Hi All,

Sorry if this has already been addressed but I cannot find it in the forums.

I have a 2015 F150, CCSB, FX4.

Long story short, between repairs the truck was run for about 30 seconds with VERY low ATF - just moving the truck about 20 feet. Months later it developed a stutter when shifting from 3rd to 4th but not in the way that was a common shift issue with this transmission.

As the issue got worse, it would really struggle to shift while driving (only 3 to 4) - letting off the gas when I knew it was about to shift seems to smooth it out but I can see the tach flutter a bit at the shift. Went to a transmission shop and they confirmed the tranny has a mechanical problem - not a valve body/solenoid problem. Of course they want to rebuild it because that's what they do.

I opted to do a full swap with an identical used tranny, low mileage, with warranty. I plan to do this myself which brings me to the question on programming the transmission to the vehicle.

I know this generation of the 6R80 had different solenoids in the valve body and they have a role in controlling the shifting. Here's where I am confused:

If the solenoid packs are different - I know the tranny won't shift right due to my ECM programming.

If the solenoids are the same in my tranny I pull out and the new (used) one I put in - can I just do the swap of the whole tranny with no programming and everything function correctly?

If the solenoids are different, can I just swap the valve bodies so my original solenoids are in the newly swapped tranny and everything works as it should?

Is there any other component to the swap/programming I haven't mentioned? I have the exact procedure to swap and it all seems straight forward other than the programming side.

My local dealer told me the transmission has to be programmed no matter what. This doesn't make sense to me. It's an hour of labor and I don't mind doing it if it's actually needed but seems like it wouldn't be necessary The solenoids are the only electrical component that I know of inside the tranny so if the old valve body was swapped into the new tranny it seems all the programming should be aligned - are the transmissions as a whole somehow programmed to VIN and vehicle specific such that there is no way to do a swap without having to program in order for the transmission to function and shift properly?

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, It will need to be programmed, the TCM is built into the valve body of the transmission, this has to match trucks PCM info, The valve body could be swapped from old transmission but it might be part of the problem for the original transmission failure, best way is to program used transmission to match vehicle. It usually only costs $100 or so to do the programming.

 

The TCM is not in the valve body like early units. The TCM is in the truck and not part of the lead frame. I suggest the OP look at the valve body calibration if they are a match then it's a direct swap. If they are not a match the OP will need to have the dealer program the PCM and TCM with the correct strategy ( found on the trans tag).

 

Yes, I stand corrected, we swapped the 6R80 in a 2010 and it needed reprogramming, newer units have a code that needs to be programmed in from a tag on the side of the transmission. Sorry about any confusion.

 

Thanks - I know the 6R80 changed between early and later generations (mine being "later" since it's a 2015 model).

The solenoid tags are different between the two transmissions (my bad tranny and my new one to swap in) so I know if I just swap the whole thing I have to have the new tranny programmed. But what I want to confirm (I think this is what you're saying) is that if I put my old valve body in the new tranny then I don't have to do anything else, it's all programmed just like before - is this right?

PS - attached photos of the two solenoid tags on each tranny if it helps.

This is the solenoid tag from my original tranny - still in the truck. Sol strategy is 0221530701877

This is the tag for the replacement I am swapping in. Sol strategy is 1521532102894


Thanks again

 

Thanks - just trying to confirm - you are still saying that the tranny has to be programmed regardless - even if I did swap valve bodies (meaning the original solenoid strategy/programming stays the same)?

 

Don't swap valve bodies! Pay for the PCM TCM flash and be done with it. Do you have access to forscan ? You can at least clear the KAM and adaptive drive tables. If you are satisfied with the trans shifting then you can leave it. If not at least it will be driveable to get to the dealership.

 

The programming is to match the valve body to the PCM or TCM, yes you could switch the valve body and it would work but like 390 says don't do that! The solenoids were likely contaminated with debris when your original transmission failed and that could cause the replacement to fail also. The programming tells the controller the flow rates of the solenoids so that it can control them more accurately. I believe a good scan tool will do it also. I think I did the last one, a 2012, with our Autel scanner.

 

thanks for clarifying. Now I understand why the valve body swap is NOT a good idea. I will look into a tool to do the programming, I thought it could only be done through Ford IDS. May be cheaper to just have ford do it than buy another scanner...

thanks so much!

 

understood and thanks. I do have Forscan but I thought the adaptive tables couldn’t “truly” be cleared without IDS in these later gen models.

will take the collective advice here and do the swap as a whole unit then will tow it to the dealer for a proper programming.

thanks again.

 

No reason you can't drive it to dealer for programming, Just use manual shift so there is no slipping between shifts, also include the picture of the tag to save the guy programming it having to raise vehicle to access numbers.

 

One other quick question - is there any specific point in the process of removing the tranny that is difficult? I'm most concerned about how easy it is to access the bell housing bolts. Any advice or input on this? I have the ford service manual to follow the official procedure, just wondering if there's any part that may be tricky...?

 

Get a 4'x 1/2" drive extension and a 15mm and 18mm semi deep impact swivel sockets like this make sure your torque converter is all the way in to the pump before installing

 

Thanks.

My new transmission has the t/c installed (never removed) and held in place with the "special tool" that Ford uses to keep the T/C in place when removing the tranny.

Is that what you mean- make sure it's in place inside the bellhousing on the back end or make sure it's in place on the front side?

^Only time I pulled a tranny before it was a manual so this will be a bit different for me...

 

Yes, make sure it’s all the way into the transmission and you’ll need to align the studs up with the flywheel holes while installing, make sure you have a real good quality socket when removing torque converter nuts also, they are really tight.