Hey guys, new member here and this is my first of many posts to come i'm sure. Unfortunately, my first post is not as happy an occasion as i would liked it to have been. Last week, my transmission crapped out on me. No forward gears at all, just reverse. With the assistance of my wife and my brother-in-law, I "drove" it home 2.5 miles exactly in reverse. Man, you should have seen the looks i was getting haha.

Apparently, this is not a new issue with these trucks. I've found numerous threads with members having the exact same problem as i now have. Some think its a tuner problem or wheel size or whatever. I can tell you that my truck has the stock 18s and absolutely no tuner so that does not seem to be the problem in my case. I don't tow anything. I don't even use the 4x4. I just think the trannys are trash.

I've seen threads where it was on a 4.6L and ones on the 5.4L(which is what i have). Also, I've seen threads where the tranny went out at 45K miles or so and some at 125K miles or so. And anywhere in between. Mine just passed 111K.

I called Ford to see if there was any recalls or anything and was told about the brake booster hose replacement and the fuel injectors sticking. The rep told me that the fuel injector issue could lead to other powertrain problems but i doubt that is what happened to my transmission. Needless to say, Ford knows that the transmissions are trash but have not done anything to rectify the situation.

My question to the members of this great website is: How many of us Ford fans have to be go through this situation of:

1) transmission going out,
2) being stranded on the side of the road(sometimes in 100+ degree weather with 3 small children, as in my case),
3) being without our trucks for any period of time,
and last but certainly not least,
4) having to pay butt loads of cash to fix an OBVIOUS manufacturer's defect?

Sorry for the rant, but I feel better now. Good luck to those of you who haven't had this issue. I hope you never do. To those that have had this problem, just know that you are definitely not alone and if we were to start a club of just members whom have had their trannys go out, we would be 10s of thousands strong. Fight the power!

 

That sucks but it lasted a decent time, what tranny are you going to go with now?

 

So Ford transmissions are trash? I have heard of a handful that have failed compared to the hundreds of thousands that haven't.

But that's the nature of a message board.

 

Sorry for your situation.

Just out of curiosity, what would you consider to be an acceptable life span of an automatic transmission in a ~6K lb truck?

Also, did you but the truck new, or how many miles were on it when you got it?

Hope you get everything fixed up okay.

 

The Ford tranny's aren't the worlds greatest, but they're a lot better than Dodge transmissions. 111k isn't too bad, nor is it great. What axle gears are in it right now?

 

One of our chevy 3500 vans at work had the tranny go out at 95K and the reman at 98K. Crap happens. As stated, message boards tend to distort the numbers as not many post about their non issues.

 

I feel your pain brother! I've been through 2 and am working on my 3rd. And like you I don't run it hard or anything. I will say the second was due to manufacturing issues. some Tard over tightened the bolts and split the case.
If I were you I would check into TCI. they make an auto that will hold 800hp.

 

Remember, the auto trans is nothing more than a hydraulic pump with lots of ball valves, bearings, and clutches. They do run hot and they do wear. I have seen some that seem to last forever with no maintenance at all and others that fail even with regular service.

What is the service record on your trans? Any service at all over the course of 100K?

Also, a new or fully rebuilt trans is much cheaper than a new truck! Let us know what you decide to do……

 

I'd like to know what type of maintenance schedule the tranny has gone through?....

 

Custom tuning eliminates the lean and weak strain in the drivetrain, usually helps transmissions last longer. Ive pulled some good weight with my truck and have made this trans shift WOT alot and it has help up fine here.

 

I probably have over 25k just pulling a 29ft enclosed snowmobile trailer with no issues taking it for a 1500 mile road trip right now and not worried one bit, I watch its sifting and keep the temps down is the main thing.

 

I ran the crap out of the last three police cars I had before retirement, a '98 for near 120K, a '00 for 136K, and a '06 CVPI I ran to 86K (the '06 has a new driver ... my replacement whom came here on transfer) , all with Ford transmissions. Hauled stuff, long persuits, periods sitting idling on hot summer days then WFO for miles, didn't mind the temps, and my last car now has near 110K. Not the slightest hint of a problem with transmissions or engines, tough cars.

Before those cars, I had a series of Chevy Caprices with a '86, '89, '91, '93, then an unmarked '91 and '94. Several of those cars had transmission problems under same use and often by 50K miles. Even a couple motors.

Just pointing out that Ford doesn't build junk transmissions, though anything mechanical is subject to fail. I also used to love the old Chrysler cars of the '60s and my first couple police cars were Chrysler products with the venerated A727 Torque Flite and transmission failure was not at all unheard of. My '78 with 440 ate one, my '80 with 360 ate one (and two engines) as well.

Back in my toad days, my '69 Dart Swinger 340 came with a 4 spd, I switched to a built A727 from a '70 Duster 340, ate it up in a month. Never tore up the 4 spd except to bust a synchro ring, but I tore up a few Muncies with my '65 GTO as well as 12 bolt rears out of Chevelles. Guess it was all that abundance of Poncho Power and that Hay's steel flywheel?

Stuff happens, but vehicles last longer these days than they ever did before.

Oh yes .... all issued cars were serviced according to manufacturer's schedule for police / severe duty. That was 30K on the Chevy's and Fords, even sooner on those Pymouths.

 

I changed the fluid in my tranny on Labor day. According to the records it was flushed at 30k and 60k, pulling the pan at 90k there was very little material on the magnet (might fill a 20 oz bottle top). I know for a fact that the truck has been subjected to several 7000lb loads for 20 miles or more on several occasions (by the previous owner). So I am with the rest of these gentlemen, what kind of maintenance has been performed over the life of your transmission?

 

Guess I am behind I was gonna service trans at 50-100

 

i may have jumped the gun on calling the trannys trash. i made that post the day it went out so i was still heated. anyways, got a remanufactured tranny installed a few days ago. man, it feels good to have my truck back. cost around $3200 but comes with a lifetime warranty on parts and labor.

to address some of the questions from above, i got the truck around 75,000 miles and immediately had all the fluids flushed(oil, tranny, master cylinder, water etc...) and replaced. i did the tranny again at 100k. not sure how it was driven before i got it so can't say that it was always taken care of.

anyways, thanks for all the replies and info guys.