I got my 93 E250 about 3 years ago. Since the day I got it, it has had a shudder when in 3rd or 4th when the torque converter locks up. Almost everything I read online generally pointed to the torque converter clutches going out. So I decided to change it.

Fast forward to this week, I finally got a new multi clutch torque converter and installed it. At the same time I installed the converter, I went ahead and did the full Transgo 4R100-HD2 Tugger kit at the same time. I plan to pull my 28' travel trailer with this van.

I got everything back in and filled it up with fluid ~16 quarts of Valvoline MaxLife ATF (MaxLife? DEX/MERC ATF : Product Catalog - Valvoline®) Suitible for use in Ford MERCON®, MERCON®V, MERCON®SP and MERCON®LV applications

I take the Van for a spin and everything feels beautiful. The van accelerates great, stays in gear much longer when giving it a little gas. All around it feels like a new van. But in 4th between ~38-60mph it still shudders if you apply light throttle. If I turn of O/D and keep it in 3rd, I think I feel a very light shudder, but its hard to tell since the RPM is much higher so the shuddering (if it exists) is much quicker so not as noticeable.

Anyway, old converter = shudder, new converter = shudder and a $700 lighter wallet

Any suggestions?

 

Unless you also changed the computer that's impossible. NOTHING inside the trans decides when to shift. That's completely in the computer.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you have a gas engine. Am I right? If so, you're describing low grade misfire. That would be caused by spark plugs, wires if it has them, and ignition coil(s). E4ODs were not prone to shudder. It's not impossible, but it is very rare. AODE/4R70Ws, on the other hand, are well known for shudder.

 

Yes I have a 5.8L gas engine. The van has shuddered since I got it. My initial thought was misfire as well. The only part of the ignition system I have not changed is the coil. The wires and spark plugs have been changed as well as the distributor cap and rotor. I will change out the coil because that is the only part left of the ignition system that hasn't been changed.


The shudder definitely occurs when the converter clutch is locking up. If I touch the brake the converter clutch releases and the shaking immediately stops. When I let off the brake a few seconds later the clutch engages and the shaking starts again. I have read numerous threads talking about this issue on both ford-trucks.com and fullsizebroco.com. The normal consensus is that it is fixed by putting in a new converter and changing the fluid. I did both of these and the shudder is identical to before the changes, so I am at a loss as to what to do next at this point.

 

Misfire works like that, too.


That's true for the AODE/4R70W. E4ODs rarely shudder. It's a different converter lock system. The system in the E4OD is very resistant to shudder.

 

Mark..... You ROCK!!!!

I found the problem.

The engine runs so much better now

I also hate squirrels now.

 

I can not tell which area this is.

I also have a problem with a shudder and am very curious on the cause

 

The cause is usually something that is wrong.

If I knew what truck/engine/transmission/year I could be more specific. With what you've shared that is the best I can do.

 

I apologize for not getting back sooner. I was out of town. The truck is a Single cab 1991 Ford F250 with the 7.5 gasoline motor. Everything is stock. I do not know what type of transmission is in there. I am not really sure how to tell.

 

Well, if it's factory stock and not swapped, you should have an E4OD, got a 90' f-350, same engine, same transmission as you should have, another thing you can do to check if it's an E4OD is the trans oil pan, should have 20 bolts or so

 

If you have an OD trans and a OD cancel button, then you have an E4OD. Old school C6 trans (no OD) could still be custom ordered, but you'd have only 3 gears, no locking converter and no OD cancel button. 99% odds are you have an E4OD. Those are the only two options placed behind the 460.