We have a 1988 F250 with a 460 and and 3.55 rear end with a C6 automatic transmission.
Recently it became necessary to have our truck towed and ever since that time we find that when our tranny is changing gears it behaves as though it sorta snaps/jumps/jams/slams into what could (I suppose) be called second gear at around 45 mph. It never did this before we had it towed and was, instead, extremely smooth and uneventful. The possibility exists that the service mechanic screwed up in some way or other in either towing or whatever and we'd like to get some idea of what it is that we are dealing with here. Does anyone have some suggestions that might help a couple mechanically ignorant folks figure this dilemma out and fix it on their own?
Thanks
M/S

 

Check the vacuum line to and the modulator.

 

>Check the vacuum line to and the
>modulator.


RAY

Thanks for your prompt reply. We hate to be a bother but can ya tell us
where/what we're to be looking for on this vacuum/modulator thing. Is it
located on the front or back of tranny/halfway in-between or not. As
mentioned Susan and I aren't mechanically adept and could use all the
help we can get.
Although I didn't mention it in my initial posting, the mechanic that
worked on our vehicle to begin with seemed to have an attitude and we
wonder if sabotage isn't part of his game plan.
Thus and therefore, where exactly and what does the modulator look like
so we can give it a check and see if this is the problem.
Thanks Ray.
Mike and Sue

 

The modulator is accesable from under the truck. It is on the passenger's side just to the rear of the "notch" in the tranny pan. One bolt holds it in. It is connected to manifold vacuum, usually behind the carburator. Most have a combination steel line and rubber hoses connecting them. It is a fairly common use part and it is not uncommon for the hoses to deteriorate or come loose. You do not say what the mechanic did to repair your truck. Disconnecting a line could be "easy sabotage" or "honest mistake". The modulator should not be very expensive although it has been several years since I've bought one. Good luck
ray

 

Should have said that the modulator line connects to the manifold to the rear of the fuel injection. If this is not the problem there is the chance the tranny was damaged during towing. How far did they tow it?
Good luck

 

>The modulator is accesable from under the
>truck. It is on the passenger's
>side just to the rear of
>the "notch" in the tranny pan.
>One bolt holds it in. It
>is connected to manifold vacuum, usually
>behind the carburator. Most have a
>combination steel line and rubber hoses
>connecting them. It is a fairly
>common use part and it is
>not uncommon for the hoses to
>deteriorate or come loose. You do
>not say what the mechanic did
>to repair your truck. Disconnecting a
>line could be "easy sabotage" or
>"honest mistake". The modulator should not
>be very expensive although it has
>been several years since I've bought
>one. Good luck ray
>

We'd just gotten the F250 and because we were preparing to pull a cargo trailer to Vermont (we gonna move there and get Real Rural) I figured to change the plugs/wires/oil. I came to find that even though our truck has got 106k on 'er, the plug wires and plugs looked like they'd never been changed...ever. I can due this simple type of repair/upkeep (generally) and began pullin the spark plugs, finding them all pretty well shot and rusted/carroded into the cylinder. I ended up breaking a plug off (beneath the plugs socket site) and figured "whoa...I ain't joe mechanic hear, I'm not the guy to try tappin' this trapped plug thread out and I gotta get some help."
We went to a local Marathon station where we'd been treated fairly decently by the owner/operator and asked them to tow (a total of about 6-7 miles) our truck to their station and "make it nicey nice." I'd indicated in an extensive note that I'd already replaced the rotor, 5 of the 8 plugs, and that as long as it was there they might as well go ahead and finish the tune up. Tus, they had to tap out the plug that got busted off, change the oil and filter, and connect the new plug wires. They agree to begin work the first thing in the morning because we're already one day behind on our scheduled departure for Vermont. After several calls pleading for information during the course of the day we get a call from their "alledged mechanic" at 3:30 who begins by apologizing that it took him so long to begin work on our truck and that we've got a really major problem. He launches into a spiel about how if he can't get this busted plug out of the block it may end up costing us around $860 because it'll screw up everything. He says it's very difficult to "tap out broken plugs" and if he screws up, even a little bit, the resulting mayhem will create "HUGE' problems. He says he wants our OK to proceed because if it goes bad he wants us to "know" what it could cost (which he's already said is below the going rate, even at $860) to "fix it." I ask him if he's ever done this procedure before and he responds with "Yes, twice and do to the degree of difficulty, they were both failures.
I didn't particularly like the sound of his track record and asked to speak to the owner/operator named Gary. I explained to Gary that having worked with him before, respected his skills and felt he had more experience, that I'd appreciate it if he'd perform/supervise the "tapping procedure." I told him that it was imperative that we get this repaired correctly and that we we'd made several appointments in Vermont that were crucial to be attended. I explained that I wasn't expressing any disrespect for his mechanic, but only wanted who we felt the most comfortable with being actively involved. Incidentally, the mechanic, Robert, in question, had the week before, in fact, twisted the nut off a A/C compressor that was being installed and blamed it on it's "recycled status" and the manner in which the place of it's purchase must have overlooked the flaw and it wasn't his fault...we paid $50 bucks for his labor and then returned it where we got it...hmmmmmm.
Anyway, Gary agreed, said, "No Problem...no disrespect," and than ignored everything I said altogether and let Robert "go at it."
I finally got a call 4 hours later, am told by Robert it worked out fine and we can come and pick 'er up. He says he dorgotten to use the "engine flush" that I'd sent along for the oil change and since I'd only sent 5 quarts of oil, I'd need to purchase another quart to "top it off." When we arrive 20 minutes later we find that Ol' Robert has remained at work just to be present to have us handed the bill. We get hit for $182 and ya can almost "feel" ol robert get his "rush" as he watches my face register the shock and the onlookers stiffle their laughter. Ya see, ol' robert needed an audience and the late night guy working the register and his girlfriend were there to witness his rendition of a "coup de grace."
By the time we got home it was dark and I'd put a quart (to 'top it off," remember?) of oil in the crankcase without checking the dip stick. The following day, after driving less than 400 miles, our F250 is pulled over to the side of the road with a 16 foot cargo trailer attached to it and semi rigs blowin' by at 75mph. The trucks engine is tap dancing like ya never heard, the engines so hot that when I open the hood it feels like I'm at Auschwitz and we are 5 quarts (that's right.... 5 QUARTS) low on engine oil. We end up stranded for hours, pay $$$ to get to a station and buy the oil and eventually get back on the road. After driving another 1750 miles since and having used an average of 1 quart for every 500-600, it doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to figure 'Ol Robert is a rather pathetic piece of protoplasm and cares very little for the guy he works for (Gary) or the folks who put their lives, quite literally, in his hands.
And, sooooooooooooooo......that's "Why" Susan and I suspect that the deal with the tranny has resulted from some manner of mechanical sabotage, Ray.
Frankly, it ain't a pretty story.

