Tranny issues
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Tranny issues
I have a 2002 f 250 w/7.3 auto. It has 143k the last owner out a tigger kit in it at approx. 116k a few weeks ago I was pulling a mountain road at 25 or30mph not towing anything and the trans temp got a little hot. A few days later I was towing my 5th wheel got less than a 1/4 mile from my house I pulled over to use the phone. A few minutes later I push on the gas and nothing all gears. Let truck sit for 3 hours disconnect the trailer and it works fine. I change filter fluid and shift module truck is working fine around town. The day or two later I am pulling a stock trailer with very little in it Backroads it's fine once I get on the interstate up to 60 miles an hour after about 3 miles transmission starts to overheat I'm not a transmission guy I have no idea what could cause this any help would be greatly appreciated
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Mark, its was a black box that is on the left side of the tranny there is a wire loom that plugs into it . The unit slides on to a round shaft. I was told it was the shift module.
and when it got hot my truck has a factory tranny temp gauge in the dash. It got to the yellow area not sure what the actual degrees was.
and when it got hot my truck has a factory tranny temp gauge in the dash. It got to the yellow area not sure what the actual degrees was.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Elk Grove, CA
These trucks have a habit of overheating the trans under two common conditions; steep hills with slow road speed, and backing up a trailer. The culprits are the too-small OE trans cooler, and a front trans seal that leaks when hot. It seals fine when cool again but you need to replace any lost fluid. A new trans cooler to fit a 6.0 engine will solve the first problem, and the second you don't really need to address if the 6.0 cooler is in place and you don't do strenuous backing up. And if you have 4wd you can reverse in 2 lo and solve that problem.
Also trans temp gauge on the dash is notorious for showing hot waayy after you've already been hot. You'll need a dedicated analog gauge or reading temp thru the OBD port on an app if you really want to know the temps. Sounds like you tow enough to need one.
Also trans temp gauge on the dash is notorious for showing hot waayy after you've already been hot. You'll need a dedicated analog gauge or reading temp thru the OBD port on an app if you really want to know the temps. Sounds like you tow enough to need one.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
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awwberninf350, Thanks for the info. I have had this truck for 3 years and have never had a problem until recently. The overheating which sounds like an easy fix with the 6.0 l OEM cooler. But I am still concern about why it would not move in any gear. Can the overheating cause that. Once it was cool it was fine. I just don't want to hurt the tranny if it's the front pump or torque converter taking a crap on me. And it overheated after going down the interstate at 60 mph. After 4 miles with a stock trailer that had a light load in it.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
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I can't think of any way that can happen and for the trans to work again. This is a new one for me.
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Ya Mark it is weird. I have towed my 5th wheel loaded with quads over passes (4000ft + in elevation )to the coast and never had an issue. Is it possible for the original cooler to get plugged? I am going to change it out anyways for a 6.0 l one.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
Another possibility is that someone changed the radiator to one without the cooler, or just bypassed it for some reason, so verify that the in-radiator and the fluid to air transmission coolers are both plumbed.
I've towed pretty heavy on hot days and not heated the trans enough to move the factory gauge. I recently got TorquePro and on my last tow it stayed below 230F. 13k lbs, 92-93 degrees out, and in traffic with some mild hills. Bone stock '02 Excursion.
Towing that same boat with my '99 F-350 V-10 it quickly got hot enough to puke fluid from the front seal, nice smoke cloud off the exhaust pipe.
I've towed pretty heavy on hot days and not heated the trans enough to move the factory gauge. I recently got TorquePro and on my last tow it stayed below 230F. 13k lbs, 92-93 degrees out, and in traffic with some mild hills. Bone stock '02 Excursion.
Towing that same boat with my '99 F-350 V-10 it quickly got hot enough to puke fluid from the front seal, nice smoke cloud off the exhaust pipe.
