From what I've read, transmissions on the X are borderline. In other words, if I were to get an 80k X ... I'd have it blow up on me. I'm usually lucky enough to have that happen at night, out in the boonies. Under the rain. Or during some -30C winter night.

I considered swapping a manual from an F-series, but it sure is a fair bit of work.

What are my options if I were to bulletproof (almost) the stock auto transmission before it fails?

From what I've read on here, a good oil cooler as well as a proper gauge will go a long way. Some also mentioned changing the single plate clutch for "billet triple clutch", since the single OEM is the one failing and causing the rest of the trans to tear apart. Are we talking inside the trans, or TC? I'd rather not have to take it apart.

What else could/should be done?

What kind of costs are we looking at here?

Thx

 

What year and build date? Build date will let you guess whether or not your transmission has the "diode". Mine happaned to fall within the "diode" range, and sure enough it failed on the first trip away from home. I don't think they are that bad if you aren't within the date range, although they can certainly be improved upon. One option is to get a rebuilt unit from one of the performance builders (Brian's Truck Stop, etc.) and sell yours while it still works. If you are going to go to all the trouble to take it out, you probably should have it rebuilt with a high performance TC.

 

jspringator, what was the diode date range? What does this problem consist of?

 

See this http://https://www.ford-trucks.com/t...hp?tsb=01-13-5 link. If it doesn'twork do a search on TSB and diode. I did a post on this very issue some time ago and someone posted a link I know works.

 

I am puzzled at some of the comments indicating the auto. trans. that comes with the V-10 is somehow unsatisfactory. Yes, there are ways to screw up even a well-built automatic - for example, like not taking it out of overdrive when towing heavy loads. But most people arent that dumb.

I am new to Ford products (always hated Ford - never thought I'd darken my garage with one....) am VERY pleased both with the vehicle itself, and with Ford's service organization, all the way from my local Ford dealer, to the factory reps.

Of interest, is my concern following a transmission failure ( see my discussion of about a week ago in this forum) was whether I should add 'after-market" items such as additional oil coolers and temp guages.

I asked the head of my local dealer's transmission shop these questions. It so happened that while waiting for the replacement trans. to be shipped, I also ran into a factory "rep". Both indicated they were well aware of the "rumors", which they quickly de-bunked. First of all, they insist the vehicle came out of the factory with more than adequate transmission oil cooling. Secondly, they insist that whoever says the factory installed transmission oil temp guage is not a real guage, but only an "idiot light in disguise", needs to go get a Ford shop manual and find out what they are talking about.

Bottom line - some people are "mouthing off" on Ford automatic transmission issues without knowing or caring how accurate their info is. Only question is whether it is the people who posted the above-noted comments..or is it my Ford dealer's shop foreman and tech rep.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

I think it's the "Ford dealer's shop foreman and tech rep" that are mouthing off. Do a search of the forum and you will find post from a service tech that has the correct tools to test the factory temp gauge. He had pictures showing the actual movement vs. the actual temperature. It behaves more like an idiot light than an analog gauge.

Also, start the EX cold and watch the "Gauge". It will be at the "normal" temp in seconds.
Michael

 

I wouldn't go quite that far. I don't think they are that bad a trans. Yes, some have the diode if it is an 01 but other than that, I don't think they will fall apart if you sneeze on it.

Brians Truck Shop. Last trans you will need.

Any trans will benefit from a gauge so you can shut down if you are going over the limit. Also a bigger cooler like the 6.0L Cooler is a plus. I wouldn't worry about anything else besides a BTS Valve Body. A good TC is expensive. If your trans takes a dump, it sends stuff into the TC. The only way to clean it is to cut it apart. Read $$ Even BTS didn't recommend it when I asked them about it.

Either get the BTS VB, bigger cooler, trans gauge and synthetic fluid or skip the BTS VB and get a BTS trans.

BTS trans 3900. BTS VB about 225

 

I wouldn't take it out of OD just to tow heavy loads. Now if the trans was hunting, I would. Other than that, just leave it there in OD.

How? With their good word? Look at your oil pressure gauge.

With the 6.0 cooler in it (larger one), I saw a drop in trans temps. Incidently, if the temp gets too low, there is a valve that shuts it off so it doesn't flow to the cooler to maintain the temp. So, no fears that it gets too low. How is more cooling bad especially when towing in hot weather?

How do you get a reading off the trans gauge then? I can tell you what my gauge is saying. What does their gauge look like?

Ford rep and dealership. What do you think they will say?

 

I don't remember ever seeing a tranny temp guage on my "X" only on every school bus I've driven...

 

I think the tranny temp gauge was part of the tow package.

Didn't the tranny change a fair bit around '03? A ford diesel enthuisiast I know did clutch and other mods to his '98 tranny, but he says the '03 tranny is pretty much fine the way it is (one the TSB's are in).

OD for towing is fine, it's by the book, and the tranny was made for it. And come on, it's an X, not a minivan.

I agree to the suspicion over the temp gauge, as regardless of conditions it's always at the halfway mark.

 

I think the tranny gauge showed up in 2002.....could be wrong.....

 

I wouldn't worry about it if you keep it in stock tune. But if you add a chip or tuner, then get something to raise the line pressure. Like a VB, or Banks transcommand to keep the clutches from slipping. I have 110000 miles now on my trans with no problems. Some have posted they are at 250000 miles.
About the stock trans gauge, I only want to know if it is too cold or too hot. Don't care about the normal increments in between. The factory guage is fine for me. But again if it is too hot all the time, then I would do something about it such as adding a bigger cooler.

 

Tranny gage in my 02.
Does not seem to fluxuate after warm up. Hope that is a good thing.

V X

 

i wonder about the tranny if you have never towed. i think ours never towed anything..now it has 95000 on it. just like the ball joints i wonder also? it the vehicle has not seen heavy duty...will the parts last?

 

Mine was a people carrier. Trans lasted all of 55K before the diode broke.