transmission fluid change
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 865
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
jeff,
i know it is difficult to diagnose an "issue" through this forum, but i'd like to ask you about a problem i'm having with my '02 4x4 supercrew (5.4l, 4r70w, posi rear). truck has just under 7k miles.
late this past winter i started noticing a shudder/thunk when i'd pull up to or take off from a stop. at first i didn't get too excited about it, but then it started gradually getting worse such that the whole truck felt like it was being rear ended at a stop. i took the truck into the local ford shop and they lubed the slip yoke and splines. that seemed to remedy the problem for about a week. then it came back...and even seemed worse. i took the truck in for a second time. that time they took a driveshaft/yoke off another new s-crew and put it on mine. that too fixed the problem for a short time. about two weeks after that attempt at fixing it, it is now thunking/shuddering again. however the thunk isn't as bad (yet) as it was before i took it in this last time.
so my question is, do you have any guidance for me? have you noticed this type of an issue on s-crews in your area, or other f150s for that matter? other than this thunk/shudder while stopping/taking off, the truck runs just fine with no hint of any driveline problems at high speed or otherwise. i haven't noticed any leaks from the undercarraige, etc.
previous to this '02, i had an '01 s-crew with the same exact drivetrain and it never displayed this beviour.
any ideas on what my problem might be?
thanks,
troy
i know it is difficult to diagnose an "issue" through this forum, but i'd like to ask you about a problem i'm having with my '02 4x4 supercrew (5.4l, 4r70w, posi rear). truck has just under 7k miles.
late this past winter i started noticing a shudder/thunk when i'd pull up to or take off from a stop. at first i didn't get too excited about it, but then it started gradually getting worse such that the whole truck felt like it was being rear ended at a stop. i took the truck into the local ford shop and they lubed the slip yoke and splines. that seemed to remedy the problem for about a week. then it came back...and even seemed worse. i took the truck in for a second time. that time they took a driveshaft/yoke off another new s-crew and put it on mine. that too fixed the problem for a short time. about two weeks after that attempt at fixing it, it is now thunking/shuddering again. however the thunk isn't as bad (yet) as it was before i took it in this last time.
so my question is, do you have any guidance for me? have you noticed this type of an issue on s-crews in your area, or other f150s for that matter? other than this thunk/shudder while stopping/taking off, the truck runs just fine with no hint of any driveline problems at high speed or otherwise. i haven't noticed any leaks from the undercarraige, etc.
previous to this '02, i had an '01 s-crew with the same exact drivetrain and it never displayed this beviour.
any ideas on what my problem might be?
thanks,
troy
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
From: kinston nc
oh man, im not going to lie to you, I've personally had 2 of my trucks in the last couple of years that would do that. There is a special light blue teflon grease for the yoke splines that will help, but even on my own vehicles it would only fixit for a few weeks. I have seen quite a few come through work like this, and new yokes (or driveshafts) will fix some forever, and there are some that as far as i know never quit doing it. I dont do a lot of drivetrain work like that , i do mostly electronics and driveability, so i dont really see every one that comes through the shop.
I guess what im trying to say is that i know exactly what you are talking about and i feel for you on the issue of it being a reoccurring problem, but i also feel for the dealership trying to fix it. It just seems like there are certain trucks that do it worse and more often than others. It could be even something to do with the output shaft of the transmission, but im not saying that from experience, i havent ever seen anyone go that far into trying to fix one.
Just keep letting them know its still doing it and maybe after another new driveshaft, or more miles, it will work itself out. But i wouldnt hold it against the guys trying to fix it as long as they keep trying.
I guess what im trying to say is that i know exactly what you are talking about and i feel for you on the issue of it being a reoccurring problem, but i also feel for the dealership trying to fix it. It just seems like there are certain trucks that do it worse and more often than others. It could be even something to do with the output shaft of the transmission, but im not saying that from experience, i havent ever seen anyone go that far into trying to fix one.
Just keep letting them know its still doing it and maybe after another new driveshaft, or more miles, it will work itself out. But i wouldnt hold it against the guys trying to fix it as long as they keep trying.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 865
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
jeff,
thanks for your candid answers to my questions. would u do me a favor while at work somtime?. would u look up tsbs for the s-crew and f150 to see if ford has written any up on this issue? i checked the nhtsa.gov site for tsbs, but didn't see anything that appeared to relate to my problem. i'd ask the guys at my local dealership, but they seem annoyed when i ask them those types of questions. i'd much appreciate it!!!
btw, i will try my darndest to cut them slack...but in a 37k large buck$ truck...it is kinda irritating that this is occurring...
anyhoo, thanks again...
troy
thanks for your candid answers to my questions. would u do me a favor while at work somtime?. would u look up tsbs for the s-crew and f150 to see if ford has written any up on this issue? i checked the nhtsa.gov site for tsbs, but didn't see anything that appeared to relate to my problem. i'd ask the guys at my local dealership, but they seem annoyed when i ask them those types of questions. i'd much appreciate it!!!
btw, i will try my darndest to cut them slack...but in a 37k large buck$ truck...it is kinda irritating that this is occurring...
anyhoo, thanks again...
troy
Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
I certainly understand that a man has to make a living in his business....I don't think it is unreasonable for a service person to charge a reasonable rate for his expertise...
For those who cannot or will not attempt their own trans fluid change, they should go to a reputable dealer/service outlet and pay for the expertise.
Having said that, I choose to do all my own work (as much as possible), including the changing of the trans fluid and filter...yes, I will probably leave a bit of old fluid in the system, but I enjoy getting dirty, and there really are not a lot of folks that I trust to work on my Screw....It all comes down to personal preference, and I also hate to hear people soud like they are getting ripped off because a business person is simply trying to make a buck!!!
For those who cannot or will not attempt their own trans fluid change, they should go to a reputable dealer/service outlet and pay for the expertise.
Having said that, I choose to do all my own work (as much as possible), including the changing of the trans fluid and filter...yes, I will probably leave a bit of old fluid in the system, but I enjoy getting dirty, and there really are not a lot of folks that I trust to work on my Screw....It all comes down to personal preference, and I also hate to hear people soud like they are getting ripped off because a business person is simply trying to make a buck!!!