Hey guys. I’m not on here much. Usually in the 7.3 forum. Went to back out my ‘17 today and when I put it in drive it clunked and wouldn’t hardly move forward. Pulled back in to check u joints and didn’t find anything. Pulled my dipstick and it was just below the full mark but was brown and smells a little burned

i I don’t drive this truck a lot as I drive over the road and have an ‘02 dually for towing.

Also the battery’s were dead a couple weeks ago so I replaced them as they were pretty old. This week when I got home it was dead again. Would these two problems be related?

 

How many miles on the truck and what do you use it for? Sounds like a couple simple drain and fills with a filter change may not do it for you... pull the stick again... any glitter on it? Ever do a 8 quart drain and fill?

 

Around 120k on it. I’ve had it almost 3 years. Had 99k when I bought it.

I just drive it on the weekends. I’m gone all week for work so it doesn’t get a lot of miles unless going on a trip. I don’t tow with it.

I didn’t notice and metal on the dipstick. And have never done a 8 quart drain and fill. I’m gone till next weekend to check the dipstick again.

 

I wonder what it did before you bought it... the Mercon LV fluid does turn dark red when it's been in awhile but the part I don't like is that it seems to have gone to brown and smells burnt which may indicate a trans issue... I'm no expert but that may just indicate the fluid is past it's useful life. The cheapest thing you could do at this this point is buy a couple cases of Motorcraft Mercon LV and a Motorcraft trans filter...

Here's a link to the fluid and filter...

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...34560&pt=11387
It's cheaper to buy it in 5 quart jugs.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...434560&pt=8600

https://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/...z-7a098-b.html

If it was my truck, before I took it somewhere, because they would probably see if it's shot by doing this first, but I would do a dump and drain... you should get about 8 quarts out but if it's low, maybe not that much. But a refill will take about 8 qts. Then fill it back up, start it, shift through the gears in park, let it get hot. Do a second dump and drain, then drop the pan, do a filter change, fill back up with 8 quarts. Start it, shift through the gears again and then see if that helps... that would a cheap option to see where you're at. Cheaper if you do it... do those factory 17 trans pans have drain plugs? I thought I remember hearing they don't... which will make the job a bigger PITA.

And have you checked for any leaks at all as it's low? The trans lines at the steel factory connector on the passenger side has been known to corrode and leak. With me being in the rust belt, I load that area with Green Grease and Fluid Film on top...

 

it’s only half a quart low. I’m going to try the drain like you suggested. Not leaking anywhere

had the batteries on a charger all week. Got home and just checked the parasitic draw. About 38ma. Unplugged the transmission electric connection and it’s still the same. Everything I find says 50-80 is normal. So I load tested both batteries and they were bad.

Replaced both batteries and it seems to shift just fine. Going to take it for a longer test drive and pick up some fluid and filter

 

Good luck with this... let us know how you make out with it.