At the risk of overkill, I want to hear what you all think about the transmission in our SuperCrews. I love my truck, but I'm wondering if I'm being overly critical or if others share some or all of my impressions about the tranny. I didn't post this in the tranny forum because I'm only interested in SC owners' experience.

My complaints, aside from the infamous "tranny thunk", are: 1) the shift from 1st to 2nd occurs very quickly and feels as if the tranny is slipping {with a resultant loss of power and accceleration}and 2) with the overdrive engaged, you never know when the tranny is going to downshift, particularly when passing or attempting to merge with highway/freeway traffic.

Bear in mind that I do alot of city driving and in freeway traffic, so the issues I've cited are more critical to me than to someone who normally drives on the open road.

What are your opinions? No flames please...let's respect one another's comments. Thanx.




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XLT 4x2 5.4L 3.55L/S CapChairs 6CDChgr BedExtender Moonroof 2Tone-IsBlue/Silver SmittyBilt Nerf Bars-Black Stull Billet Grille TopDeck lid Ford bug deflector Duraliner Air Force One FIPK Gibson Sweptside SI/SO

 

I share your impressions of the stock tranny. IMO, all the shifts are sloppy, though the 1-2 shift does 'slip' the most. Downshifting also is unpredictable and slow. Fortunately, I've fixed all that by installing a Superchip. This is how the tranny should be in the 1st place - firm (but not harsh) upshifts and much faster and more predictable downshifting.

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2001 White 4x4 SuperCrew (Lariat), 5.4L, limited slip, skid plates, towing pkg, captains chairs, CD changer

SuperChip; Black Westin Nerf Bars; Husky Mud Guards (F&R); Beige CatchAll's (F&R)

 

Good question!! I am having similar feelings about the shifting. Monday lunch while on the freeway I looked down to see the overdrive button off (just noticed the "OFF" lit up) so I turned it on. On the way back to the office I noticed the light back on...blinking (not sure if it was blinking the first time). Then when I got on the freeway to overdrive speed it went off. Took it to the dealer this a.m., they just called to let me know they have a slippage code and they're talking with Ford's hotline. I will keep ya posted.
Considering a superchip anyway!!!!
good luck guys

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2001 Ford Supercrew Lariat 4X4
[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1397202&a=10771821&p=37286461&Sequence=0&re s=high
[/img]
***More Pics***

***FORD BUYERS STOP HERE***

 

I share your concerns and experience with the transmission, but I don't want the Superchip. Are their other options to cleaning up the shifting characteristics of the truck?

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Craig Brossman
2001 SCrew 5.4L 4WD Lariat
Az Beige/Wedgewood Blue
Cpts. chairs, Moon roof, Tow package, CD changer
3.55 lim. slip, Rear slider, Skid plates
Mods:Ford Bedliner, Ford BugGaurd, Westin Step Bar, WeatherBoot Floor Mats

 

ChrisS,
Do you experience any tranny "clunk" with the Superchip? I'm convinced that with the truck downshifting sooner, the "clunk" will go away.

 

As owner of one of the first of the Gen I, I have had no tranny problems. I can make the trans short shift 1st to 2nd by using very light throttle. After over a year, and 13,000 miles I still have not experienced the tranny thunk.




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SCREW LARIAT, TOWING PKG 6 DISK CHANGER, LEATHER BUCKETS, WESTIN CHROME STEPS, CATCH ALL'S (GRAND KIDS), BED LINER, VENT SHADES, EGR BUG DEFLECTOR

 

I too have the "thunk." Very frustrating. I have yet to take it in since I really would rather not hear "Normal" or the infamous "Can not duplicate customer's concern!"

I have come across something else very annoying. I wonder if any of you have experienced it? When getting on the gas hard I get several very quick thunks. It only happens when the rear tires spin. It sounds like there is something rolling around in the bed - there isn't.

Other than the driveline complaints (I also have the intermitent rough idle) the truck looks and rides great!

