I believe my transmission is a C5 but not sure. The van is a 1981 E 100 w/4.9.

Monday, I and my husband had to drive 30 miles to buy some hay (my van is empty inside). After backing up from its normal parking place, my transmission was very slow going when I shifted into Drive. It acted as if the transmission was trying hard to pull into "go". Giving it the gas in Drive in this position almost did nothing. It would try re eve/slip if I applied too much gas at once. So I would just give it enough to "get going"....if you know what I mean.

My husband's van is an 83 E150/302 and could not understand why I could not just "get up and go" from a start like his. The last time He drove a six was over twenty years ago (64 Dodge Slant six)

I checked my van's transmission fluid as it will leak because the front seal needs changing. And filled it. In the past, this was all it needed...especially if it had been sitting for awhile like this time (last time I drove it was over two weeks ago...money been tight)

Upon his suggestion, I started in Drive 1 to begin moving. That worked. Then shifted to Drive 2 and then into Drive itself as I went along getting it up to speed. I do know how to drive a four speed manual, but it has been years. So to speak, it was like using my automatic as a manual in that sense. Once my speed was up, there was no problem...it would drive highways speeds fine.

When I pulled out of the gas station at Hope, there was the uphill to Salome and had to shift in the same sequence again. Only once, while slowing down in Salome's outskirts I had to slow down when a pickup pulled out in front of me, my van tried to shutter at very low/stalling while in "Drive". I shifted down to "2" to stop this and drove it in that gear the last few yards to the feed store for the hay.

To leave the feed store, I was shifting the same way again (1, 2 and then into Drive.) When I arrived home, shifting to Rear to backup to unload the hay, the transmission worked just fine. To go forward to turn around to park it..it was going back into the lower Drive gears to move.

Backing up, the transmission catches fine. Up till now, it would go into Drive as well as it will move in Rear. But now.....not sure what to think. My husband thinks the bands might need adjustment. He can work on engines but transmissions are different. OR it might need either an overhaul or get a rebuilt transmission instead. In any case, I am afraid this old van can't be driven much further.....except to the mechanic's shop in Bouse seven miles away. I had a Ford Granada some years back whose transmission gave out just as I turned the corner close to coming home. Pushed it the rest of the way.

The fluid is not burnt and its color looks fine. Could it be the filter is plugged?
I fully intend to have the front seal replaced asap. Been scraping the money together for that (a local retired ford mechanic has a shop in Bouse and will do this for $300 including check/replace the torque converter if needed)

It was driven out here from Phoenix in October 2004 by the family I got this from. The husband was a mechanic and had checked out the transmission before he brought it out here....said it was still in very good shape and replaced the rear seal (but not the front) He changed the filter then. Overall, I do not doubt his word, knowing him, but that was two years ago...and it had been hard used delivery truck by the previous owner for years before they bought it from him.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

It's almost certain that it isn't the filter. If the filter were plugged the trans wouldn't work at all.

I think the forward clutch seals are failing. When you put it in D there isn't enough pressure to engage the forward clutch, so it won't engage. Putting the shifter in 1 increases line pressure, which seems to be enough to overcome the leaking seals.

The prognosis for this trans isn't good. Once the seals start to leak they usually get much worse in a short time.

 

Thank you and ......Ouch!

Well, that makes sense though (clutch slipping/worn out) "Sigh", so instead of $300 for a front seal change, I guess I am looking at least $600 for a rebuilt transmission and clutch. But the van's worth it in the long run.

 

Could also be something simple [and cheap] like a bad modulator valve, or leak in the vacuum line feeding said valve. My van [same year/ engine] started doing this in the middle of a long trip; after a gas stop suddenly had to start it out in 1 then shift manually as the speed increased. After a bit of poking under the doghouse discovered the rubber vacuum hose connecting the tranny hard line to the intake manifold was rotted and had split. Taped up the split at the rest stop and all was well til I could get a new piece of vacuum hose.

ps.... 99% chance your tranny is a C6

 

After two years, my van will finally have a new C6 transmission installed this coming weekend!

While I still have the funds, the clutch is going to be checked out at the same time.

After driving my son's 86 Dodge Van for so long...I really, really miss driving my own Ford Econoline. Its' cabin design is soooo much better in its' layout and has more leg room. (AND most importantly....IT's Mine! Muhahahahaha!) We really need this vehicle for hauling "feed n' stuff" inside as my husband's E150/302 is a camper "custom" and not suitable for the "light truck" duties mine is able to perform.

My deepest thanks to all who posted suggestions and help in this subject thread You guys are the

 

The C6 does not have a Clutch outside of it.
All clutches are inside the transmission.

 

Ok.....thanks for the info!