition (not moving shift lever sufficiently into gear) causes problems with the trans jumping out of gear under acceleration, or gears grinding. So, I'm doubtful that you have a linkage-adjustment problem. But it's worth a look.
3. If number 2 does not indicate a problem, I would then check all your transmission mounting bolts (are they tight), the cross member, and your driveshaft. The only thing I can think of (since we're at number 3), is that the rubber trans mount (which sits on the cross member) is loose/bad, and this lets the trans twist under deceleration so that the trans jumps out of gear. You didn't say how old your van is, but if the body mounts are shot, perhaps the body is twisting and pulling the trans out of gear? Just a longshot.
4. Here we are at number 4. Perhaps trans is shot. Does it make grinding noises? Sound like a coffee can full of marbles in 1st gear when you're decelrating? And why are you decelrating in 1st gear going down hills (carrying a heaby load perhaps)? I used to deliver paper (very heavy) in E350s all over New England in my prior life, and only engaged 1st gear when I saw the grim reaper on the side of the road pointing at me. Anyway, if the trans is shot, you're looking at replacing it. Replacement trans should be easy to find, and take about a day to replace.
Don't know if this helps at all. Hope it does.
Ohio Bill
1972 F100 360 4v 4 speed
1968 Torino GT 429 4v 5 speed
1. Checking the linkage for looseness was the first thing I was going to suggest. So...
2. Roll under your van and ID the shift-lever for 1st gear. It is a lever on the side of the transmission, and it will have a metal rod attached to it. As I recall one lever is for reverse/1st, the other is for 2nd/3rd. Shift the van into 1st gear [oh. It should be ovious that the engine should NOT be running while you do this...] and roll back under van. See if you can move the 1st gear lever further into gear. If yes, this indicates that your linkage is out of adjustment and you are not sufficiently activating 1st gear. It is possible for the linkage to feel tight (as your post indicated), yet to not move the shift lever far enough into gear. Usually, however, this condition (not moving shift lever sufficiently into gear) causes problems with the trans jumping out of gear under acceleration, or gears grinding. So, I'm doubtful that you have a linkage-adjustment problem. But it's worth a look.
3. If number 2 does not indicate a problem, I would then check all your transmission mounting bolts (are they tight), the cross member, and your driveshaft. The only thing I can think of (since we're at number 3), is that the rubber trans mount (which sits on the cross member) is loose/bad, and this lets the trans twist under deceleration so that the trans jumps out of gear. You didn't say how old your van is, but if the body mounts are shot, perhaps the body is twisting and pulling the trans out of gear? Just a longshot.
4. Here we are at number 4. Perhaps trans is shot. Does it make grinding noises? Sound like a coffee can full of marbles in 1st gear when you're decelrating? And why are you decelrating in 1st gear going down hills (carrying a heaby load perhaps)? I used to deliver paper (very heavy) in E350s all over New England in my prior life, and only engaged 1st gear when I saw the grim reaper on the side of the road pointing at me. Anyway, if the trans is shot, you're looking at replacing it. Replacement trans should be easy to find, and take about a day to replace.
Don't know if this helps at all. Hope it does.
Ohio Bill
1972 F100 360 4v 4 speed
1968 Torino GT 429 4v 5 speed
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