Torqueshift tranny Problems??
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
I was at the dealers a couple weeks ago and saw a superduty with the Torqushift on the bench all torn down. I was talking to the diesel tech and he said the owner brought it in with tranny problems. The tech said they found scale receipts showing this guy was towing 28,000 lb load for quite some time. The tech went on to say that when towing loads like that, when you get done towing the heavy load, if you are going to drive any distance unladen, disconnect the batteries and go through the "relearn" process because the trans will continue to shift like it is heavily loaded. Also 28,000 lbs is a little over towing capacity. 
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I took the truck in after the second incident in which the tow haul light came on
while driving down hill, at the time the truck had about 800 miles on it. The reason I took it in then was because when it first happened I checked in the owners manual
for instructions about the tow haul feature. There they instruct you as to how to
use the feature and at the end of the section there was a message that said that if
the tow haul light starts flashing you should bring it in to your dealer as serious
problems may occur. At the time I took the truck in the two problems that I had
with the truck was the tow haul engaging by itself going down long hills and the truck surging at 55-60 mph. As for the problem with the trans the tech that I had taken
out for the drive had mentioned that the clucth was the problem and that it was either releasing or engaging improperly. Once the tow haul light starts flashing the
tow haul feature was on and the only way to turn it off was stop and shut down the truck and restart.
while driving down hill, at the time the truck had about 800 miles on it. The reason I took it in then was because when it first happened I checked in the owners manual
for instructions about the tow haul feature. There they instruct you as to how to
use the feature and at the end of the section there was a message that said that if
the tow haul light starts flashing you should bring it in to your dealer as serious
problems may occur. At the time I took the truck in the two problems that I had
with the truck was the tow haul engaging by itself going down long hills and the truck surging at 55-60 mph. As for the problem with the trans the tech that I had taken
out for the drive had mentioned that the clucth was the problem and that it was either releasing or engaging improperly. Once the tow haul light starts flashing the
tow haul feature was on and the only way to turn it off was stop and shut down the truck and restart.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: NW Montana
Originally Posted by SBV45
The tech said they found scale receipts showing this guy was towing 28,000 lb load for quite some time.
As for being critical, I do love my truck but after being told many times that defects were "normal" by Detroit I have a healthy skeptasism for anything that comes out of their mouth. That is why I come here!!!!!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Sorry to report this guys but the Transmission isnt all that it is cracked up to be. Things like bigger wheels, heavy towing and chips will take thier toll on these 5R110 transmissions. I visit many sites and have read many posts with transmission failures. I have even spoken to some reputable transmission guys that say the same thing. PSD60fx4 is on his second transmission. I beleive mine is starting to slip also.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 31
From: Nevada
I went to my local dealer the other day and the parts guy made an interesting comment to me. He said "So how do you like that diesel", I responded Its the bomb, I love it. He says "hows that transmission" sarcasticly, I said Its a manual 6 speed and I love it. 
The parts guy then says "Oh, from what Ive seen around here (the shop) those torque shift transmissions are junk"
I then stated "I will never own an automatic transmission so I guess it doesnt matter to me"
I then finished my business and left. I found this interesting though, Im wondering just how many PSD's are being worked on for trani problems. Thnank God for the Six Speed........
But this of coarse could also just be a case of "I cant afford a PSD so Im going to talk trash about them SYNDROME" which I have run across numerous times since purchasing mine.........
The parts guy then says "Oh, from what Ive seen around here (the shop) those torque shift transmissions are junk"
I then stated "I will never own an automatic transmission so I guess it doesnt matter to me"
I then finished my business and left. I found this interesting though, Im wondering just how many PSD's are being worked on for trani problems. Thnank God for the Six Speed........
But this of coarse could also just be a case of "I cant afford a PSD so Im going to talk trash about them SYNDROME" which I have run across numerous times since purchasing mine.........
Last edited by jakeharp; Nov 12, 2004 at 12:02 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 19,098
Likes: 8
From: Great State of Texas
The parts guy then says "Oh, from what Ive seen around here (the shop) those torque shift transmissions are junk"
If he worked for me I would have fired him on the spot.
With that said, that attitude is probably part of the culture at his shop and the Service Management should be replaced, too.
Just my opinion of course.
If he worked for me I would have fired him on the spot.
With that said, that attitude is probably part of the culture at his shop and the Service Management should be replaced, too.
