itermittent problem when towing
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itermittent problem when towing
I have a 2003 with the 6.0. When hauling trailers as the truck is pulling going up a hill sometimes there is a slight pop sound (may not be pop it may be just sound of motor stop pulling) When this happens I see the tow/haul on my transmission has reset to being off. I also notice the glow plug light glows for a few seconds. All I do is let off the accelerator and put my foot back down and reset the tow/haul. Everything is back to normal till the next time. It is almost like you just turned the key on.
It may do it once a trip and then it might not do it for a few trips. Coming home last night on a 180 mile trip pulling a load it did it about 10 times. It seemed to get more often about 100 miles into the trip then stopped and didn't do it again on the way home.
Had it to the dealer in the past and can never get it to do this for them.
Any ideas of what it is will be appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
It may do it once a trip and then it might not do it for a few trips. Coming home last night on a 180 mile trip pulling a load it did it about 10 times. It seemed to get more often about 100 miles into the trip then stopped and didn't do it again on the way home.
Had it to the dealer in the past and can never get it to do this for them.
Any ideas of what it is will be appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 6
From: Eastern PA
That sounds like a transmission issue, sadly. Perhaps under heavy load, ie full trailer up a hill, the strain on the trans causes it to pop out of gear, shift fork, low speed clutch perhaps? Or jumping a tooth? All sound nasty, but i haven't cracked one of these trans open yet to tinker, so i'm not 100% on how they work or what might cause that. If there's anything hydraulically controlled, and you have low hydraulic pressure, that might cause it too, so that it's fine as long as there isn't to much of a load on it. Either way I'd definitely avoid hauling and such until you can get it fixed, because it sounds like it would get worse each time.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,731
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From: SE Florida
Shift fork? Low speed clutch? Jumping a tooth? You really haven't looked inside an automatic trans. You're a LONG way from being 100% sure, you're approaching 0%. And *IF* there's anything hydraulically controlled? You really haven't seen inside an automatic transmission. EVERYTHING IS HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED!!!!!!!!!
Why do people post answers when they don't have any idea how something works? You don't need to answer this question, it was rhetorical.
There is no way this is a trans problem. You have either an electrical problem or a PCM problem. When the tow/haul resets and the glow plug light comes on it means the PCM has rebooted. Look for a problem supplying power to the PCM.
Why do people post answers when they don't have any idea how something works? You don't need to answer this question, it was rhetorical.
There is no way this is a trans problem. You have either an electrical problem or a PCM problem. When the tow/haul resets and the glow plug light comes on it means the PCM has rebooted. Look for a problem supplying power to the PCM.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 911
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From: Mexifornia
Shift fork? Low speed clutch? Jumping a tooth? You really haven't looked inside an automatic trans. You're a LONG way from being 100% sure, you're approaching 0%. And *IF* there's anything hydraulically controlled? You really haven't seen inside an automatic transmission. EVERYTHING IS HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED!!!!!!!!!
Why do people post answers when they don't have any idea how something works? You don't need to answer this question, it was rhetorical.
There is no way this is a trans problem. You have either an electrical problem or a PCM problem. When the tow/haul resets and the glow plug light comes on it means the PCM has rebooted. Look for a problem supplying power to the PCM.
Why do people post answers when they don't have any idea how something works? You don't need to answer this question, it was rhetorical.
There is no way this is a trans problem. You have either an electrical problem or a PCM problem. When the tow/haul resets and the glow plug light comes on it means the PCM has rebooted. Look for a problem supplying power to the PCM.
What he said...geez you'd think people might read the actual post before making up some answer...anyhow I had the same thing happen a while back with mine in Tow/Haul Mode and it ended up being the switch although I couldn't tell you the extent other then the "Tow/Haul switch replaced"...However I DID NOT have the Glow Plug light come on...so it sounds like a common link or ground possibly that might be shared between the two, but I have to agree it sounds electrical.
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I also forgot to say that it there are no codes when the dealer checks.
I kinda agree with electrical but trying to figure out what pulling a load up hill has to do with it. I was thinking maybe it had to do with having the trailer plugged into the truck but it never does it when the trailer is empty. It also does it with both the livestock trailer and the flatbed.
Thanks for the replies we will keep searching.
Tom
I kinda agree with electrical but trying to figure out what pulling a load up hill has to do with it. I was thinking maybe it had to do with having the trailer plugged into the truck but it never does it when the trailer is empty. It also does it with both the livestock trailer and the flatbed.
Thanks for the replies we will keep searching.
Tom
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Kansas City/Breckenridge
I also forgot to say that it there are no codes when the dealer checks.
I kinda agree with electrical but trying to figure out what pulling a load up hill has to do with it. I was thinking maybe it had to do with having the trailer plugged into the truck but it never does it when the trailer is empty. It also does it with both the livestock trailer and the flatbed.
Thanks for the replies we will keep searching.
Tom
I kinda agree with electrical but trying to figure out what pulling a load up hill has to do with it. I was thinking maybe it had to do with having the trailer plugged into the truck but it never does it when the trailer is empty. It also does it with both the livestock trailer and the flatbed.
Thanks for the replies we will keep searching.
Tom
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