Hello all,

I have an 01 Lightning with 67,000 miles on it. Recently when it downshifts into low gear it has a clicking noise and sometimes it shifts so hard it shakes the whole truck. Has anyone else experienced this problem and what did it take to fix it?

Thanks
radbird

 

I have bad news. Its time,,,,save your money.

 

Get it scanned before you do anything....

 

I have an 01 also at around 56,000miles it did the same thing. Got progressively worse, than just started not going into gear. Ended up having the trans rebuilt luckly it was still covered by the extended plan. Do you use the OD button to down shift, as this seems to cause several probles with these units. Hope the information is of some help. But as SVT150 said have the codes checked first it could be something very simple also. Artie

 

Thanks for the info ARTIE54.
I have a scanner and have scanned the truck for codes. So far it hasn't displayed any for a power train problem. I had the feeling I would have to rebuild the trans. I am going to do some upgrades to the trans while it is out.

 

Have you checked your oil stick ?
dark, burnt smelling oil is a sign for a tranny that went.

Like mine..... after a dynorun...

She´s in the workshop since 3 weeks now.....

 

Using the OD button can cause problems? So I shouldn't use this to downshift? How about driving around town with the OD off, so that it's not going in and out od fourth?

 

Thats OK!!! just don't us it as a downshift tool!! G.Evans aka FTVB. maker told me around the time my trans was on its way out that using od like that puts a heavy load on certain componets. I have not used it like that since. Never had any trouble since it was rebuilt, about 25,000 miles since it was done! Hope this info helps. Artie

 

Don't use the OD button as a downshift....

Better to leave it in OD and allow it to downshift into third, or even second? What about WOT? The majority of the time I have OD off. There are occasions when I do have OD on. When I need to go WOT, I turn it off and proceed with wot.

 

When I say "downshift" I mean off throttle downshift, like to slow down when I see a speed trap ahead. Still not good?

If I want to get going in a hurry, I just mash the pedal.

 

That is usually how I use it too. I figure that should be ok? On occasion I'll turn off OD at light throttle when I anticipate WOT in third.

 

I believe the computer controls the downshift to 3rd from OD.
Most of the road course guys have been using it coming outta the
long straights to assist braking... Never had a problem.

Same for the D/S to second ... The computer will not allow it until it is time.

Good Luck ...

 

I believe that "off throttle" down shift is the one G is refering to as being bad. I think his quote went something like "If I designed that truck I would take that button off the column and lock it up in a box under the hood so you couldn't get to it!"
Its an auto people! Unless you are road coarsing your truck, or need to lock it out of OD, leave the friggin' button alone!

 

When ever there is a question about the transmission in our trucks, there always seems to be two shools of thought. It can be quite confusing. I wish there was a general consensus.

 

I cant see how turning od off for the 1/4 does anything ,whats the big deal? I cant tell it made a difference one way or another