1994 E250 e4od transmission slips in reverse

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Jan 22, 2018 | 09:03 AM

Tim Foster

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1994 E250 e4od transmission slips in reverse

Hello, I have a 1994 E250 cargo van. It has a 5.8 engine with an e4od transmission. It will drive just fine in forward but seems to hesitate in reverse. Almost like the brake is on. It will roll in neutral just fine also. It will roll in reverse but takes a lot of power to do it. It will not pull itself up hill in reverse. I have dropped the pan and installed a new filter and new fluid. The pan did not have any metal shaving in it. Help

Jan 22, 2018 | 09:39 AM

jbwheels

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Are you sure it's a transmission problem and not a rear drum brake problem?
Assuming it's drum brake, might be worth pulling the drums for inspection. I broken spring or something could have a shoe binding up?

Jan 22, 2018 | 09:43 AM

Mark Kovalsky

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With the engine running will it roll backwards in neutral?

Jan 22, 2018 | 11:47 AM

Tim Foster

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I did pull the passenger side brake drum and it seemed okay. I was able to rotate the wheel by hand in neutral. It rotates very good in a forward motion but not as well in a backward motion. I jacked up the other side and was unable to break the lug nuts loose. The wheel on that side rotates the same as the other side while it is jacked up. The van will roll backwards down my driveway in neutral. But my driveway has a pretty good slope to it.

Jan 22, 2018 | 01:40 PM

Tim Foster

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

With the engine running will it roll backwards in neutral?

Yes it will roll backwards in neutral.

Jan 22, 2018 | 04:41 PM

Mark Kovalsky

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Then I suspect something in the brakes. If it only rolled forward in neutral it would indicate that the forward clutch had failed.

Jan 22, 2018 | 05:33 PM

Tim Foster

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

Then I suspect something in the brakes. If it only rolled forward in neutral it would indicate that the forward clutch had failed.

It feels like it is slipping. It will roll easily in forward or backward while in neutral. But when I put it in reverse it acts like a brake is stuck. It will not hardly pull itself up a slight incline in reverse.

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Jan 22, 2018 | 09:40 PM

Tim Foster

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

That does sound like the forward clutch could be stuck on. What does the fluid look like? Red/brown/black? Does it smell burnt?

The fluid did have a brown tint to it. I did not notice a burnt smell. I dropped the pan and put in a new filter and new fluid. There was no metal shavings in the pan just black sludge around the magnet. It seems to drive in forward with no problem. It does seem to shift into overdrive way too soon.