Accedently switched trans into reverse while going 40mph
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Accedently switched trans into reverse while going 40mph
I have an automatic 1992 F150 and accidently went into reverse while slowing down for a deer on the road. It thumped loud and stalled out. But started up easy a minute later. Since nothing seemed wrong or out of place I continued driving, getting on the freeway and about 10 minutes later my steering starts jerking to the right and my front left wheel is thumping loudly, While that's happening the RearABS light goes on and I lose my brakes completely for a minute until they come back on with minimal power. so I pull over and find out that my automatic hub lock is very hot and my drum brake on the wheel is broke and tearing into the rim making metal shavings. Then transmission fluid starts pouring out after I got mad and revved my truck a little bit while in Park. I eventually got it towed and the next day I started it up and it was leaking Coolant from what it appears to be the coolant hose going to the engine block. The trucks engine runs fine but every thing else seems gone. Why did all of this happen because of the transmission?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
No, your transmission likely took a little of a beating, but is probably otherwise fine, specifically if it shifted normally afterwards.
Your wheel bearing and brake problems are unrelated to the transmission being put in reverse.
Your wheel bearing and brake problems are unrelated to the transmission being put in reverse.
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Thanks! That's a big relief if its not the transmission that needs to be replaced.
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I'm glad it did where I was at because about 6 more miles down the road was a downgrade mountain pass. I'll bring it to the shop tomorrow to get that all checked out.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
Back when I was a transmission professional I ran a test where I deliberately put the trans in reverse at 40 MPH, 50 MPH, 60 MPH, 70 MPH, and 80 MPH. After that we looked for damage. As was predicted before the test there was no damage.
Don't try this at home, I was a professional.
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From: tucson/luray usa
a one time mistake like this usually doesnt cause any issues, unless the trans is on its last legs to begin with. the other stuff is most likely issues that were ready to pop up to the fore, and it was just bad luck that they did it after the trans fiasco.
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I really doubt that there was ANY damage from putting it in reverse at 40 MPH.
Back when I was a transmission professional I ran a test where I deliberately put the trans in reverse at 40 MPH, 50 MPH, 60 MPH, 70 MPH, and 80 MPH. After that we looked for damage. As was predicted before the test there was no damage.
Don't try this at home, I was a professional.
Back when I was a transmission professional I ran a test where I deliberately put the trans in reverse at 40 MPH, 50 MPH, 60 MPH, 70 MPH, and 80 MPH. After that we looked for damage. As was predicted before the test there was no damage.
Don't try this at home, I was a professional.
He may or may not have problems in the future, but certain things absolutely degrade life expectancy. I accidently went from 3rd to second at 6500 rpm in an attempt to go from 3rd to 4th @ ~95 mph. I was amazed nothing broke and was very violent; axle hop and accident like deceleration. A few months later the clutch hub separated from the disc, coincidence? Maybe. A few months after that I said goodbye to my 10 bolt. Coincidence? Maybe...that was a "I'll only make that mistake once" experience of an 18 year old kid in a car he prob shouldn't have had.
A favorite quite of mine: "i, like god, do not play with dice, and don't believe in coincidence"
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: SW Florida
I've done that to an old E4OD and a 4R70W on purpose (as well as putting it in park while driving) and it was fine afterwards. However your u-joints do not appreciate being forced into reverse like that. I would look there for damage if I bothered to look at all.
And in case you're wondering, shifting to park while driving does nothing spectacular, just grinds down the parking pawl and makes a racket. Selecting reverse is way more violent.
And in case you're wondering, shifting to park while driving does nothing spectacular, just grinds down the parking pawl and makes a racket. Selecting reverse is way more violent.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Maryville, TN
The only thing that worries me is you say it started pouring transmission fluid when you revved it. I know from my younger brothers stupidity that this can bust the tail shaft. He did this and the truck stopped pulling before he made it home @10 miles. Ended up costing him an e4od. Dad had it rebuilt, $$$$, 3 months later he wrapped it around a tree. Ashame, it was a beautiful short bed in the rare light metallic green and silver two-tone.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
All that happened when I did this was the engine stalled.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: SW Florida
Same here.
He might have tried to throw it in neutral for some reason? Wouldn't have helped any but that's my guess. I downshift any auto trans I drive when I just want a little braking action... like when there's a curve coming up or coming up to a red light. Some newer models have a manual gear selection mode but they still takes forever to actually shift. And you still don't have the final say in the matter.
OP, if all that stuff really happened at once you really got rained on by bad luck! You sure you didn't have a bearing problem before that you just then noticed?
OP, if all that stuff really happened at once you really got rained on by bad luck! You sure you didn't have a bearing problem before that you just then noticed?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
Were these brand new transmissions? Did you test some that were 15 years old with 100+k miles on them? I'm not dumb enough to disagree with you, and I'm not disagreeing with your analysis by any means, but a shock like that is "nail in coffin" material. It's like the countless people who decide to put plows on their old trucks, and wonder why they need a trans a few months later.
A favorite quite of mine: "i, like god, do not play with dice, and don't believe in coincidence"
A favorite quite of mine: "i, like god, do not play with dice, and don't believe in coincidence"
I really don't think it's too much worse for the transmission than a normal shift. Now if you had the pedal planted to the floor and popped it in reverse, that's another story - but that's not the case here.