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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 05:01 PM
  #1  
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Tranny Question

Hi,

I have a 2002 F350 4x4 crew cab with the 7.3 diesel. The problem I'm haveing is that it just started to slip a little in overdrive under a load going up hills.

I have pulled the pan a to inspect and change the fluid and filter and the inside of the pan was spotless. I'm not sure what else to check and was wondering if someone here can help me out with this problem.


Thanks, John
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 07:27 PM
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How do you know it's slipping? Just what is it doing? If it really is slipping it will destroy a clutch and turn the fluid black in a very short time.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 07:44 PM
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Mark,

The transmissions shifts pretty good until it gets to overdrive then it is a pretty lazy shift. then after you are just cruising down the road you can roll the throttle on and it the engine rpm will go up and the truck doesn't seem to accelerate any faster. If you continue to step on the throttle it will eventually kick down out of overdrive and be fine. Or if I just push the overdrive button so it doesn't go into overdrive it feels fine.

To me it just seems like it doesn't have enough pressure to hold the clutches in when it is in overdrive.

I forgot to mention that I also have a Banks trans command installed and have disconnected it and put the bypass plug in and it seems to slip easier. The only other modification I have is a BD Performance 80hp chip.

If my tranny is going out any idea how much a new one from ford is? Or maybe a good quality rebuild?

Thanks, John
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 08:19 PM
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John, first i can't help as to what your problem is, however, there are a lot of guys on this site that are running either a BTS or a John Woods transmission. BTS is located in AR and JW is on the west coast. i've heard nothing but good out of either one of those transmissions. http:www.brianstruckshop.com is the website for BTS and i'm sure someone else will chime in with JW's number or website. good luck and welcome to FTE.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Tucker65
you can roll the throttle on and it the engine rpm will go up and the truck doesn't seem to accelerate any faster. If you continue to step on the throttle it will eventually kick down out of overdrive and be fine. Or if I just push the overdrive button so it doesn't go into overdrive it feels fine.

To me it just seems like it doesn't have enough pressure to hold the clutches in when it is in overdrive.
It sounds like the torque converter is unlocking. That's how it is supposed to work. If you put another trans in it will do the same thing because that is controlled by the PCM, not the trans.

If you really had a clutch that was slipping the fluid would be black in less then 20 miles and you'd have a lot of debris in the pan.

It sounds to me like your trans is working as designed.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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RAMPAGE_F350
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It sounds like your torque converter is slipping to me.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2008 | 06:57 AM
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OK Guys,

If the torque converter is slipping wouldn't slip in other gears also, or does it just work in overdrive. I assumed that it worked in all of the gears but I'm no tranny guru.

As far as the debris in the pan I was totally shocked when I pulled the pan after I noticed it slipping to find it spotless. I'm not a mechanic to these new vehicles out now but I have rebuilt a few turbo 350's in the past. When I pulled the pan I expected to find at least a fair amount of clutch material but nothing. There wasn't even hardly anything at all on the magnet.

If indeed it is the torque converter slipping what kind of damage is is doing to the rest of the tranny by still driving it. I don't mean taking it out and making it slip all the time but driving around and maybe even just leaving it out of overdrive.

Also if this is the case can I get away with just replacing the torque converter, or will I also need to go through the tranny as well?

Thanks, John
 
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Old Feb 24, 2008 | 07:07 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by Tucker65
If the torque converter is slipping wouldn't slip in other gears also, or does it just work in overdrive. I assumed that it worked in all of the gears but I'm no tranny guru.
The torque converter has a clutch in it. This clutch can be locked or unlocked by the PCM. It normally works in third and fourth gears (fourth gear is overdrive.) On level roads, constant speed over about 40 MPH the torque converter will be locked. As you start up a hill or try to accelerate the PCM will unlock the torque converter clutch. This will add several hundred RPM. When the torque converter is unlocked it is slipping. This is how a torque converter is supposed to work.

Originally Posted by Tucker65
If indeed it is the torque converter slipping what kind of damage is is doing to the rest of the tranny by still driving it. I don't mean taking it out and making it slip all the time but driving around and maybe even just leaving it out of overdrive.
First thing that will happen is the pan will get a lot of clutch material in it. The fluid will burn and turn black. Since these have not happened there is NOTHING wrong with your transmission or torque converter.
 
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Old Feb 24, 2008 | 07:19 AM
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Mark,

I appreciate all your feedback on this, however something is different in my tranny. I'm with you on the fact that if actual clutches inside the tranny were slipping it wouldn't be long before destruction. But if it is the torque converter it is definitely not working as it should.

Will replacing the torque converter cure my problems? I hope it could be that simple but the way my luck goes probably not. As it is now I just don't feel comfortable driving it anywhere but close to home. Like I said in a previous post I can just roll the throttle on and make it slip when it is in overdrive. This wasn't the case a few weeks ago.

Is there anything else I can do to try and pinpoint the problem. I had a mechanic friend of mine drive it with me yesterday he hooked up his scanner and the truck had no codes at all. He's not a tranny guy but there is obviously something failing.

Thanks for all your help,
John
 
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Old Feb 24, 2008 | 07:24 AM
  #10  
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I put a DP Tuner in mine and it controls the torque lockup and trans shifts a lot better
I run it in a tow tune around town and at slow speeds and don't get the constant torque unlocking
 
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