Noisy torque convertor?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Noisy torque convertor?
I posted this in transmissions, but thought I'd put it here also in case its PSD specific....
Alright people, thinking caps required... I have a '99 (4/98 build date) F350 4x4 with the diesel. 128k miles on the 4R100(?). It makes a rather obnoxious grinding/rattling sound at idle, and shifting up through the gears. As soon as the trans shifts into OD, it gets nice and quiet. When decelerating, as soon as the converter unlocks, the noise starts again. If I pull off the pavement into grass, it gets markedly quieter.
Can this be anything other than a noisy torque convertor? Should I get one now, for when it finally quits, or is this noisiness normal with this trans/engine combo?
I also understand there is a way to install a manual t/c lock switch on this trans. Anyone have a schematic or working drawing of that mod?
Thanks for any ideas!
Alright people, thinking caps required... I have a '99 (4/98 build date) F350 4x4 with the diesel. 128k miles on the 4R100(?). It makes a rather obnoxious grinding/rattling sound at idle, and shifting up through the gears. As soon as the trans shifts into OD, it gets nice and quiet. When decelerating, as soon as the converter unlocks, the noise starts again. If I pull off the pavement into grass, it gets markedly quieter.
Can this be anything other than a noisy torque convertor? Should I get one now, for when it finally quits, or is this noisiness normal with this trans/engine combo?
I also understand there is a way to install a manual t/c lock switch on this trans. Anyone have a schematic or working drawing of that mod?
Thanks for any ideas!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Idaho
Has the torque converter been replaced before? Mine was making the exact same type of noises. When mine went, Ford replaced it for me even though I was about two months outside my 5 year warranty. I have only 48K on my truck but Ford told me that they had a bad "batch" of torque converters in 99 (my build date is 10/98). They gave me a 12 month/12K mile warranty. The replacement was their "improved" t/c and it went out about 5K later (Ford paid for this replacement as well). I haven't had any issues with the 3rd one.......Probably worth a call to a Ford dealer. Hope this helps......
Last edited by Thumper4995; Jul 23, 2004 at 03:23 PM.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Well, the truck has 128k on it. I bought it used, but the dealership was great to work with. Maybe if I call the salesman, he can at least get the t/c for me at cost. I know I bought a used vehicle, and didn't expect it to be completely "issue-free"....
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Originally Posted by LUMBERMAN
I just bought a 99 psd with the exact same symptons. I made an appointment at the ford dealer with service bulletin at hand,Ill let you know what happens.
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From: Buckingham, IA
My son has a '99 F-350 PSD auto that has the same symptoms. He installed the switch and we couldn't believe the difference between locked and unlocked while standing still idling. We took it to the Ford dealer a couple weeks ago to have the transmission programs brought up to date. (There were 13 updates to download.) The transmission tech said that the early 99's had a 2 plate clutch in the torque converter compared to a single plate in the later ones. He didn't know of any pro's or con's for either the 2 or the 1 but he said that the single plate clutches were definitely quieter. He didn't know if there was any difference in life or strength. He didn't seem concerned about it going out, just that it was normally noisey. Just for information, the reprogramming definitely made a difference in how the tranny shifted and responded. Was worth the time.
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farmdad,
What were these updates? I also have an early 99 and would be interested to see if these would help mine.
Thanks
XLRS
What were these updates? I also have an early 99 and would be interested to see if these would help mine.
Thanks
XLRS
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Posting Guru
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From: Buckingham, IA
We weren't told what each of the updates would do, just that there had been some updates that would improve the performance of the tranny. The tranny tech determined what updates were available to download before he did any and recommended them all. I don't know if he knew how each one would affect the performance because we just told him to update them all. The tranny used to hunt for a gear when shifting between 3 and OD which was caused by the t/c unlocking and locking while shifting gears. Now it locks in 2nd and stays locked. These updates and a previously installed set of shift improving springs have defiinitely made a tighter shifting tranny. And for not a lot of money.
