01 SCREW w/Transmission issues

[jsbo]

OK folks, heres my problem. I've got a 2001 SCREW XLT w/42k miles. No reverse gear and difficulty keeping it in any forward gear for longer than 30 second. I have to apply a bit of gas and I hear a squealing sound similar to a slipping belt. The truck starts moving forward but only for a short distance. I barely made it home after my sons soccer game on Sat. I am aware of all the TSB's on the trans. in this truck and have checked nearly all the postings on this web site since I started looking at the truck 2 years ago. Does anyone remember the significance of the neon green sticker w/ an 800 # on the trans. housing with TSB on it. Has anyone out there had any luck with dealers or regional reps getting trans. problems resolved after the warranty is expired? I'm sorry but I have a difficult time understanding why I should pay for a new trans. after light use of a truck after 2 years and only 42,000 miles. Is this what "built ford tough" means? Maybe its time to buy a Toyota. My last truck was a Dodge, and the factory ended up buying that one from me. I'm not pulling stumps from the ground, this is a daily driver. Thanks for any advise on getting this resolved.

Register today or sign-in to remove these ads!

[AjRagno]

If you haven't misbehaved with your truck, then I'd expect Ford to cover about 2/3 the cost of a replacement without even asking. Even Ford knows that a transmission should last more than 42,000 miles, even without a fluid change.

If you didn't have any fluid in the transmission, or if it is black and burned, you're on your own.

There are no TSB's that would explain this. The green tag is likely Ford's indentification sticker for tracking if something goes wrong. The dealer will send it back to Ford so it can be determined what failed. If they replace your transmission, Ford will ask for it back. Don't give it to them if they make you buy a new one. F*ck 'em.

You should be fine.

[ringmaster]

i have the same squealing sound also. what i want to know is it the trans for sure? ive already changed the fluid and filter. it started before that. i was told its the ujoints. i think thats possible but not sure. cant spend any more money on because im leaving for florida thursday morning. hope i make it. dont care to much if i cant come back. mi sucks.

[jsbo]

I started by calling the dealer that I bought my truck from. The service mgr. seemed to have no knowledge about the trans. in the F150's (thats a bunch of crap) He then asked if I had an extended warranty several times during our conversation. In his opinion, he said I would have to pay for the repair.

Next call was to Ford. This was a trip, talking to someone that knew less about trucks than I know about talking to martians. She said there were no recalls on my truck, which I knew and that it would have to be looked at by a local dealer before anything could be considered.

I brought it to a local transmission guru to diagnose. My opinion about Ford is another 4 letter word. I will not buy another.

My advice to anyone looking at a Supercrew...Don't buy one. Anyone that currently owns one. Document every little thing that your trans. is doing that doesn't feel right, you know what I am talking about. I experienced every TSB that has been written on this junk transmission but never thought much of it because it was like this out of the box.

[TroyK]

weren't those green tagged trannies the ones that were supposed to be fixed after they left the factory with a bad part??

i remember reading something about this a couple years ago. the article mentioned that hundreds (maybe thousands) of expeditions and f150s were being held back from delivery until a specific part(s) in the tranny was changed. i think that is where the green tag comes from. it was prolly one of those trucks...

[Mark Kovalsky]

Originally posted by TroyK
it was prolly one of those trucks...

No, it isn't one of those trucks.

The tag on the transmission means the transmission plant was doing a quality study. They replace any transmission with that tag within a certain time instead of repairing it. Then it is returned to the plant for analysis. The tag does not mean there is anything wrong with the transmission.

The part that you are thinking of is the mechanical diode. The problem was found before any trucks were shipped and all the transmissions were replaced. None made it to customers.

The symptoms of a mechanical diode problem is no second gear. Reverse is still fine.

[TroyK]

i should have been more clear. i wasn't trying to insinuate that ford shipped out a defective truck. i had read somewhere that those trucks that were tagged were the ones where the tranny was replaced before the trucks were shipped. guess i was wrong.

i guess i find it odd that ford would tag certain trannies anyway. aren't they always getting trannies back that need to be rebuilt? and couldn't they just choose those for engineering analysis? doesn't make much sense to me...but whatever.

[Dustoff]

The tags are nothing new with FORD. My 1998 F-150 had an Orange tag on the tranny...and my early 2000 F-150 had a green tag. As indicated earlier in this thread, it is for quality studies.

My current F-150 did not come with a sticker.

[terry w 123]

Sorry to hear about your problem. Sadly this trans is a problem unit. All part of Fords cost cutting. My 01 Screw was bought back over it. I think that Chevy now makes the best 1/2 ton truck now. NO, I did not buy one, I have a super duty deisel on order.
Terry

[DAVEMAN]

F150 Truck owners with a 4R70W Transmission,

Well, I'm sad to report that I now have a transmission problem too. It’s in my 2001 Super Crew with 9,033 miles logged. I was on my way home from work today and my transmission made a strange noise when shifting from first to second pulling out from the parking lot at my work.

Shortly thereafter, I had no second gear and then it finally shifted into third and seemed okay but when I let off the gas it seemed like it was in neutral. After pressing the gas, the engine RPM increased but it seemed as if I the transmission was not transmitting any power.

