Automatic transmission diesel???
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 901
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From: North-Eastern, Ohio
Automatic transmission diesel???
Hey,
I was looking at a diesel today and it has everything I wanted except it has an automatic transmission, which I could live with. I was wondering how reliable these trannies are. My brother told me that they weren't any good (but I dont trust him). If these engines are any good, I'll get it. Its a '90 F-350 4x4 and it has about 160k miles on it. The truck's gonna cost me about 3500 bucks.
Thanks in advance.
I was looking at a diesel today and it has everything I wanted except it has an automatic transmission, which I could live with. I was wondering how reliable these trannies are. My brother told me that they weren't any good (but I dont trust him). If these engines are any good, I'll get it. Its a '90 F-350 4x4 and it has about 160k miles on it. The truck's gonna cost me about 3500 bucks.
Thanks in advance.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Which automatic transmission was it?
C6 is rather durable, most definitly the stronger of the automatics, but it does not have overdrive. Rebuilds are rather cheap.
A4OD does have overdrive, but is not the strongest transmission. Rebuilds are expensive.
Bottom line, heavy towing and the A4OD do not go together well.
The C6 will be much stronger, but without overdrive the fuel mileage will not be the greatest.
The A4OD will get much better mileage, but the first rebuild will consume every penny you saved in fuel.
C6 is rather durable, most definitly the stronger of the automatics, but it does not have overdrive. Rebuilds are rather cheap.
A4OD does have overdrive, but is not the strongest transmission. Rebuilds are expensive.
Bottom line, heavy towing and the A4OD do not go together well.
The C6 will be much stronger, but without overdrive the fuel mileage will not be the greatest.
The A4OD will get much better mileage, but the first rebuild will consume every penny you saved in fuel.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Powell River B.C.
Mine is 93 f-350 4x4 with the E4OD, with 242000 km (150K miles) was used before I got it a year and half ago to tow a small fifth wheel. It has a tow package (extra tranny cooler) which seems to have helped the life of my truck. No transmission problems so far- touch wood. PS I replaced the tranny fluid and filter when I got it, and am planning to change at recommended intervals. Nothing like maintenance to keep things running! Unless your planning on pulling heavy loads or stumps I'd go for it even with the E4OD. I'm happy with mine!
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: wisconsin
I just had my E4OD rebuilt a month ago. Conclussion on the project. Electrical problems will wreck the trans in the long run. I bought the truck with 150,000. So, I figured the trans was never touched and needed a rebuild any how. It was a contractors truck. The was alot of hard parts that needed to be replaced alos when the job was done. But, I still have a gremlin in the electrical somewhere. I have alwasy thought of ford having wiring problems due to corrosion for years. I am thinking this is whats up with this one too. As of yesterday I pulled the PCM and checked the harnness from the TPS to the PCM. Only thing I found was a little green corrosion one connector. I keep getting a TPS code that makes the OD light blink. SO, I am now hard wired a volt meter to measure the TPS settings to see if they are changeing or it just a bad connection.
TO answer your question, I would buy another E4OD. Have you priced a rebuild on a 5 speed manual and replacing the clutch. Or changing one from the dual mass to a standard flywheel. Once a 5 speed has troblems going into reverse it time for a different trans. The case is strecthed beyond fixing. 2 good shop guys both have told me the same story on the 5 speeds.
Bob
TO answer your question, I would buy another E4OD. Have you priced a rebuild on a 5 speed manual and replacing the clutch. Or changing one from the dual mass to a standard flywheel. Once a 5 speed has troblems going into reverse it time for a different trans. The case is strecthed beyond fixing. 2 good shop guys both have told me the same story on the 5 speeds.
Bob
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,638
Likes: 1
From: Manitoba
Any pre 94 truck with E40D has built in problems due to poor design, if the trans was rebuilt to 94+ specs there should be little to no concerns. Electrical connections are a first check item as any water, corrosion on the pins, bent or missing ones will cause definite problems. There are trans rebuilders who do super jobs, Brians truck shop, Ford rebuilts, etc. your local harvey handyman may rebuilt it but NOT update it. Without all the internal updates the trans is a bomb waiting to go off again.......
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: wisconsin
Yes mine was updated when rebuilt. I was suprised as to the fact the trans man said the new fords used a trans based on the e4od design. I am not worried about the rebuild I had done. Its just the bad connection on them. I am hoping now I go ti solved. There is just a couple of other little things I will need to do to it yet and I think I will have it wiped.
Bob
Bob
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
Mated to the diesel the C6 is absolute heaven. I would take it anytime over a manual. If it is a C6 and feels good I would go for it.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
Be prepared to spend another $3,000 for an E4OD rebuild/upgrade if the tranny has not be upgraded already.
Take the truck for drive to make sure the tranny is working and shifts thru all gears. Use the manual lever and OD button to check for all gears. Make sure the torque converter lock is holding. It locks at about 35-38 mph. (Unlocks at about 30 mph) Once it is locked, floor it, if you RPM suddenly jumps 200 rpm and you hear a grinding noise your Torque Converter is toast.
Factory converters were not very good quality.
If the torque converter is toast, check the tranny pan for metal. A small amount of fine metal on the magnet in the tranny pan is ok. Significant metal probably will mean a total tranny rebuilt.
Be prepared to lay out a few $100 for new sensors, most of the factory sensors were not very good quality.
Take the truck for drive to make sure the tranny is working and shifts thru all gears. Use the manual lever and OD button to check for all gears. Make sure the torque converter lock is holding. It locks at about 35-38 mph. (Unlocks at about 30 mph) Once it is locked, floor it, if you RPM suddenly jumps 200 rpm and you hear a grinding noise your Torque Converter is toast.
Factory converters were not very good quality.
If the torque converter is toast, check the tranny pan for metal. A small amount of fine metal on the magnet in the tranny pan is ok. Significant metal probably will mean a total tranny rebuilt.
Be prepared to lay out a few $100 for new sensors, most of the factory sensors were not very good quality.