I have a 1995 Ford F150 w/ Automatic Tranny (E4OD) & 5.8L Engine, Supercab XLT. Bought it used 12/03 w/ 10000K miles. Had the Tranny rebuild in early this year. Still having the same trouble. When I take it back to the rebuilder, they cant find any problem (??). I'm not sure it is the tranny. Feels like the linkage.

When I first take off the truck slips into neutral. I place my hand on the shift lever and push down just a bit - it goes right back into gear. Sometimes at higher gears it will slip out too.

The tranny seems to slam into Reverse, rough into 1st & 2nd, and between 45-60 MPH it will slam into a lower gear (or out of OD - not sure). Again, if I reach up and hold the shift lever down - I get around without the slams & slips. Gets old running around w/ my hand on the lever.

The MLP sensor was replaced shortly after the tranny rebuild.

I have hear rummor of another shift sensor (on the tranny case), but cant seem to locate any info on it.

Anyone out there w/ info on the shifter linkage / Sensors??

I dont want to pick on the tranny rebuilder, if it isnt the tranny.


Tea

 

Is there any play in the column? Often the linkage is screwed up because the steeering column is worn out.

 

Got your message eariler today - but wanted to take it for a drive a pay close attention to the column B4 answering.

The steering column is tight. Tilt is smooth. Steering wheel alignment good. Some play in the Steering itself (driving down the road), but none in the column. The shift lever even seems tight. When I reach up and press down on it, I have to press pretty steady and with some pressure.

I have an appointment tomorrow, to have another tranny shop do a diagnostics on it. I'll post any findings soon.

I do like the truck - if I can get this cleared up, I can enjoy the roomy, smooth ride. It's a good looking pick-up too. BAD BAD gas mileage. That may be, in part, due to the tranny issues. I hear that 15-16mpg is normal for the 95, but I'm averaging 13. Engine runs strong though, even @ 115K's.

If you think of anything - please let me know & I'll take her for a run.

Keeping up the Hope,
Thanks,
Tea

 

OK, the visit the another tranny shop is done. Had them go for a test drive (w/ me driving first, then them), then run a diagnosics on the rebuilt E40D.
The test drive notes show, "Does not alway engage"(under Tansmission intial engagements). Under Transmission Driving conditions it notes, "Drops out of gear at 60MPH". They got 2 codes from the diagnosics: 1) 212, No Tach Input 2) 628, Excessive Converter Clutch Slippage. Then they cleared the codes, and took it for another drive.

The truck responded much better after the codes were cleared.
It still stalled when taking off (stuck in neutral, even though the lever was in D (OD)). But did not drop out of gear at the higher speeds and shifing was much smoother.

The service person told me that he did not believe the "No Tach Input" is relivant. However the "Excessive Converter Clutch Slippage" is an issue. "The question now is, what is causing the code". Apparently, if the linkage is bad and throughing the truck out of gear - that could cause the code, because the computer may view the sudden bounce to neutral & back a slippage.

They checked the linkage and the column and could not find the culprit.

The end recommendation (as noted on the Diagnostic paperwork): "Valve Body or Manual Valve?"

The service person said that I should take it back to the facility that rebuilt it and go w/ them on the test drive (as I did w/ this place). He said that they should pull the pan and check the Manual Valve, for starts. He said that he doesnt see how they wouldnt note an issue w/ the tranny.

Well, maybe the 'code clearing; is why the rebuilder is not experiencing the problems that I am?? If they are clearing the codes B4 the test drive, then it runs better, but not for long. I plan to take it back to them, this next week and will post whatever the finding are.

In the meantime - any input is appreciated.

Thanks
Tea

 

I vote for the manual vlave is loose inside the tranny, the 'Rooster Comb" can slip off of the end of the manual valve and it would behave like you are describing.

Hope this helps,

G

 

Thank you "G" for your input. I believe it proved to be valuable.