Michael and Susan

 

OK..............
I checked the vacumm hose from the modulator too behind the fuel injectors where it joins the engine. I see no tampering or break in the hose and figure that it must, therefore, have had to do with the 7 mile tow from our home to the service station. What need I look for now to correct this this? We drove hundreds of miles with this vehicle prior to the tow and never had the difficulty that we have at this time. It certainly seems a bit tooo coincidental that this slippage began the moment aftrer we picked our F250 up from the "service" station. Any Ideas?

THANKS
M/S

 

Nice ref. to Auschwitz...I'm sure some people can "relate" to that.

Your Anti-Semetic Friend

 

Let's remain on topic, please.

 

Yes, lets...Most of my family was wiped out in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and others...So...Lets stay on topic without offending anyone.

>Let's remain on topic, please.

 

>Yes, lets...Most of my family was wiped
>out in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and others...So...Lets
>stay on topic without offending anyone.
>
>>Let's remain on topic, please.

>

Point well taken. It is, indeed, unfortunate to have referenced something that would have hurt you so terribly and this wasn't my Intent. Hopefully you'll be able to forgive me someday, I'll remember to omit any politically incorrect referencing to Wounded Knee, Martin Luther King's assasination or Hiroshima and we can move on to determining why the towing of my F250 might have resulted in tranny slippage.

 

They sabotaged it, you haven't figured that out yet?

 

>They sabotaged it, you haven't figured that
>out yet?

Welp, I sorta had some misgivings that were, upon reread, duly noted in recent postings. Would you care to illuminate or remain nebulous/circumvent/mysterious/harmed or whatever else befits this response?
In the words of the Great Rodney King, "Couldn't we all just try to get along."
XOXOX
M

 

When you checked the modulator, did you take the hose off of the modulator? Try that, if there is trans fluid in the hose, replace the modulator.

Josh

 

>When you checked the modulator, did you
>take the hose off of the
>modulator? Try that, if there is
>trans fluid in the hose, replace
>the modulator.
>Josh

We got 'er.
Took the F250 to a "real mechanic" this AM and found that there's a T bar like arrangement for 3 hoses. The modulator hose was attached and 1 of the 3, that apparently was meant for an option our Ford doesn't have, had been plugged at the factory. This plug had been intentionally removed (afterall, I doubt that after over a decade it "just happened" to accidentally drop out at our local marathon station) and, thus, the modulator was inoperable. No sooner had this been replugged than the engine immediately smoothed out and the tranny works as good as it did before being taken off by Marathon's manic depressive and suffering the already reported abuse.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the help given on this web site and will highly recommend it in the future.
Thanks Again
...M...