I just bought a '99 F350 PSD SRW /66K miles. Installed Superchip at mid setting. On my first pull with this truck; 6k tt, 20mph tail wind, @62 mph, Il. I-57{very flat}, my trans temp exceeed 190'. Other reading, pyro 6'-7' and boost running 6-7#. Stopped 15 min. and trans temp drops back to 150', pulled back and the road again and temp soon came back up. Outside temp was 60'. At this point, I haven't done anything. What dicrections should I go first? Thanks..

 

Try it again to see if it is a fluke. Then try it after you deinstall the superchips and see what happens.

 

Was there a problem before the tuner?

 

More than likely the extra power is causing the tran to slip more. Just upping the line pressure via electronic tuner doesn't really help like everyone thinks it does. I have only read that a few people liked banks tow command module for the very reason that it just didn't get it done. A shift kit from transgo or a VB from BTS is the better way to go. Not only increases line pressure but also controls the shift better overall. I would treat the trans to some mods before you start playing too much. I rebuilt mine the only thing really out of whack on it was the TC, so at 66K, I'd opt for a decent low stall multi disc TC, a transgo shift kit and a .427 accumulator valve. Find a 6.0 tran cooler and you'll be set for a long time. Then when/if it goes boom, get a full on BTS unit.

 

Maybe, maybe not the case. Hard to say. I do know that upping line pressure might cause problems.

I don't know about Transgo but I talked to Brian and he said that his VB DID NOT raise line pressure as I thought it would.

I would go that way but certainly not spend big bucks on a torque converter. If the trans goes, the only way you can clean a TC is to cut it apart, clean and then reweld. Read $$$.

 

This was the first time I've pulled anything with this truck.

 

I would pull without the tuner and see if the temp still goes high. If not, you will know it has something to do with the tuner. If it does get hot, then maybe your tranny is the problem. Does your gauge show lower temps when running empty? What temps?

 

I remember that it was running 150' not pulling trailer. I havn't run truck yet with detuned.

 

What does your gauge read when you first turn the key on when it is cold? Your gauge may not be reading true. Running empty, you should not see 150* on open roads. I hardly ever see that pulling my 4000lb boat and trailer rig and I run in the middle setting with stock cooler.

 

What is the difference between the transgo shift kits, and the Sonnax kit on puredieselpower.com? Auto trannies are like a black hole to me. But it looks like after my recent purchase of my 99 psd i will be coming more familiar with them. (now if only the guy can dig out the title from the warzone he calls his office.

 

Both are good kits, the sonnax kit consist of a few springs and a new modulator valve to increase line pressure for the forward clutches. The Transgo has more parts, if you install the full kit, it requires taking the tranny down. however the main part of taking the tranny down is to replace the booster valve which increases line pressure through out the transmission not just the forward clutches. This is why I say if you get a transgo kit, order the .427 modulator valve as well. Install the springs and calibration plate along with the modulator valve. The transgo also comes with springs for manual 2 and 1, which increases holding power for both of those gears reducing clutch wear. With the transgo, you also get a calibration plate, the advantage of this is you can run a larger modulator valve for higher pressure but control the shift speed with the hole size in the plate. I left all mine the way it shipped, with a low stall converter and a booster valve, it increases the line pressure but doesn't slam into gear, nice smooth shift. Some people desire a faster or firmer shift, for them, they would simply drill the hole slightly larger and drive for a while. Down side of this, you can only increase shift firmness, and you have to drain the pan and remove the accumulator body and cal plate everytime you want to make a change. Upside, you can tailor it to your likings. A transgo shift kit along with the modulator valve will give you essentially the samething a BTS VB does. Only difference is price, about 100 or so more for the BTS VB and your time. Which, you'd have some anyway with installing the BTS VB. With the BS VB you won't get the springs for the manual downshift holding power though. Not a big issue, but is what it is.

 

cangim,
When talking about the transgo when you said take the trans. down. do you mean as in removing from the truck, or just a farther teardown as compared to the sonnax kit?
thanks for help

*edit* Also what temps do you run towing and not towing?

 

if you install every component of the transgo, you minus well rebuild the tranny as it is almost completely apart. The key elements are the shift springs and calibration plate. The transgo comes with a booster valve that needs to be installed in the front pump. Rather than pulling the tran out to install it, you use the shift springs and a larger accumulator valve, .427 to be exact. The sonnax kit works great, but will yeild strange, somewhat slamming shift once in a blue moon. This is what I started out with, and if was going to do it again, would order a transgo kit along with a .427 accumulator valve. If you go with the Transgo kit and the valve, you are essentially going to be making the same VB BTS sends out. Other than you'll be doing it yourself. Brian has the experiance that when you tell him what you have, and what shifts you want, he drills the holes on the calibration plate accordingly. I didn't drill mine out at all as I liked the way it shifted as is. The instructions say if you have a low stall converter that it will firm up the shifts as well, so be careful on how much you drill the holes out. I personally like a smooth shift, but don't want it to slip once it is there.

My temps are 150 and 150. If it is really hot and in traffic it starts to creep up towards 170 when towing, otherwise it reads 150 most of the time, my gauge starts at 100.

 

Thanks a lot for all of the help. I think i will be getting the sonnax kit and save the transgo for when i need to rebuild the trans. Do you know of any good trans how to manuals? I'm on a mission to learn as much as how they work as i can, that way when/if the day would come and the trans would sign out, i would feel confident about tearing into it.

 

I would think the BTS VB would be easier to R&R. Plus, if you get a DP-Tuner program, it would already be set for that.