E4OD woes
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 2,657
From: SE Florida
Because the clutch won't engage when warm and the fluid is dark and burnt. That means a clutch has failed. New fluid can't fix broken parts.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 5
From: N Ca.
Some DIYer will always say "change the fluid".
Soon after they then will claim changing the fluid ruined the transmission.
I'm no trans expert but it is SO refreshing to see an actual trans expert say this !!!
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 2,657
From: SE Florida
Many people ignore the trans until something goes wrong. Then they change the fluid, and the trans fails. It doesn't matter to them that the only reason they changed the fluid is that something was wrong. The trans had already failed before the new fluid, but the new fluid wasn't able to repair what broke from their neglect.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Bedford, Va
Many people ignore the trans until something goes wrong. Then they change the fluid, and the trans fails. It doesn't matter to them that the only reason they changed the fluid is that something was wrong. The trans had already failed before the new fluid, but the new fluid wasn't able to repair what broke from their neglect.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
My lady's VW trans blew up at 95,000 miles and come to find out the valve body is made of swiss cheese so it wallows out, and the hard parts shatter. It literally isn't rebuildable without so much work that will only get it another 50K that it isn't worth it financially. I'm wondering why the E4 is the way it is? Just the way it is? The vans are much heavier than my XJ, so I was wondering if its because once its F-d, the vans are too heavy to ever get the clutches to not slip. The XJ trannys are probably slipping but its light enough to still go forward? You seem to be knowledgeable and I got nothing but learning to do.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 2,657
From: SE Florida
I've had experience with transmissions from several manufacturers. I have NEVER seen one that slips and can be repaired by changing fluid. Once they are slipping it means a clutch is damaged. New fluid can't repair any brand of clutch.
I suspect that the Jeep trans wasn't really slipping, but had some bad shifts. New fluid CAN often fix this, even in Ford transmissions.
I suspect that the Jeep trans wasn't really slipping, but had some bad shifts. New fluid CAN often fix this, even in Ford transmissions.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Bad shifts meaning like it doesn't build line pressure or something like that? I have a basic understanding of auto trans but not too deep. No job means I have time to read, ha.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 2,657
From: SE Florida
The transmission always had line pressure. It can build and fall in less than a second. That's not the problem. Bad shifts can happen from old, worn out ATF. The frictional properties of the fluid change as it wears, and this will affect the shifts.
