HD4r100 Failure
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 113
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From: East of Seattle
I really am fond of the truck. The only thing I wish it had was an extra 100 HP to get up those passes while towing. I just don't want to give up any longevity for it. Durability and reliability are most important to me.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 113
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From: East of Seattle
Welp, here's another transmission problem, and I've got a bad feeling about it. After two of weeks of non-use, I started up the truck, and when putting it in reverse, the torque converter wanted to lock up and stall the engine. Happened a few times, and when I shut it off and got out of the truck to pop the hood to check the trans fluid (it was fine), I heard a hissing noise from somewhere in the truck. The reverse locking issue went away after warming up and driving around a bit.
From what I've read, the reverse gear requires a higher pressure, so, like a stress test, it may be the first indication that failure is imminent. Eventually, whatever is wrong will progress and affect the forward gears. This is bad news since my transmission is now out of warranty. Seems like I'm having nothing but bad luck with these transmissions.
From what I've read, the reverse gear requires a higher pressure, so, like a stress test, it may be the first indication that failure is imminent. Eventually, whatever is wrong will progress and affect the forward gears. This is bad news since my transmission is now out of warranty. Seems like I'm having nothing but bad luck with these transmissions.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 113
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From: East of Seattle
I just got off the phone making an appointment at the dealership closest to my home (not the one I've been dealing with the last few years, which I've been using since the local dealership burned down completely in a mysterious fire over 4 years ago), but now I'm thinking I might be better off with a well-reviewed independent transmission shop. Now that the transmission is out of warranty. Shoot, if I'd driven the truck more, the problem would have surfaced sooner. In the 10 years I've owned it, I've only put on about 55K miles.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
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From: SE Florida
Did you check the fluid with the engine off? If so, you have no idea of what the fluid level really is. Transmission fluid level must be checked with the transmission warmed up, in park, and the engine idling.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: East of Seattle
Sure enough, in my panic, I forgot you're supposed to check the fluid with the engine running. I checked it when it was off. While running, there was no fluid on the dipstick. I suspect there's a slow leak in the lines I fabbed for the external filter and oil cooler. Anyway, I put 700cc in, and now it may be mildly overfilled. I hope low fluid is the answer here. I'm anxious by nature, which doesn't seem to fit with my hobbies. So now the truck is all loaded up for this weekend. Thanks (again), Mark.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
Just curious... on your vibration issue, have you ever checked the center support bearing? When mine showed it's old tired head, it was with a vibration from 48-58 mph which would disappear on deceleration. With the old worn out bearing, the drive shaft could be moved up and down almost a quarter inch inside the bearing bushing/housing while sitting on the ground.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 113
Likes: 1
From: East of Seattle
Just curious... on your vibration issue, have you ever checked the center support bearing? When mine showed it's old tired head, it was with a vibration from 48-58 mph which would disappear on deceleration. With the old worn out bearing, the drive shaft could be moved up and down almost a quarter inch inside the bearing bushing/housing while sitting on the ground.
Thanks! This is a '76, and I have a thread about it on IH8MUD. This is a pic I took before flat towing it to a specialist in my area to for repairs. This little truck is 100%, and a little less ugly now with rattle can paint, but still needs extensive rust repair. That's gaffer's tape covering rust holes on the body! BTW, that's a little Honda Z50 in the truck bed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 9
From: Washington State
[QUOTE=Nader;18634201]I had the complete driveshaft rebuilt with fresh U-joints, and balanced. I was told the center bearing was fine. A mechanic proposed the vibration might be something in the transfer case. I dunno. I'm just living with it.
After reading this entire adventure, and your tribulations, you're going to accept a technician telling you that a 18+ year old Carrier Bearing is "fine"? It seems to me that if you went thru the time and expense of replacing everything else on that drive shaft, Why didn't you swap that one out too??? That bearing and u-joints are probably the #1 reason you've got a Vibration. And trust me when I say that if that thing lets go while you're rolling down the road.....you'll know what it's like to Pole-Vault a 9000 lb. truck….. And the Giant hole it punches into your truck bed... I've got that Merit Badge, and the T-Shirt. Just sayin'
After reading this entire adventure, and your tribulations, you're going to accept a technician telling you that a 18+ year old Carrier Bearing is "fine"? It seems to me that if you went thru the time and expense of replacing everything else on that drive shaft, Why didn't you swap that one out too??? That bearing and u-joints are probably the #1 reason you've got a Vibration. And trust me when I say that if that thing lets go while you're rolling down the road.....you'll know what it's like to Pole-Vault a 9000 lb. truck….. And the Giant hole it punches into your truck bed... I've got that Merit Badge, and the T-Shirt. Just sayin'
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 113
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From: East of Seattle
Thanks for your concern. I removed the driveshaft myself, and in the process, wiggled and spun the bearing because it was on my list of suspects. It was smooth spinning with no play to my inspection, which is why I believed the tech when he thought it was "fine."
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,499
Likes: 10
From: Sterling Heights,Mi
If you think a Suncoast trans is equal to a Brian built or John built trans you are very wrong. They don't have the nick-name "Suntoast" for no reason.
If I couldn't have a BTS or a JW built trans, my next choice would be to contact Roland (like Matt has done) and have a Roland advised how-to-build-a-transmission 4R100.
Stewart
If I couldn't have a BTS or a JW built trans, my next choice would be to contact Roland (like Matt has done) and have a Roland advised how-to-build-a-transmission 4R100.
Stewart
I will never forget asking Brian about the warranty , "I said, hey, this will be my third transmission, I can not afford this **** again, What do I have to do to make sure I stay with in your warranty?" He says " you know who beans diesel is?" i said "no" he replied, " thats one of those smart phones, look it up" showed a Drag Racing Diesel video" He says " ya gonna do that with your truck?" I says " No" He says " I warranty his transmission, you aint gonna break it"
While you are there, he takes you through each piece and explains why he does what he does, and shows you the failure of the past, and how he fixed it. Was it costly, yes, especially doing it twice.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
Personally, if he still does that, I'd go to BTS. JW does not stand behind his transmissions. Ask me how I know. He told me the same thing, life time. He even serviced mine when it needed it, and I took it to him when I had a problem. That he didn't fix my the way. Oh, I really can't hear nothing but it is guaranteed, bring it back if something happens. Well less then 50K it blow up. He'd repair it alright, it would be the same as what I paid him for it. No thank you. Well I didn't say parts, oh yes you did. Anyway just venting.