Just my opinion of course.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: CA
Geeeez.. hate to admite this, but, my 05 was absolutely quite throughout all the shifts, and had ZERO rollaway 2-3 MPH 'pop/clunk'.. I drove this truck, cold, hot and everything in between, and at 'all' throttle positions BEFORE the purchase cause I did want OR like the noises/jerks the 03 made.. Not the only reason for the tradeoff, but a good one.. Every morning, and warmup, I'd listen HARD, and feel for the conditions...NONE at all.. The odometer clicked off 200 miles of sweet shifts and then I noticed a 'clunk' between the 2-3 upshift.. Not as bad as the 03, but a clunk just as well.. If I let if shift a couple of times a very light throttle its barely noticeable.. So, what changed in the box..Nothing.. So this trans developed this clunk in the first couple hundred miles.. So is it a hardware condition, or, a software condition/adaptive learning.. OR a combination of both as the trans learns the shift strategies..
Now at every rollaway I'm expecting to hear the 'pop' but so far has none..
..................HP...............
Now at every rollaway I'm expecting to hear the 'pop' but so far has none..
..................HP...............
Last edited by Hayapower!; Nov 12, 2004 at 02:30 PM.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: NW Montana
I now have 2300 miles on my '05 and although the other problems still exist I am happy to say the tranny works fine. I am impressed, a heck of an upgrade from my '02. What used to be loooong drawn out shifts from 3rd to 4th and slop into overdrive are now quick tight shifts all the way through. Even when I drive normal (which is fairly easy on the pedal to save fuel) it shifts crisp. The only thing I have not done is tow with it.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Fox Island Washington
Originally Posted by Hayapower!
Geeeez.. hate to admite this, but, my 05 was absolutely quite throughout all the shifts, and had ZERO rollaway 2-3 MPH 'pop/clunk'.. I drove this truck, cold, hot and everything in between, and at 'all' throttle positions BEFORE the purchase cause I did want OR like the noises/jerks the 03 made.. Not the only reason for the tradeoff, but a good one.. Every morning, and warmup, I'd listen HARD, and feel for the conditions...NONE at all.. The odometer clicked off 200 miles of sweet shifts and then I noticed a 'clunk' between the 2-3 upshift.. Not as bad as the 03, but a clunk just as well.. If I let if shift a couple of times a very light throttle its barely noticeable.. So, what changed in the box..Nothing.. So this trans developed this clunk in the first couple hundred miles.. So is it a hardware condition, or, a software condition/adaptive learning.. OR a combination of both as the trans learns the shift strategies..
Now at every rollaway I'm expecting to hear the 'pop' but so far has none..
..................HP...............
Now at every rollaway I'm expecting to hear the 'pop' but so far has none..
..................HP...............
I also read that a MAJOR retooling for the Superduty is scheduled for the 07 model year. Maybe it is worth waiting for.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: TEXAS
If the price increases with the last 2 "improvements" are any suggestion of what is to come with every "improvement" of the super duty, then I'll keep mine and make the necessary changes myself. The cost of these things really jumps when Ford needs to pay for all that engineering, at least what I have seen since the advent of each new generation. I would have bought another 150 last time, but they were as much as I paid for my 250 after I priced all of the extra's in 2004, all for new engineering and a new look. I am glad now, though; I love the '04 250 even with the little hiccups my 6.0L has had.
New User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I have 03 Ford F250 6.0, I just bought the truck a couple months ago, when i got everything was working good, then my oldest son hooked a bullydog up telling me i would get better fuel mileage and performance, every thing was fine for a day then the next day it started shifting hard into 3rd gear, I completely removed the bullydog now it wont shift right into 3rd unless after it shifts to 2nd i then stay on the gas until about 30mph, then lift and shifts without jumping if i miss it then 4th and 5th will shift hard, sometimes i have to stop and shut off and restart and then it's fine, then other times it shifts on it's own with no problem, I have changed tranny fluid and filter and one shop says there were no codes on the tranny, anyone?
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 1
From: Green Lane, Pa.
I have 03 Ford F250 6.0, I just bought the truck a couple months ago, when i got everything was working good, then my oldest son hooked a bullydog up telling me i would get better fuel mileage and performance, every thing was fine for a day then the next day it started shifting hard into 3rd gear, I completely removed the bullydog now it wont shift right into 3rd unless after it shifts to 2nd i then stay on the gas until about 30mph, then lift and shifts without jumping if i miss it then 4th and 5th will shift hard, sometimes i have to stop and shut off and restart and then it's fine, then other times it shifts on it's own with no problem, I have changed tranny fluid and filter and one shop says there were no codes on the tranny, anyone?
You might want to try disconnecting both batteries for about 15 minutes then reconnecting. The trans will go into a relearn.