The E4OD in my 92 F250 4wd has been shifting harshly for the past few months. It was hitting 2nd gear particularly hard. After reading posts here I decided it was in "performance mode" and decided not to worry about it too much. I just drive it really easily and hoped for the best.

This morning I shifted into reverse to back up a very slight grade (2%) and it shuddered a bit and then I completely lost reverse. It still has 1st gear but will not upshift. It gets up to about 15-20 mph and just freewheels. I was able to make a U turn and make it home.

What do you guys think? am I looking at complete transmission failure or could it be something that can be fixed. The last time the transmission went out I lost all the forward gears but I still had reverse.

 

I am NOT a tranny expert but from your description, what you called "Performance Mode" was probably in actuality the tranny's attempt to boost pump pressure to minimize slip that was detected in your tranny. I think it is called "Limp Home Mode" or something like that, not "performance".

The pre 95 E4ODs had some weak spots, one of which was the torque converter. The TC clutch would start to slip which created heat which caused seals to become brittle and start to shed particles. The tranny would attempt to boost pump pressure to minimize the slip. But eventually if you go long enough, there is enough garbage in the ATF to cause breakdown. Note that my 94 E4OD did this and DID NOT flash the OD light telling me I had a problem.

You probably should have dropped the pan and inspected the fluid for color smell and particles. Maybe an ATF change would have fixed it. But now in my sad expereince(1 tranny) it sounds like your tranny was crying wolf and has now been gobbled up. Might be rebuild time. I have heard prices from the low $1,000 to well over $3,000. All depends on how many of the hard parts(gears etc) are gone and how "bullet proof" you want it.

Hope I am wrong and all you need is a sensor adjustment, but not betting on it.

UH, what do you mean the "last time the tranny wentout"? Are you talking the same tranny? Supposedly the E4OD was good for 50K to 100K before you had this problem. A good solid rebuild should be good for 100K plus. So either you have a lot of miles, or a bad rebuild or you are talking two different trannies.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Yeah this is the second time around for this tranny. I had it profesionally rebuilt at 120k and now I have 260k on it. Fluid is clean. Cost $2070 to rebuild last time. Not good enough performance for me. No more Fords. Good running 460, good 4x4 parts but the windshield leaks. I'm afraid it is headed for the crusher. Thanks for the answer.

 

If you put 140,000 miles on the rebuild, that is not bad. Your tranny is probably just tired and ready for another rebuild or replacement. If it was me and if I liked the truck otherwise, I would go for a rebuild and keep it another 100K+, sure beats truck payments on a $30K rig.

My rebuild cost something like $2500 back around 1998 so your rebuild wasn't bad.

Part of the reason my tranny failed was I didn't watch the level(it got too low) while towing and I did not change fluid after buying it used with 36K miles on it. I think the manual recommends 50K for normal driving and 12K for towing. When I noticed my torque shudder problem, the fluid was low and pink to pinkish brown and had a total of about 50K with about 5 K of towing, shame on me, I know better but was lazy.

Your tranny didn't do too bad. I would say the rebuild lasted a little more than average. Some people who are incredibly lucky will get 300K, some who are stupid(me) or unlucky will get less than 50K. Most people will get around 100K plus or minus depending on how they drive etc. This has been my experience with most trannies in general(once again not an expert) whether they be chebby, ford, japanese, german whatever. 100K is a pretty safe number more or less for normal use.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

I guess the concensus is 140,000 mi out of a E4OD is not bad but it is not good enough
for me. I drive commercially and also commute 200 miles between ranches weekly and put a lot of miles on a truck. I have decided to look for a parts truck donor and change
it over to 5 speed manual. These trucks are getting to be 15 years old, I should be able to buy a parts truck and do the whole job for the money it would cost to rebuild the E4OD. I am not afraid to run the engine for another couple of hundred K, it runs good and gets 16.3 mpg on summer gas. These dang automatics can just fail and leave you stranded....I want to be able to pull a stock trailer 200 miles once in a while.
Thanks for your comments Jim.