1999 F150 Transmission Problem.

The other day on the way home midway thru a 7 hour trip I stopped for gas, when I was getting back on the fwy, the engine/trans stumbled a bit, the Service Engine Soon light came on and stayed on solid not blinking, and I lost about 250 rpm from high gear at 70 mph like I intentionally turned off OD but I didn't. I made it home the remaining 200 miles and parked it. Tried it today, SES light came on when I started it so Ididn't drive it I just shut it off. The fluid level is good, nice and pink, and no burnt odor, the son-in-law just pulled a "Shift solenoid" code.... what do you think is going on? Is this common?

1999 F150 4x4 5.4 Supercab
Trans code: E (E4OD/4R100??)
This is a GPD/Ford Reman. Trans that was replaced 120,000 miles ago?

 

Check for any of the harness laying on the right exhaust manifold. A lot of times ppl will change the transmission and the harness retainers break during removal. You prob have some wires shorted to ground.

 

What is the exact fault code pulled?

From your description of the symptoms, you probably lost torque converter lockup. Loss of OD would force a much higher difference in RPMs a 70 MPH than reported.

 

Here's what I've done so far:
I checked for burnt wires against the rt. side exhaust, OK. I pulled the drain plug and sampled the fluid, there was no metal in it, and I had codes read again, they are as follows... 1744 and 0743.

We reset the light but it came on after 5 minutes driving. The idea that it is the Torque Converter makes sense because when I disengage OD you can feel it shift down....

Is the torque converter on the way out and if so won't it send metal thru the system?

 

Maybe and probably not.

Most likely scenario that I can see is that there is an electrical circuit concern related to the TCC apply solenoid that is causing it to fail to apply full pressure to the TC hydraulic clutch that is then causing the TC to slip or not engage.

It's been my experience on other Fords that you have to fix the first issue so that the electric/hydraulic circuit works properly, then then you often have to replace the TC because its clutch plates have been ruined by the slipping.

The electrical circuit fault could be anything in the circuit from the PCM's internal driver to the solenoid inside the transmission or the PCM itself, more diagnosis is required.