My transmission has been serviced on time or ahead of schedule since day one. I only use Mercon SP and the dealer flushes and/or drains the pan each 25,000 - 30,000 interval. The last flush was done 10,000 miles or so.

All is running well, but after stopping to buy a Coke, my "tow-haul" light started flashing a few miles later and my tranny temp guage on the dash board was in the red and the "Check Gauge" light was on.

My truck is shifting properly and I was not towing. It is 55 degrees tonight and a light rain... so basically, my tranny was not being worked hard and not overly hot outside.

I stopped, turned the motor off and re-started, and the tow-haul light still flashed and the temp gauge went right to the "red" as well as the "Check Gauge" light.

What has happened?????

1) Do I just have a bad sensor?

2) Have not checked my fluid, but I had no choice but to drive home 40+ miles at highway speeds... and all was well and no "hick-ups".

3) I did not drive over anything or hit anything... so I do not believe it is a loss of fluid issue?

FTE techs... what has happened... what should my dealer do to check and/or fix it?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

TFT sensor in the transmission, Repaired mine last march.

 

Jeff, I can't answer your question with my own knowledge, but this has been posted in 3 or 4 threads over the last month or so.

Most of them, like these two, say it's a trans temp sensor issue: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ing+tow%2Fhaul, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ing+tow%2Fhaul

Another one said it was a solenoid issue, but the tranny was shifting hard. Good luck and let us know what the issue turns out to be.

 

Thanks for the quick replies guys....

Transmission is shifting just fine and smoothly at this point.

To change out the TFT sensor, what is involved? Just a sensor on the outside of the tranny or does the pan have to be dropped and its an internal sensor or repair?

If it's a solenoid, I realize that would indeed be internal... but not sure about a temp sensor on this transmission model/make?

What is cost of part and/or cost to repair at dealer?

Will check out the other thread(s).

Thanks,

 

The dealer will hit you with a big bill for a very inexpensive fix. The sensor is about $75 you can catch your trans fluid and put it back in. You have to drain, remove pan, and when your under the truck and feet facing the rear the sensor is on the left side closest to the torque converter. You have to remove the wire clip plugged into it, then turn the TFT sensor 90 degrees and pull it down with a pair of needle nose pliers. The TFT sensor has a small O ring on the nose of it and when you remove the old one keep your face clear because a few more oz. of fluid will come out. It's a 1 hour 20 minute repair including an oil change and lube along with road test.

 

ya tft sensor if the issue is still there replace the harness to it. both are knowen issues.

 

Thanks for the answer....

I will take to dealer on Monday or Tuesday depending on my schedule. I do not have the time to do it myself and with it raining for the next few days, I just don't have the energy to do it myself. My dealer and I get a long great... so I'll just wait for it and hopefully be out in 1 - 2 hours.

Thanks,

 

Not a tech Jeff but just curious. Have you been home long enough for it to cool down yet? If so, have you tried to restart it or turn the key on to see if the tranny temp guage returns to the same position? If it's cooled down and the guage is still pegged when you start it, I would think you should be able to pull a code especially if the T/H light is still flashing. Maybe a sensor? Have you checked the fluid to see if it has a burnt smell and to make sure the level is correct?

Here's a thread that might help. Sounds like the transmission temperature sensor maybe. The symptoms in this thread are like yours with the exception of the normal shifting....his was shifting rough. Anyways, maybe worth a try.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-flashing.html

 

In that thread I posted the fix to Jays350 problem, once the trans cools down and you start out there is no flashing t/h. After a short while the temp gauge pegs out to either hot and sometimes cold as I was told, then the t/h light starts flashing, mine went hot. Most people start getting eratic shifts, or hangs up in a gear.

 

You can bring it out to my warehouse and we can get it changed out too if the dealer ends up being to expensive. Just shoot me a pm.

 

Yeah I saw that. By the time I found the thread and got it posted up, several had already posted in here. Great post in there by the way.

 

You can't ask for a better offer then yours. Dealers want between $300-500 for this minor fix, but they must feel the customer is getting a bargain for a transmission fix.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I'll spend to much in fuel getting to PA... but thanks for the offer, it is very kind.

Do you make house calls to Kansas City????

Jeff

 

Haha I live in Kansas City. My warehouse is in Grandview. Where did you get PA from?

 

Thought I saw it in your "location" at the top right of each of your posts?

Man... I must be loosing it.

Went to dealer this afternoon and had it fixed. Out the door for $249.00.

1) New TFT senser
2) 9qts of Mercon SP
3) New internal tranny filter.

My service advisor wrote up the ticket as a tranny service for $100.00. All I had to pay was for the new TFT senser and some mechanic's time.

My baby runs like new.

Thanks for the very kind offer... and now I know where you live... so stand by in case I need some other service.

Jeff