My '04 F250 with build date of 10/03 is giving me problems shifting from D/R. Sometimes it doesn't engage at all other times it takes a few seconds.
Could it be going out or is there something that maybe needs to be adjusted? This problem started after I got my truck back from the dealer for a 3rd rear main seal replacement. Yes my tranny has been removed 3 times. Your opinion please.

 

Sounds like a solenoid is sticking. When they did my tranny fix they replaced three of the four solenoids.

 

boardslider, is it 'slamming' into gear when it does actually engage? Is there any shudder when shifting?

My uneducated (but experienced) guess is that you have at least 1 of the 2 problems, but probably both. Our '04 was in 3X for delayed\slamming into reverse before they fixed the planetary pins. There was still an occasional slow shift after they fixed that. Then the snap ring let go and cracked the case.

I would push very, very, very hard for both repairs to be done or it will probably be out of warranty by the time one or the other lets go.

I truly believe that Ford is trying to hide that these are major problems with the Torqshift and hoping that the '04's are out of warranty before they have major problems with them. JMO

Odge, we had numerous solenoids replaced the first 3X, never fixed the problem. The problem was ONLY fixed when the planetary pins were replaced and the snap ring was replaced.

 

I truly believe that Ford is trying to hide that these are major problems with the Torqshift and hoping that the '04's are out of warranty before they have major problems with them. JMO

Curious as to why would believe that they are hiding these issues when Ford has released broadcast messages to dealers and have send "get it fixed" letters to owners?

Mark Oomkes...Ford Corporate has been very proactive about these issues. I see no clandestine movements here.

we had numerous solenoids replaced the first 3X, never fixed the problem. The problem was ONLY fixed when the planetary pins were replaced and the snap ring was replaced.

Now, if your dealer couldn't, wouldn't, and didn't diagnose the problem properly then that is a different issue all together.

 

kw, if they are very proactive why doesn't our '04 fall under the recalls, yet it had both of the problems that the recalls cover?

Maybe the dealer couldn't\wouldn't diagnose it correctly because the hotline didn't show it falling within the 'magic' dates. They told me they would warranty it this time, but maybe not next time. This while our '05 is waiting for new planetary pins and at least a half dozen others are sitting in their lot waiting for snap ring replacement or planetary pin replacement.

Maybe because when our '04 went in for the fourth time they told us the 'hotline' told them we were abusing our truck and that is why the snap ring worked loose and cracked the case. They told us that we were shifting without coming to a complete stop, despite the fact that the tech told me there is a built in electronic delay to prevent shifting when there is movement sensed on the output shaft.

I'm sure you can get the feeling that I am just a little upset about the way Ford sold me\us junk transmissions. I base this on the fact that my company owns 7 Ford trucks which I use to provide a service to my customers. I guarantee them that I will provide a safe environment in the winter for their employees and customers to do business. I don't know if you understand how snow and ice management works, but we have a very limited amount of time to perform our work when the snow flies. It is very similar to the fire service. So am I basing my company's and my personal reputation on the the line when I purchase vehicles to perform the work my customers contracted me to do. When I have 2 new vehicles that I have paid for ($40K each), the last thing I expect or need is to have these trucks breaking down when I need them the most. (To be fair, my personal '00 F350 had 77K on it when the tranny went out, which is acceptable to me, that is a reasonable life span for me.) When our '05 won't stay in 4WD right out of the dealership (I know different subject, but it applies), when at 500 miles it takes 5-10 seconds to shift into reverse and we have to wait a week for the parts to come into fix it in JANUARY. And then we have had our '04 in 3X for bad shifting into reverse (this is before the recall\huge problem that started last November when the snow started falling) and it still isn't fixed, and then this truck is down for almost 2 full weeks in JANUARY, yes I do get a little upset with Ford and the way they have handled the whole situation. That's almost 3 weeks of downtime on 2 trucks with less than 16,000 miles between the 2 of them. Do you know how much that downtime cost me? Would Ford like to pay me for that downtime? What do you think?

I knew about these problems long, long before I heard anything officially from Ford. Proactive? That's bull, I didn't get the snap ring letter until sometime in March. Never did hear anything about the planetary pins. Never heard anything from Ford on our '04, but I am sure that is because it doesn't have the right date on it. If proactive means I get a Ford Focus to plow snow with or to pull my 35' gooseneck with, then your definition is different than mine.

I know I am looking at it quite a bit different than most of the guys on these boards, because my livelihood, my family's livelihood and the livelihood of my employees depend on the equipment I buy to perform the work that I promise to my customers. I am not using these trucks to go on vacation with or just to drive back and forth to work with. I do not spend money on programmers, exhaust, intakes, etc, because I only want the truck to work. I'm pretty sure my customers don't want to pay me to see how fast my truck will do a 1/4 mile or blow away a Duramax or Cummins. I have to look at the facts and then make decisions that are best for my company, family, employees, employee's families, and customers. I have a lot riding on these trucks and not much faith in them or Ford.

End of rant. Hopefully this will help you understand my thoughts and beliefs about Ford right now.

 

Mark Oomkes...The purpose of my comments was not to incite a one man riot nor did I even offer an opposing view. Just some information as I understand it.

I don't think I ever mentioned anything about the issues having an economic impact on you either way and I know I did not challenge you on whether or not the issues where self induced.

The "hiding major problems and trying to avoid warranty costs" is all I was discussing here.

You wouldn't know it, of course, but I have mentioned in another thread the bad position you snow pushers are in with regard to these transmissions. They need to hold up...even if engaging (forward to reverse and back) prior to full stop. Can't make a living pushing snow if you have to come to a complete stop each and every time you need to change direction.