I took my truck back to the re-builder of the Tranny. I had specifically made an appointment for him to go on a test drive w/me driving. I explained to him my recent visits to other Tranny Shops and the outcome, went over the write-ups, and added the suggestion from these postings on the F150online Forum.
Again, making it clear that I certainly didnt want to bother him if it wasnt the Tranny - but, the consensus was = Tranny.

When I arrived at the Tranny shop, the first thing he did was place the diagnostics machine on it. I asked him not to reset the codes before going for a test drive, or it would be pointless. He said that he would not. After about 20 minutes of fiddling w/ the machine he announced that the only code he was getting was the 212:No Tach Input. He said that "the Ammco Tranny Shop was wrong about that code being insignificant". "It was the more important code". He also said that there was no "Rooster Comb" in my transmission, that I should stay off the net.

Well, we finally went for the test drive. It drove smooth. Still slipped into Neutral if you barely touched the shifter while in OD, but shifted smooth. At that point I became very upset. I told him that I believed he had reset the 628 code & thats why it was working well. The problem will continue to come back. If it wasnt the Tranny, I still need to know WHAT it is & it needs to be fixed - or It will just screw-up the Tranny again. I didnt want to have to have the Tranny re-build again in a year! Especially when these were the same symptoms I had before the Tranny re-build.

He said that he could re-create the symptoms that I described very easy & quickly. So, I asked him to do it. He got out of the Truck, went under it & fiddled for a minute, & jumped back in. Off we went & sure enough - BANG into reverse, & hard shifting. I asked what he had done create the problem. "Unplugged the speedometer". "The computer is trying to compensate for information it cant find. "In other words a lot of things can cause the issues at hand. If the computer isnt get the require information from everything it tries to make its own adjustments".

I explained, I need to have it fixed, what-ever is causing it; and I dont have the time to run back-&-forth for 6 months, trying to get adequate transportation. Keep in mind - I was very upset by this time.

He finally said, "Tea, we'll find the problem. Leave the Truck w/ me for a few days". We made an appointment for the next week, then he not only sent someone to my work to pick my Truck up, he also left me another Truck to drive (old, load, no air, gas hog - but beggars cant be choosers & I was thankful to have it).

6 days later my Truck was done. I went to pick it up and asked if the news was good. He said that they had to replace the "Rooster Comb", It had been bent. Hmmm, he said my tranny didnt have one, but I didnt push the issue. He showed it to me (looks like a ¾”x 4” piece of metal w/ a tiny roller on one end & a hole in the other). He said it was suppose to be straight. It had an obvious (about 60deg) bend @ maybe ½” from the little roller. They, also "replaced the Tack Modular on the Distributor", after the Rooster Comb was replaced they did me a favor and replace the Tack Modular (apparently not a cause of my problem).

I have only had it back since last night - so it may take a few days to establish an outcome. I isnt going into Neutral and is shifting smooth. It is rough into Reverse (when warmed up), & I'm not sure that is a normal rough or note yet. I am a bit still a bit confused over the whole ordeal. I am hopeful though & will give a Stat. in a few days.

Thanks Again to Everyone Giving Input
Tea

 

So what is the verdict?? I just traded my 89 Escort for a sweet 95 4x4 XLT yesterday. The reason the person traded me straight out for my P.O.S.-cort was because the tranny was doing exactly what yours was, except it isn't slipping into N. I got it home banging gears and all, checked the codes had the 628 cleared it then it drove smooth for about 30 mins. I can understand the rooster comb being bent causing your slipping into N problem, but was that what caused the hard shifting? The previouse owners thought the tranny was slipping, but it doesn't seem to be the case in my opinion, just hard shifting. Let me know what the final answer is so I can hopefully avoid the hassle of rebuilding and not solving the problem.

 

So far, so good. It has been a few weeks now & still driving beautiful. I dont think it would hurt to consider the Rooster Comb first; then, if needed, continue further. I hate to think I may have paid for a rebuild that wasnt needed. It was probably in fact needed too. Wont ever know for sure now. For now, love-n-life.

Tea