Ive got a 1994 F-350 CC with a 460/E4OD and am having some tranny problems with it. The transmission is a recent rebuild, though miles and by who is unknown. There are two major problems.

First is what I would describe as Free Spinning. It's only happened 3 times, with no definable cause. This is what happens. While driving, generaly with a light load on the engine, the engine will begin to just free spin, that is as if it were in park or neutral. I cannot accelerate, there is no reaction to the tires. When this occurs, there is no noise, no clunk, no shift feeling, nothing. It just goes. 2 of the times it happened it was around town, so no big deal, I shifted down to 2nd gear and was fine. The other time(1st time) I was going 75 on the highway at 2 in the morning and nearly got creamed by a big rig.

Second is hard to inconsistent shifting. Generaly the two happen together, rpm's will wind up while accelerating, but won't shift at the rpm point under equal load that it would normaly shift. Then all together it will slam/shift up into gear with enough force that it bumps the truck forward.

Third is a mechanical question, the shift linkage is broken, I need to replace it, as my jurry rigs keep failing. How hard of a job is this? Can if be done in an afternoon? Any idea for cost for one from a junk yard? Tips or Tricks?

thanks a bunch guys. this truck is my baby and im trying to get her to be reliable. I appreciate all the help. -myers

 

Hummmmm I would like to ask you two questions.
1) does your truck have a kickdown lever conecting the throutle to the transmission?
2) When you say the truck "free spins" is this hapening while the truck is in motion, then the moter starts to race?

 

I don't know about the kick down lever, what does it look like and where would I find it?

Yes, when the "free spinning" occurs it is while in motion that the engine will rev up as if not in gear. However as a clarification, I didn't say that it would race because I generaly associate that to the engine revving up on it's own. Any increase in RPM is directly related to me pushing the gas. When this "free spinning" occurs the engine drops down to idle as if in neutral unless I press on the gas, in this case the engine reacts just as if your were pushing the throttle in neutral or park.

-myers

 

My 95 Cougar 4.6 had the same problem shifting out of gear at highway speeds for no apparant reason. It is a common problem with the T-Birds and Cougars. In my case the MPLS (Manual Lever Position Switch) was the problem. $26 at Auto Zone. My trans is the 4r70w. I believe it is very similar to the E40d.

 

Someone else suggested the MPLS, i'll try to check that out, though it will be a bit before I can check it out. The truck is at home and im at school, but i'll see if my dad will check it out. I have to replace the shift linkage next time im home so this might be just something else too.

Are MPLS's hard to change? I have the 1994 mechanics book, and im sure that will be in there.

I'll have my dad check out the kick down lever once I hear about it

-myers

 

It's screwed to the exterior of the trans on the left side. Easy to change. Just follow directions that come with the part. Some auto parts stores refer to it as a Neutral Safety Switch, but it's much more than that.

 

Fal
The kick down lever will conect the throttle to the transmission, at the point where the manuel shifter comes through the tranny case. (Dont get confused with the MLPS, this is what your shift linkage it conected to as well. how ever the shift linkage, is conected to a lever that operates the slector valve inside the transmission. The kiskdown lever is attached to a power valve inside the transmission. This is supposed to cause the transmission to down shift when you "punch it". I had a shift kit put into my transmission when I had it rebuilt 14months ago, and I had similer problems after the reinstall of the transmission into the truck. Now I cant say for shure that it will solve your problems, I drive a 71 F100 390/C-6, but when I took the kick down rod off, I never had any troubles like that again. I dont get the downshift when you lay into the trottle anymore unless I have a heavy lode behind the truck, but the 390 has enuff power to scoot the truck down the road with out the down shift. All you have to do if you really need it to shift out of overdrive or something, is shift it manualy. I am not shure that this will fix your troubles but I would think it worth checking out, I mean it a free try, if it worked then you dont have to doa naything else to it.
Hope this helps,
Brad

 

There are no kickdown levers or throttle cables with an E4OD trans.

The problem here is almost certainly the TRS (Transmission Range Sensor,) also called MLPS (Manual Lever Position Sensor.)

 

thanks forthe suggestion bradb2230, once i pick up another late 60's-mid70's truck i'll keep that in mind. Excellent idea, I certianly didn't know about the kickdown lever, nor if a E40D had one. Thanks though!


Casey thanks for clearing it up. I'll be checking the MLPS this weekend and or replacing it.

I'll let you guys know if that fixes it. -myers

 

Check the fluid level.

 

Ok guys I checked into the MLPS, I don't know what else it could be so I called the ford dealership in town because advance and napa didn't have any. They qouted me $123.50 I havn't gone to autozone? I'll check today... but suggestions? Ideas?

 

WOW, for that much difference I'd let Advance order it.
If you ask they can look it up and it can usually be there the next day.

KO

 

Like I said in a previous post, some auto parts stores refer to it as a Neutral Safety Switch. It's a common part. The gasket between the switch halves was defective and allowed water inside the switch. The Moisture caused the switch to malfuction.
JUST DO IT

 

Advance DOES call it a Neutral Safety Switch.
A couple even call it a Neutral safety/back up switch.

KO

 

Huh, ok, I'll call about the Neutral Saftey switch. When I talked to the ford guy he asked if it had a neutral saftey switch, and I was confused, so were talking about the same thing?

Advance didn't have them at all, as in not in there inventory, the person I talked to pulled them up on their computer and said they don't carry them. I guess i'll go agian today and see what I can get. Though I havn't had alot of luck with the one here in BG. The one at home is top notch, the guys behond the counters KNOW what your looking for as opposed to the blank stares here.

thanks for the help, after work and the what not, i'll get back to you guys and let you know if i got it ok. -myers