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Supercrew 4x4 Lariat
Solid Black , 5.4 Triton, 3.55 Limited Slip, 6750# GVWR Package, Skid Plates, Moon Roof, Sliding Rear Window, Trailer Tow - Class III, Cargo Cage, Grey Leather Captains Chairs, 6-Disc CD Changer

Mods:
305/70/16 Goodyear ATS
American Racing Atlas 16x8
Chrome Westin Steps
Flowmaster, Delta Flow 50 SI/DO
Cranked Torsion Bars 1"
Mobil 1 @ 1,000 miles

Planned:
Toneau Cover
Expedition Console Mod.

Another great Ford truck site -www.fseries.com

Truck Pictures

 

RE Transmissions; Newbie here: Have 1,400 miles on the new scew. Shift from first to second is fast at apx. 11 mph, however I have no slippage problem. When in overdrive
at 55 mph it is at 1450 rpm, and to make it downshift, you really have to stomp on it.
Kind of annoying, not nearly as crisp as my 98 sc with a 4.6. Also crawled under the truck and counted the transmission pan bolts
as per a thread I read a while ago. My tranny is a 4r70w. Some of us got the heavier 4r100. Interesting to see which tranny performs better. Oh yeah, my radiator is a 1.02" also.

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2001 Lariat Screw. Gen.3,
5.4, 4x4, All white w/ gray interior.

 

17,000 miles, not thunks unless shifting into drive on a steep grade. the shifts do seem a bit sloppy at times.

 

At 3,000 miles it started to shift into neutral between 2nd and 3rd gear, the engine would just race into nothing, very annoying and potentially dangerous. Dealer replaced 2-3 accumulator piston but that did not fix it. They then replaced the entire transmission. At 8,500 miles it shifts perfectly everytime and I have had no further problems. It works so well now I'm sure it never shifted correctly from the beginning anyway.

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2001 SuperCrew XLT White w/gray interior, pwr seat, console, Bed Extender,Autolight, Class III Hitch, Duraliner,
4x2,5.4,3.55,built 6/00
New Transmission 10/00
Pioneer FH-P4400 HU
Pioneer CDX-P1250 12-Disc CD Changer In Console
Pioneer TS-A6895 Front
Pioneer TS-A6865 Rear
Pioneer GM-X542 Amp bridged at 150W RMS
Bazooka RS-604 under rear seat

 

Cooper,

I never experienced any 'clunk' even before the superchip, so I don't know it would fix it or not. I had ~5k miles before the chip install, and all I really noticed was the sloppy and slow shifting.

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2001 White 4x4 SuperCrew (Lariat), 5.4L, limited slip, skid plates, towing pkg, captains chairs, CD changer

SuperChip; Black Westin Nerf Bars; Husky Mud Guards (F&R); Beige CatchAll's (F&R)

 

I think you're all being too ****.

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'01 SCrew 4x4 XLT 5.4L

 

No thunk here!! Although only have a lil over 300 miles on her.

GOD, she is GREAT!!

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01 SCrew Lariat Beige/Blue 4WD, 5.4L, Tow, Moon roof,LS, Steps, Sliding rear window, Bed extender

 

tfratzke...
There is a difference from being **** and not wanting something very expensive to fail on you. I just don't like the idea of being stranded on the side of the road. Come to find out some garbage was causing my tranny to slip and coincidently my overdrive off light was flickering. It did this all day yesterday for the technician to see. He still is baffled by that one. But since he did a trans service it has stopped. So we will see.
The only other problems I have had but so far is: (1)the passenger ft. door is too hard for most to open causing everyone to think its locked and (2)I had water in my taillights. In fear of opinionated and judgemental people I waited for something potentially major (like my overdrive light) before I took my truck in.
I think this board is a means for many to express concerns because they don't want to be petty and call on a repair shop. Some of us have learned that if you don't ask you will never learn. For example, we would not go so far as to say your probably ignorant for making a blanket statement as you have...w/o asking first!!! What do yall think??

One thing is for sure I do love my Ford.


[This message has been edited by HarvEtek (edited 03-09-2001).]

 

Ok...easy...i haven't noticed anything strange with mine yet...i'll let you know if i do

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'01 SCrew 4x4 XLT 5.4L