I have a 1994 F150 with a 302 and automatic overdrive that has 137,000 miles on it. It starts and runs perfect. When driving in town around 35-40 mph, it feels like the transmission slips into neutral, or just starts slipping. The engine will rev until I ease off the gas and then it gets back in gear. This occurs whether I have the overdrive control on or off. I took it to a transmission shop that just checked the fluid and said everything looked alright. I had left it with them for a couple of days to drive and they said it didn't do anything abnormal. This is definitely abnormal but are there any suggestions as to what would correct this problem?

 

When is the last time the trans and torque converter had a fluid change and new filter?

 

Approximately a nyear, or 8,000 miles ago by the shop I took it to.

 

i had that same problem before and it was because the filter was clogged up, new filter and it was running like a champ

 

If the fluid and filter are OK then I would expect that the intermediate roller clutch is failing. Not uncommon on these. The roller clutch was updated about '97 to a mechanical diode and that solved the problem.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

Dave,

Do you have any update on your problem? Were you able to isolate and resolve your problem?

I've got the same symptoms with my transmission. I have a 1994 F-150 with 103,000 miles. A couple months ago the tranny started to "slip" (more like disengage) around 30-35 mph. I'd lift off the accelerator and within a second or two, would be back to normal. Does not do it all the time, just once in awhile.

I've had it looked at twice at transmission shops. They don't see anything wrong. No metal shavings in the fluid.

MustangGT221 also made the recommendation to me that I change the transmission fluid and filter, which I've not done yet.

A couple years ago I had a radiator hose fail on the engine which caused a lot of radiator fluid to spay all over my engine and many of the components had corrosion problems.

I'm wondering if my transmission problem is related to a corrosion problem with one of the sensors. I don't have any idea where any of the transmission sensors are or if this is even a realistic possibility.

Thanks, Don

 

Have the speed sensor checked. If it is bad it will cause these problems.

 

I'm curious in your results as well.

I have a '91 Ranger 3.0l. Last year, I had the trans fluid changed (I think he did the filter, but I'll check).

Recently (last month or so), I've started having the same symptoms that you describe. It usually happens in the morning as I'm pulling onto the street. I'll get up to around 20-30mph and it will just come out of gear. If I rev it up and let off the gas, it will go back into gear. After that, it doesn't do it any more.

I'm wondering if there is a simple fix, or if it is a sign of a failing transmission.

Also, can someone point me to a thread on swapping a manual into a ranger? I've searched, but haven't found one yet.

 

FordfaninIL,
Thanks for the tip on the speed sensor. I will take a look at it. I took the truck to Aamco this past weekend and they took it on a test drive. They said it was a failing torque converter and I need to have the transmission rebuilt. They might be exactly right, but the truck did not have any of the symptoms of the problem on the way to the shop or on the way home. I'm not sure the transmission problem surfaced while on the test drive or not - or if they are going with their "standard answer."

Chris Huff,
I'll let you know how this turns out.

Thanks, Don

 

I had an '86 Aerostar that had the same problem. It got so bad that reverse stopped working. Rebuild only fix. It sucked when I was driving on the highway and that happened. It used to make a loud bang sound when it would re-engage when I stepped on gas. Probably the drive-shaft kicking in.

 

I had a 79 F150 with a C-4 that slipped on 2-3 shift.A Ford dealer adjusted the bands and it worked finefor years after.I don't know if the new trucks are the same.

 

Beware of AAMCO! I succumbed to them a few years ago on a Taurus that was intermittantly sounding like it was shifting out of gear and then dropping back in. It was very intermmitant, sometimes only happening once every two or three weeks. They had said they would give me an estimate just drop it off. The next day they called me wanting me to come by, then hit me with a $1800 estimate while showing me my transmission completely taken apart on a workbench. Amazingly, they showed me two other Taurus transmissions from vehicles that had been towed in. I had driven almost 30 miles to their store, they had forgotten that. When I mentioned the difference, they thought I was lieing to them about driving it in to them, they said I would have had to had it towed in, there was no way it was drivable. The planetary only had two sprags left on it. They told me they would put it back together for $250 and they would assure me I would have to tow it from their lot.
My 93 F150 is doing similar to what Doug Moore posted except mine does it at any speed and sometimes only seems to shift down while other times seems to be neutral. Several other post recommend the speed sensor being checked / replaced or the wiring checked. That will be my next course of action, the tranny was just rebuilt less than 40K and the simple checks look good.

 

All,

I tried the brake fluid with little results.

A week later, I tried the Lucas Tranny Treatment. It drives like a new truck now. No slipping, hesitation, hard shifts at all. Even under a full throttle from a start, nice even shifts.

I drove the truck for 30 minutes or so. Poured the treatment in. Held it in each gear for as long as practical and drove for another 20-30 minutes. The truck sat all night and worked perfectly in the morning.

Definantly try this before anything else.

Now, I just need some more power out of my 3.Slow