How Do I tell if I have a tranny problem?

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Old 07-06-2007, 08:43 AM
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How Do I tell if I have a tranny problem?

A few months back my truck, 2001 F150 xcab 4.6L V8, started having a hesitation and then a jerk. It would happen when ever I was driving and let off the gas slightly and then pressed back down on the gas. If I press down hard then it doesn't do it. After a few days of doing this only a couple of times I thought that my problem was going away, but seems I was wrong as it is still doing it and more often now. Well now I have noticed a similar hesitation and jerk from a dead stop.

I know there are a lot of things that this could be: diff, tranny, clogged fuel line, plugs, etc.... Instead of throwing money at it (that I don't have) was curious if now that it is doing it at a dead stop points to something specific? I may run down to Autozone and see if any codes have been thrown that have not tripped the CEL.
 
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Old 07-06-2007, 11:44 AM
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Also wanted to add that my RPM's do NOT jump up or down when I get the hesitation and jerk. If that helps any.
 
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Old 07-07-2007, 07:14 AM
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AZone can't read tranny codes with the scanner they have. If you have a tranny code the O/D light on your gear selector will be flashing. Go buy a tranny shop and have them take a look too.
 
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Old 07-08-2007, 06:51 AM
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hey torkum is the o/d light flashing when there is a code apply to all ford o/d trannys or just certain models???
 
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Old 07-08-2007, 08:49 AM
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I think its part of the OBD II system so might have started in 95', not really sure. If I get a chance latter I'll look it up in the Powertrain Controll Manuals.
 
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Old 07-08-2007, 08:50 AM
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It applies to all Ford transmissions that have an overdrive cancel light and button.
 
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Old 07-09-2007, 03:55 PM
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I have the same problem, and i had the truck in 3 times so far for the same issue. I had them check the engine mounts, tranny mount, and driveshaft...they replaced the drive shaft, but only reduced the problem slightly....i am thinking the syncros in the transmission, but i do not know much beyond that. I am going to take my truck in again, and hopefully they can fix it this time.
 
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Old 07-10-2007, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by torkum
AZone can't read tranny codes with the scanner they have. If you have a tranny code the O/D light on your gear selector will be flashing. Go buy a tranny shop and have them take a look too.
Yes I have the overdrive button on my gear selector but it is not flashing and seems to be working correctly (as far as taking it out of overdrive). So would a transmission slip throw a code? Or is this one of those gray areas?
 
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Old 07-10-2007, 02:09 PM
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Transmission slip will set a code, but it has to slip for a while before the code sets.
 
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Old 07-10-2007, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by casey_1
Transmission slip will set a code, but it has to slip for a while before the code sets.
By "slip for a while" do you mean slip several times while driving or one slip for an extended lenth of time? I guess my problem is going on 2-3 months of the hesitation and jerk so what ever is causing it, it has done it a lot. I guess the longest it has done any given one time was for say 3-4 seconds.
 
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Old 07-10-2007, 10:47 PM
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clean your air filter.
 
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Old 07-11-2007, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by 1QuickF150
clean your air filter.
Air filter is a K&N, just the drop in replacement one. It has about 12k miles on it and has not been cleaned. I can definitly clean it and/or throw a new regular paper filter in to see if that makes a difference.
 
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Old 07-11-2007, 01:36 PM
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my truck has been doing the same you described. I have an '05 with only 8,000 miles on it. It has also done some weird thing while starting a few times. It cranks then dies and stutters a bit. The transmission seems to make the slip and bumping noise from 2nd gear if i come to a rolling stop then take off i will e taking to the stealership soon
 
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Old 07-11-2007, 03:23 PM
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My 2001 F-150 Supercrew does the same. Also, at slow acceleration and right about 55 MPH there is a vibration during the shift...almost like I'm driving over a rumble strip. Have you experienced this?
 
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Old 07-11-2007, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by SRC07
My 2001 F-150 Supercrew does the same. Also, at slow acceleration and right about 55 MPH there is a vibration during the shift...almost like I'm driving over a rumble strip. Have you experienced this?
I have not really noticed this but I can pay closer attention to see if I am getting this as well.

Have you checked the balance on your tires? Or does your issue at 55mph seem more like it is from the transmission? I had a Jeep Cherokee that I had 2 new tires put on the front of it. When I drove it home when ever I got up to in between 60mph-65mph it felt like the hole darn Jeep was going to come apart. Below 60 and above 65 was fine. I took it back in and they said they "forgot" to balance one of the tires.
 

Last edited by reese006; 07-11-2007 at 04:30 PM.

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