Hi Gang,

Ive always found this website to be very helpful, now I'm really hoping for your help because I have a transmission issue and the solution so far is to replace/repair the transmission!! Not something I really had in mind for a truck that only has 22,000 km's on it.

Anyhow, I'm gonna do my best to describe what's going but of course let me know if you need more info.

First of all, please note in my signature the mods I have done to the truck.

As I have an Edge tuner, I DID make sure to return the program to STOCK when the truck went in for service.

I brought the truck in for the 20,000KM service. Up until that point all was good. I get the truck back and all of a sudden Im getting a noise that sounds like a vibration/rubbing noise just before the truck shifts gears. But this noise does not happen all the time, only if I drive the truck the normal way I always drive it. I dont drive it very hard, but the noise is most apparent when I moderately accerlate (lets say 1/4 throttle). If I accelerate slower or faster the noise Im discribing is not there.

Anyhow, I bring the truck back, the technicion takes it for a drive and tells me that its a transmission issue and that they have to go in and fix it. That one of the gears has gone bad, probably because of the bigger tires or because I have added a tunner. I find that hard to believe though.

So, does anyone have any suggestions???

One of my buddies thought it might be a loose skid plate, but Ford doesnt think that it is that. To be honest, nor do I.

Another buddy said that maybe i need to have the computer re-flashed? That seems to be the easiest solution, but is it a solution?

Long story short is that I cannot believe that I will have to have the transmission rebuilt on a 2005 with 22,000 KM's because I installed an Edge tuner and put 33" tires on!

Here overseas the process of troubleshooting a problem seems to be to replace the most expensive part first and then work backwards from there. So Im hoping for some leads and help for the 'experts' back home.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

33" tires WILL NOT BREAK THE TRANNY

there are actually alot of guys running 37" and 38" tires with 0 issue. sorry, but it looks like you're f'd without a good technician to troubleshoot properly...instantly wanting to replace transmission seems suspicious to me

 

Hi Tylus,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Glad to hear that 33" tires wont ruin a tranny.

I should note as well that when using my Edge Tuner, I used the #3 Performance tune and increased the shift pressure to a value of "1" for 1-2 gears and for 2-3 gears. Although the shifts were noticably firmer, I dont hammer my truck (i.e. I'm not 1/4 miling looking for my quickest times) and do not believe that the firmer shifting would create transmission problems.

Also worth noting is that while trying to troubleshoot the problem myself, I ran the truck with AND without the Edge Performance tune installed and the noise is there at all times.

I sure hope that someone has an idea!

 

no idea...from what you're saying, the Edge can be completely ruled out. you might have bumped line pressures too much...not a transmission tech though

don't know if it helps, but you can point out to the Techs that a stock FX4 comes with 32" tires. anyone with common sense can figure out that 1" more of tire won't break a thing
what exactly did they do?

axle fluid
tranny fluid
t-case fluid

I'm beginning to think they changed something and might have screwed up. I know the rear axle can make noises if it doesn't have the friction modifier (for the LS axles)...but your symptons don't support that idea.

almost sounds like maybe you are low on tranny fluid or t-case fluid

 

Well I find it odd it did it after the service. My first guess would be they installed Mercon instead of Mercon V and that is causing the noise and it can also cause a shudder effect while shifting. I have seen this done a few times.

 

I checked the tranny fluid from the dipstick in the engine compartment. There is definately fluid there. As for the axle and t-case, Im not sure, but the 20,000KM service is a pretty basic service. The truck gets serviced over here ever 5000 KM's so it was it's 4th service.

ford390gashog - what is Mercon? And what is the difference between Mercon and Mercon V??

 

Mercon is the transmission fluid...and power steering fluid. the higher the number means it's a newer edition than the older #'s. These transmissions are very particular and require only Mercon V fluid...nothing else can/will work properly

 

stolen from another thread....

NEVER use a tuner to increase your eps pressure and therefore increase the shift firmness, it is not how it is done. (note i did not refer to shift points, mess with em all ya want electronically) this tranny is in no way similar to a 5R110W that you CAN increase firmness and points with, without wearing the pump out prematurely (and everything else inside from pump shavings)

I would personally get a second opinion.

 

Well that isnt very good news.

However, with the Edge tuner, if you select the 3rd setting, the Performance tune, it increases the shift pressure automatically.

Granted in my case i increased it again by a value on '1' but i found that it shifted to hard and always backed off a bit when the truck was about to shift to prevent the solid shift.

Anyhow, lets say that is the case, that the noise was caused by the hard shifting and i did damage something, what damage would i have done to the tranny and what would be required to fix it?

Is there a 'simple' fix or is my only option a rebuild??