I bought an 89 F250 4x4 with a 460 and a C6. The truck is in very good condition but I ran into a problem with it.
I was driving the truck and all of a sudden it felt like the tranny went bad. The engine was still running and would rev but it would not move in any gear (all u-joints were verified good). My immediate thought was the tranny was junk. So, I get it towed to my house and now it will not start. The starter spins and it even seems like it is spinning something but it doesn't turn the engine over (not seized as you can turn it by hand). Could the flywheel have broken or something? Has anyone ever heard or seen something like this?
Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated!!!
-Dave
BTW, for those that care the seller of the truck gave me back a lot of my money now that the truck needs to be repaired so I got a good deal.

 

Sounds like the bendix solenoid on the starter is not engaging. That's what pushes the starter gear out to engage the flywheel teeth. Either the solenoid has failed (probable) or the shaft has become cruddy enough to cause the gear not to extend fully (possible, but not likely unless the flywheel cover has been removed for some time).

As far as the tranny goes, did you check your tranny fluid level? If the level is okay, has the tranny been serviced? If not, you might want to drop the pan and do so. Aside from low fluid level, one of the most common causes of tranny problems is a clogged filter screen. Luckily it's only a few bucks and a couple of minutes to replace. If that doesn't work, well....

Brad

 

Did you check out the transfer case? If it goes, even with a good tranny, you will not move. 89 had the chain driven borg warner t-case. I had a buddy with an 89 had the same problem, his transfer case burnt up from lack of fluid, they have a plastic pickup tube and small pump in them that had melted and burned it up. As for starting, you might have a bad spot on the flexplate, and it is not letting the starter engage. Try turning the engine over with a breaker bar from the crank bolt, then try to start it, you may have to try it a couple of times if the teeth are messed up. Or, maybe the ring broke loose from the flexplate that has the teeth on it, and is just spinning in there. Hope some of this helps......Aaron

 

The starter is brand new. The previous owner put it in about a month ago so hopefully it is OK.

I'll try rotating the engine by hand to see if it might be a bad spot on the flywheel/flexplate. The only thing that seems wierd is that it sounds like the starter is engaging something. If the ring broke loose from the flexplate, wouldn't it bind up against something? Furthermore, why would that cause the truck to become immobile?

 

As for the truck not moving, I would do like the other post sugested. Check the fluid in the transmission and the transfer case, the transfer case uses automatic tranns fluid like the tranny. Unless maybe the transfer case got shifted into neutral by mistake, if that happened the truck will not move. Check the linkage for it. The shifter should go all the way forward for 2wd, and all the way back for 4Hi Another thing to check is that the torque converter is bolted in good, you can pull off the access cover on the front of the tranny to check it, and inspect the teeth on the flywheel while it is off.

 

Hi, PowerbyFord--

Here is what you said in your post:

and

What you are describing sounds like the flywheel/flexplate broke away from the crankshaft; I've seen this happen on several vehicles, and they were displaying unusual sounds prior to that happening.

There is a post by scoutpup99 from a few days ago where he posted sounds that he thought were from a rod knock, but they are the sounds of when a flywheel or flexplate is cracked, and getting ready to do what yours just did. Your truck probably made these sounds for awhile before it finally broke.

That thread is here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=291262

The answer To these two questions, unfortunately, is "Yes" and "Yes".


Looks like it's time to replace that flywheel/flexplate!

 

I think I have confirmed the broken flexplate theory. I removed the inspection plate yesterday and had my dad crank it over. Sure enough it spins there but the rest of the motor does not. Time to pull the tranny!!!

 

.....Im experiencing a similiar problem with the tranny......only seems to happen when the temp drops.....never repeatable (I cant cause it to happen), happens sporadically maybe 3 or 4 times a year, and only lasts for a few seconds (maybe 10).....then it engages and drives fine...... only started AFTER a tranny service......tranny shop seems to think that the dip stick is lying....but....its the same dip stick as before any of this started happening...
79 f250 460 c6.