4R70W woes... HELP!

f150driver86 · #1 10-10-2008, 07:33 PM

Fellas,

I know there is a recent thread about this subject but I think my situation might be different. I have a 2000 f150 2wd w/ a 4.6. I bought the truck a little over three years ago w/ 60k miles on her. A few weeks after i bought it... the trans decides to take a crap on me. Ford put in a new trans ( good thing i got a warranty) and she was better.

Now all of a sudden out of the blue... i was on my way home and the truck has no third gear. It was like it was going straight to neutral. It still does it all the time. It has never not done it since it happened the first time. The trans has 60K miles on her now. Also if I accelerate semi hard to hard in first gear i get a whine from about 2500 to 3000 rpms. The trans does not slip, just whines. Second gear is fine. It was like someone flipped a switch and third was not there. I do not know if it will make it into fourth.

No codes poped up or anything. I have ordered a new trans. control solenoid hoping that might be it. I also changed the filter and fluid. It was no help. I have been Troyer tuned for the past 25K miles if that makes a difference. I hope it is something simple to fix because i am strapped for cash.

Thanks for your help

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pos racing · #2 10-11-2008, 01:15 AM

when they replaced your trans the first time did they install a inline filter,it may be plugged.

2bizze · #3 10-11-2008, 03:43 AM

I ahve the same problem on this thread 2000 4R70W intermittent no Drive(3rd) on upshift.

I have a stock 2000 F150 4.2 auto, with 3.55 rear-end. The transmission on an intermittant basis has no 3rd gear.

It shifts perfect from 1st to 2nd, then when going into third its just like it has gone straight into neutral. By backing off the throttle and waiting a couple of seconds it then shifts into 4th/Overdrive and it works fine. The transmission downshifts into 3rd perfectly never having the problem on the downshift.

Some days it upshifts perfect into drive without doing this at all.

I have owned the truck since new, and it now has 150,000 miles. I changed the filter and put in Amsoil transmission fluid about 60,000 miles ago.

The fluid is very clean and looks new, with no hint of burning or looking old.

My guess is a valve inside the transmission isn't working correctly and is causing this problem. The only additional clue I have is it seems worse when its cold.

f150driver86 · #4 10-11-2008, 09:26 AM

pos racing,

Im not sure if they put a filter in or not. I know that there is an accordian looking round thing about 4 inches long on a line that is right behind the front plastic facia piece. Its installed inline on some system. They just used two hose clamps to install it so it could have been added afterwards. I will look later today to see where the line goes. It just seems kind of weird that it would all of a sudden happen with no hints of trouble before. A plugged filter would explain this. Why would first and second gear work but not 3rd and maby 4th if it was a filter? I hope that is it cause thats a cheap fix.

Thanks

Bindernut · #5 10-11-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f150driver86

pos racing,

Im not sure if they put a filter in or not. I know that there is an accordian looking round thing about 4 inches long on a line that is right behind the front plastic facia piece. Its installed inline on some system. They just used two hose clamps to install it so it could have been added afterwards. I will look later today to see where the line goes. It just seems kind of weird that it would all of a sudden happen with no hints of trouble before. A plugged filter would explain this. Why would first and second gear work but not 3rd and maby 4th if it was a filter? I hope that is it cause thats a cheap fix.

Thanks

That sounds like the inline filter that came with my Motorcraft reman 4R70W. Black plastic, pleated (like an accordian), and clamped in with regular hose clamps.

I didn't install mine...figured if the in-pan filter was good enough from the factory then it's good enough for a factory reman too.

As for the intermittent 3rd gear shift...sorry I have no suggestions.

pos racing · #6 10-13-2008, 12:22 AM

you could have a stiking shift valve in valve body,was common on 4r100 trans,but have had a few 4r70s just needing valve cleaned.

Darrin Burch · #7 10-17-2008, 03:46 PM

It going into neutral every single time and not doing anything else points to a broken intermediate stub shaft. Any chance that it happened when you were accellerating fairly quickly and it tried to shift into 4th gear while you were doing it?

It happens a lot. It is a very common failure.

Darrin

f150driver86 · #8 10-17-2008, 06:20 PM

Hey Darrin,

Yes... the truck does it everytime. It also has a squeal in first gear under moderate to heavy acceleration. No slipping... just a squeal. I was getting on a local state highway under moderate acceleration and it just broke out of nowhere. I am Troyer tuned so the trans hasn't had the easiest life (I just cant keep my foot out of it). How hard and costly is this stub shaft and where is it located. I turn wrenches for a living just not on automotive stuff.

I just got done dropping the pan and looking around and I thought i had it fixed b/c i found what i thought to be a stuck control spool... guess that was not it b/c it did not fix the problem. I hope it is something i can fix my self b/c i am broke.

Any help is appreciated.

f150driver86 · #9 10-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Darrin are you there?

AlaskaGuy · #10 11-13-2008, 08:17 PM

Hi, F150driver86. Did you figure out what it is? Mine has a similar problem and it would be really helpful to find out what happened to yours. Thanks, Cy

jbrew · #11 11-13-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pos racing

when they replaced your trans the first time did they install a inline filter,it may be plugged.

Looks like this -

f150driver86 · #12 11-19-2008, 09:42 AM

Alaska Guy,

I got my truck fixed. I was worse than i thought it was gonna be. Turns out the third gear clutch hub that holds the clutches broke. It broke where the shaft splines into the hub. It is welded to the hub and the weld broke allowing the shaft to turn but it was not turning the hub. The clutches were engaging but not turning. It was nothing that a 1300 dollar rebuild wouldnt fix. Ugh! Hopes this helps and is not what is wrong w/ yours.