Auto Transmission Problems?
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 27
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Auto Transmission Problems?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Feb-02 AT 09:13 AM (EST)]I'm looking for an F-250/350 4X4, 94 to 97. I've heard that there are problems with auto transmissions? Do I need to look for a manual? I will be driving about 80 miles a day everyday.
Any other major problems to look for?
Any other major problems to look for?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 258
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From: Allegan Michigan
Auto Transmission Problems?
I drove a 95 F250 PSD for about three years (company truck) It had about 100K on it when I got it in 1998. I put about 120K on it when I was driving it over the next three years. In that time I never hade the trans serviced. The only thing that I ever had happen was when I was driving in cold weather once in a while the OD light on the shift lever would start blinking on and off. At that point I would simply shut the engine off and restart it to reset the computer and every thing would be fine after that. I am thinking that is had something to do with the trans filter or pressure that caused the light to flash. The truck also shifted like it had a shift kit in it when this happened. (Slammed into the next gear every time it up shifted) Other than that I never had any problems with the trans in that truck. I also carried well over 1000 pounds of gear in the back of the truck and towed equipment that weighed upwards of 10,000 pounds for over 500 miles at a time. I never heard of problems with the trans in those trucks other than the ones that people abused.
My thaught is GO FIR IT.
cyberbyrd
My thaught is GO FIR IT.
cyberbyrd
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 14
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From: US of A
Auto Transmission Problems?
My '97 doesn't work for a living & only has 60K on the odometer but I've never had any problems. My father-in-law said that 2 of his company trucks had something go bad in their trannies & one completely locked up while driving! :-X23 Who knows how the employees treat those trucks though? I baby mine quite a bit.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47
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From: Cloverdale USA
Auto Transmission Problems?
Hey,
I run a fleet of six ambulances all with PSD's and E4OD trannys in them. We have four 97's, 1 2001 and 1 2002. The 97's all have over 100,000 miles on them. These ambulances are always at or over gross weight. We have only had one trans fail and two other minor electronic problems. Thats a lot of miles under very severe driving conditions (cold trans at start up run very hard). When Ford first came out with this combo the transmissions were very unreliable but as the years have passed they have worked out the kinks and are doing rather well I think.
I run a fleet of six ambulances all with PSD's and E4OD trannys in them. We have four 97's, 1 2001 and 1 2002. The 97's all have over 100,000 miles on them. These ambulances are always at or over gross weight. We have only had one trans fail and two other minor electronic problems. Thats a lot of miles under very severe driving conditions (cold trans at start up run very hard). When Ford first came out with this combo the transmissions were very unreliable but as the years have passed they have worked out the kinks and are doing rather well I think.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 144
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Auto Transmission Problems?
Don't settle for a manual if you really want an auto. If you find a rig you want with an auto, take it to a tranny BUILDER (not just a swap shop), have it scanned, serviced (pan off), and road tested. This may cost you $80, but save you plenty. A good tranny builder can tell if it's been upgraded when he drops the pan. Within the years you mentioned, you're likely to end up with an E4OD, which were lousy out of the factory, but most have been rebuilt at least once, and they can be made durable and reliable when rebuilt.
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: BATTLE CREEK USA
Auto Transmission Problems?
Hey cyberbryd, i have a 97 PSD AND WHEN I FIRST GOT IT I WAS DRIVING BACK AND FOR TO DEARBORN EVERYDAY, ABOUT 225 MILES ROUND TRIP. ON A FRIDAY I LEFT BATTLE CREEK AND NOTICED MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, CHECKED THE MANUAL AND IT SAID SEE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. COULDN'T GET THERE TO MONDAY, IN THAT TIME THE PLANETARY GEARS ATE THEMSELVES TO NOTHING, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT KEPT MOVING TILL MONDAY, MONDAY EVENING I SAW WAHT WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. THAT IS THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE EVER HAD WITH THE TRANNY, UNTIL NOW. ABOUT A WEEK AGO IT WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO DRIVE, I TOOK THE HYPERTECH PROGRAM OUT OF THE TRANNY ONLY AND IT CLEANED UP. FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH SPEED SENSORS THAT TELL COMPUTER WHEN TO SHIFT, GOING TO PUT HYPERTECH PROGRAM BACK IN, MUCH FIRMER WITH IT.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 144
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Auto Transmission Problems?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Mar-02 AT 12:30 PM (EST)]The factory planetaries on an E4OD were aluminum to save weight; when they shredded they clogged the valve block and took out everything else with them. It's one of several reasons the E4OD got a bad reputation. Aftermarket planetaries are hardened steel, and it's one of the most important upgrades to insist on at rebuild time. The other is a ruggedized torque converter. A reputable tranny builder can make that unit last 200,000 miles.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,731
Likes: 2,658
From: SE Florida
Auto Transmission Problems?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Mar-02 AT 01:26 PM (EST)]>The factory planetaries on an E4OD were aluminum to save
>weight;
To be completely correct the planetary carriers were aluminum. The gears were always hardened steel. Aluminum gears would have a life measured in inches, not miles.
The carriers are the parts that hold the planet gears in their location.
Mark
>weight;
To be completely correct the planetary carriers were aluminum. The gears were always hardened steel. Aluminum gears would have a life measured in inches, not miles.
The carriers are the parts that hold the planet gears in their location.
Mark
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Auto Transmission Problems?
hey guys, how about a little help here!! thanks. i have posted some in the transmissions and diff forum with limited success. i am the sad owner of an 89 f350 with (turbo) diesel. this truck is on it's 4th e4od since new. this latest one has only 5k miles on it and the shop that installed it says the planets are coming out. the remanufacturer is out of business so there is no warranty. now i am left to fend for myself and am seeking any help possible. here in the central north carolina area i have found NO shops that would touch rebuilding it. i am considering tearing into it myself but am having trouble finding the best manual and place to get these bulletproof parts. if any of you guys have any ideas or can pass along any suppliers i would be forever thankful!
thanks again,
scott
btw, i do not abuse anything i drive. i tow a lot but do keep things serviced and definately don't jerk it around or anything like that. i would love to find a rebuilder in this area!!!
thanks again,
scott
btw, i do not abuse anything i drive. i tow a lot but do keep things serviced and definately don't jerk it around or anything like that. i would love to find a rebuilder in this area!!!
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Hillsboro
Auto Transmission Problems?
I had a 97 PSD with an E4OD in it. Worst Tranny I've ever experienced. Shifted really hard between 1st and 2nd and flaired from OD and 3rd. Convertor came apart @ 59K miles. Had a Reman. put in. Lasted 1 year til I had enough of the bad shifting. Had it replaced again and still sucked. Traded in for 2001 Superduty. Fixed all my problems. Bottom line, E4OD was not designed to handle the PSD torque period!!
My 2 cents worth.
My 2 cents worth.