Your comments about modifications could be taken a lot of different ways. I'll take it that your intent was not to slam those that do mods.

No reason to take issue with me with what, on the surface, appears to be smart alec, sarcastic comments. (Which BTW, as most here know, I am very good at myself.) You are understandably frustrated and upset so I'll just leave it at that.

Good luck. I sincerely hope that for the sake of your company, family, employees, employee's families, and customers that Ford and your Ford dealer gets things worked out for you.

 

Fcal-

I believe Ford replace the reverse planetary and "No other damage was noted."

BTW-
I had the service completed thanks to FTE before they sent me the recall notice.

I repeat that they sent me a notice, just not as soon as other owners.

The trucks runs great so far and I hope it does at 101K when that bumper-to-bumper goes bye-bye.

 

kw, I apologize if I took anything the wrong way. I know that it is hard to show the proper emotion through e-mail or forums. I appreciate that you understand that I did take it the wrong way. Please accept my apolgies.

I did not mean to slam anybody that does modify their truck, only trying to state the fact that all I am looking for is a reliable truck that will stand up to what the manufacturer is building it for. IMO, a 550 is a work truck, I don't see too many people using them for going back and forth to work or pull their travel trailers\5ers.

I am aware you did not address the issues I brought up, but I was trying to explain to you what I see from my side, Ford is not stepping up to the plate and addressing these issues and they are not being proactive IMO.

I still believe and will have to be shown some very strong evidence that Ford is not trying to hide the problem and not trying to reduce their warranty claims by not admitting that the Torqshift is a piece of junk, poorly designed and poorly built.

It's sort of ironic, though, that there is nothing like this kind of anger at GM or Dodge over their trucks. It is only with the 6.0\Torqshift combo. I have 2 7.3's and love both of them, they are fantastic trucks, engines and trannies. I would not be having my issues if they had stuck with it or put a fully tested engine and transmission in the new trucks. Ford has totally screwed up their customer relations with the 6.0 and all it's associated problems and now the transmission. You would think somebody would get it through their head or someplace else that they need to do a better job of testing before releasing new designs. Or leave the engine the way it is from Navistar, funny they aren't having problems with this engine and it has even more torque than the way Ford is selling it.

 

Ford has totally screwed up their customer relations

This...sadly...is something that they have been very proficient at these past few months. More, so it seems, since the introduction of the '05s.

 

"Or leave the engine the way it is from Navistar, funny they aren't having problems with this engine and it has even more torque than the way Ford is selling it...... "

I'd rather have the 1400 rpm peak torque speed too .... I've said all along that the 6.0 problems stem to it being juiced up too far ....

Funny thing , I mentioned the 6.0 at the International booth at the KY truck show and the Int Reps denied that the Ford 6.0 and there VT365 are the same family ...

 

I agree with some of what has been said about the Transmission problems and related parts of the 2003-2005 6.0 Diesels...
As you know I have posted some concerns and also related the response by my Dealer to various problems... all of which have been solved...

Having been in the Mainframe Computer field for many years, I can relate to the Ford problems with the Hardware and Software problems I had over the years...

These New Fords are Not the vehicles we used to have... They are over 90% Computer controlled...

Bringing a product to market is like stepping on an escalator... You can wait and give the Engineers and Testers and Quality Control people more time as the steps go by, but at some time you have to let the product out the door and into the market place and let your consumers become not only buyers but testers also...

In the Computer Field there is an additional step before actually going to market with your product... It is called BETA Testing... Select customers are allowed to get the product and use/test it... This eliminates a lot "bugs"
and heads off a lot of potential problems for future customers...

I don't know if Ford has anything like this but I think it would inprove their
vehicles...

I am sure that you spent considerable time comparing the Ford and Dodge and Chevy Diesels before forking over all that money! I sure did...

I even looked up an old friend who is retiring as a Ford Master Mechanic
down in Alabama... and I ask him about the Truck before buying it... His words were, "Make sure you buy it from a Dealer that cares about Service and what ever problem you have will get fixed in good time"... He has worked on Fords for over 40 years... and all he drives are Fords...

He helped me select a local Dealer and even though I have had problems,
they have worked through them all with the help of the Support Staff at Ford... I am sure I picked the Right Truck for me!

The Dodge has too many problems and the Chevy too many more... and if you think you have problems now... you should own one of them...
Before I bought my 2004 F-350 I went by a Big Dodge Dealer and while tralking to a Salesman, I ask him how many Cummings Diesel Mechanics he had? He said that they hadn't had one for about 4 Months but were going to try to get someone trained pretty soon! How would you like to take your problems there?

I have gone on too long but let me finish by saying something I learned a long time ago... "It's not how big a Company is or how many cars they sell each year, It's the man that opens up YOUR HOOD and WORKS on YOUR TRUCK that matters." I would suggest we all spend more time in the Service Department before we buy that next Truck...

Bo...

 

The sales staff sells the vehicle, it's your service dept that brings you back for the next sale

 

it's your service dept that brings you back for the next sale

Now if ALL would, could understand that...

 

If it makes anyone feel any better it seems there has been a MAJOR house cleaning at Ford Seems that a lot of zone reps have been "replaced" both in the field and in Detroit.
Maybe, just maybe they are getting the msg that customer service is broken and needs triage and emergency care now......

 

I just talked to Ford. I will be getting my truck back on Friday. I'll let you know how the tranny performs after the tear-down. I'm glad I spent the extra $$ for the 6 yr 75000mi bumper to bumper.