I made a quick left turn to get off the road and came to a stop. Having a background in transmissions from many moons ago, I suspected that I'd have no reverse and sure enough there is no reverse.

Diagnosis, rear planetary sun gear is busted. I can almost guarantee you that if I disassembled the unit, the weld on the bottom of the sun gear driving shell would be cracked or broken so there can be no reverse in this condition. Also, since the driving shell is used to hold the intermediate overrunning clutch, second gear is not working either.

Okay, I'm calling the dealer in the morning and it looks like a new unit for my 2001 Super Crew that has been babied and pampered like a powder puff except for a few loads of lumber from Lowes. The really crappy part is I've only got 9,033 miles on the damn thing and that is totally unacceptable. Luckily, the damn thing is under warranty and I shouldn’t have to pay any money unless there is some tax or something. Paying taxes on parts seems to be prevalent nowadays.

Way back in the early eighties, I used to rebuild transmissions for a living and I started noticing a trend in the nineties where automotive transmissions were starting to look very cheap on the inside and casted parts of the early days are were being stamped from sheet steel. A lot of welds are now being done robotically with little to or no inspection from humans. Now I think I know why they put the little colored stickers on certain transmissions, it’s for tracking purposes. I think it's so they can track prototype parts that they are trying out on us and the ultimate goal is to make even cheaper made products so the they can make more profit.

It’s no wonder why they put a 4R100 transmission in the Lightnings and 7700# payload package F150s, the small unit can't handle the power. However, they expect it to be good enough for the everyday truck owner, bull crap...

I'm pissed...Even if it’s under warranty.

~DM~

[jsbo]

Welcome to the club. My SCREW tranny blew up as well but unlike yours, mine was out of warranty. Your diagnosis is correct the sun housing has a crap weld that let go. I just paid $1,900 to have mine rebuilt. Did I go to the dealer, not a chance. I found a specialist who could rebuild it to be bulletproof. There is a list of upgrades on that tranny the length of my arm.

I have the 5.4 and it should have come with the heavy duty tranny. I think that we should get a list of members with tranny problems and organize a petition to Ford. Like they give a DAM!!!

Anyone considering a Ford, F150 should pay attention to these posts, we're not Chevy owners in disguise.

[studerrm]

I read some where that when towing with the 5.4 and 4R70W tranny the torque from the engine is too much for the tranny. Under normal driving it might be alright. I got a 97 4.2 w/5speed and had to get a rebuilt tranny cause when I shifted to second gear the shift lever went to the seat! Not a good feeling. I'm sure there alot of people that have had no problems with thier trucks and all you hear about is drive trains breaking and some times right after the standard warranty expires. I still have my 97 but am wondering how long the engine will last.

[hogluvr]

Is there any correlation between these trannys blowing up and having trans coolers or not?

Larry

[Old Timer]

Hi

Yes, i know the feeling. 4R70W/4.6, 2/3 shift bad on my 99SC at 16500mi. 1/12/01 It wasnt completely gone before i took it in..i think reverse was still there

Was replaced/rebuilt under factory warranty.

Now have 33000mi. on truck. Since rebuild, i've been on several long tow trips...last being 3700mi. up thru Can. canadian rockies/cont. divide etc. Tranny ok..shifts fine. I do regularly check the fluid for color/smell since the rebuild. So, my confidence is alittle better after this last trip. I did add schip after rebuild..has that helped..maybe?? Of course i now pay ALOT more attention towing with this a/t.

So...that rebuild is holding up so far...Point being

I didnt know to ask at the time..could the tranny be rebuilt stronger even if you had to pay extra? Tranny already out etc...Worth asking. If better/stronger parts were available i would have paid extra for them. Maybe i got them and dont know/ or maybe thats just wishful thinking/maybe not??? Anyhow...so far...OK.

Good luck...OT

[ceddie15]

After reading the posts on this page I really feel like ford screwed me . My 99 F-150 has the sticker on the side of the pan and an 800 number also . There is also the number for the TSB .I have been takeing it back to the dealer since I purchased it and they always say it`s O K . thats crap and they know it . I have tryed every where to get a copy of that TSB and no luck . One of the parts guys at the local dealer remembers that TSB and knew it pertained to shifting problems . I have to drive with a very light foot or the stupid thing drops gears quicker than a cat can lick his back side . It is impossible to use the cruise control and I have had it to drop down into 2nd gear at 70 mph . Thats kind of freaky . I don`t drive hard nor do I haul anything heavier than a wheelchair or my Akita ,and he only wieghs 100 lbs. I just turned 25,000 on the odometer and have taken really good care of this truck , and noone has ever driven it but me so I know it has never been abused . The TSB # is TSB 98-4 , I have posted it a couple of times and called ford and a couple of tranny specialists and noone has a copy of it . I firmly believe Ford knew there was a problem when they shipped this junker , it came from the Kansas City plant and still has the sticker on the winshield . I used a builder In the Ft. Worth Texas area before I had to retire and he says he can probably fix it but can`t quote a price . I did bussiness with this guy for 30 years and trust him but am leary of speding more money on this thing . would really like some input about this problem or any knowledge of that TSB or how to find it . Help !!!!!! ceddie15