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Ditto all the above. I actually took my early 99 PSD to the local International garage and the mechanic said it was most probably my torque converter. I haven't changed it yet. My truck has 111k miles on it and my wife (who has the sensitive ears) says the noise is getting worse.
Will this noise ultimately lead to failure? If so, can it take out the entire transmission? In other words, should I change it before it goes out?
gmelton
Will this noise ultimately lead to failure? If so, can it take out the entire transmission? In other words, should I change it before it goes out?
gmelton
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From: 29 Palms, CA
Originally Posted by gmelton
Ditto all the above. I actually took my early 99 PSD to the local International garage and the mechanic said it was most probably my torque converter. I haven't changed it yet. My truck has 111k miles on it and my wife (who has the sensitive ears) says the noise is getting worse.
Will this noise ultimately lead to failure? If so, can it take out the entire transmission? In other words, should I change it before it goes out?
gmelton
Will this noise ultimately lead to failure? If so, can it take out the entire transmission? In other words, should I change it before it goes out?
gmelton
, dropping rps way low and straining the shift....unles I puddyfoot it and let it shift into 3rd before 30mph, than accelerate at 40 mph to lock the TC, it shifts into 4th around 50. Sound like a problem? Does to me, but I'm dealing with it while I don't have $1500 for a decent SunCoast setup. 
p.s. Tricumulator and Sonnax valve toughened up each shift nicely.
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Noisy Torque Converter
Originally Posted by Pikachu
I didn't know anything about a TSB on this. Do you happen to have the number of it? Thanks in advance for letting me know what the dealer says....
There were some posts about torque converters some time ago, and they referrenced a TSB. One owner or Ford tech described the sounds as "marbles in a coffee can". You'll have to read back in the posts for the topic, or go to the upper right corner of this page and choose "Recalls\TSB's" and find the TSB to take to the dealer to allow them to repair the problem. If reading through the posts, you won't have to go too far, I thing 2-3 weeks at most. I hope this helps.
Posting Guru
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From: IOWA
Originally Posted by 99PSDCREW
Same questions, same noise for 2 years now. TC locks while shifting into 3rd , dropping rps way low and straining the shift....unles I puddyfoot it and let it shift into 3rd before 30mph, than accelerate at 40 mph to lock the TC, it shifts into 4th around 50. Sound like a problem? Does to me, but I'm dealing with it while I don't have $1500 for a decent SunCoast setup.
p.s. Tricumulator and Sonnax valve toughened up each shift nicely.
, dropping rps way low and straining the shift....unles I puddyfoot it and let it shift into 3rd before 30mph, than accelerate at 40 mph to lock the TC, it shifts into 4th around 50. Sound like a problem? Does to me, but I'm dealing with it while I don't have $1500 for a decent SunCoast setup. p.s. Tricumulator and Sonnax valve toughened up each shift nicely.
My tranny was the same way, seemed to shift early and not at the appropriate time. As my old man mentioned earlier, I had the tranny program updated and also had to put in a new exhaust backpressure valve (located at the front of the block) and it works like a normal transmission now. The EBPV senses the amount of backpressure from the manifold and will vary the shifts depending on the amout of backpressure. My valve was bad and had to clean out the pipe that led to it, all carboned up. Go to your dealer and ask about the updates and see if there is a code for the EBPV, I didn't know it was out till the trans. mechanic scanned and found it.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
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PIKACHU,SORRY ABOUT THE SLOW REPONSE TIME,THE DEALER SAID IT IS THE TC I'M HAVING IT CHANGED NOW ,THE DEALER SAID 1100.00 ,SO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY CO DID NOT WANT TO PAY THAT MUCH, SO A LOCAL TRANNY SHOP IS DOING THE JOB for about 300.00 less. IF YOU LOOK AT FREEAUTOADVICE.COM AND LOOK FOR POWERSTROKE NOISE YOU WILL GET SOME INFO. GOOD LUCK.