Hey guys, I am posting this information for my father as he is quite computer illiterate but I know these forums have a vast knowledge base and tons of guys willing to help those in need. My father owns a 2001 F-150 5.4L 4x4. The truck currently has 113k and change on the motor...the trannys however have been a downfall on this truck, I have told him to just get rid of it but he just keeps fixing it. The truck currently has its 3rd transmission in it. And it looks like its needing a fourth. I dont know much about Fords but it seems like 3 transmission @ 133k regardless of what kind of truck it is is ridiculous. The truck sits a lot, as it is used primarily for yard driving and used in the woods on my fathers sugar bush. I recently borrowed it due to my own truck being down as I am building a built motor for it. I drove the truck ~ 100 miles a couple nights ago from his house to mine, and it ran great. No issues. The next day I drove it ~ 50 miles to get some parts for my own truck and it started to have issues down shifting while braking. Upshifts were normal. On the interstate I noticed the O/D light on the shifter started to flash, I continued to my exit and pulled into a gas station and shut it down, restarted it and the light ceased. Continued to drive to my house however I could feel the tranny having slight issues. Fast forward to today, went to leave for work and the truck would not engage any gear. Not even reverse. What is causing this truck to go through tranny's like it is? Could the flexplate or torque converter be contributing to this? It has me baffled...A buddy and I are going to drop the tranny out sometime this week. What should we look for? I'd hate to get another tranny, install it and have the same problem 1000 miles down the road yet again. Any help or insight would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

 

don't know what to tell you but I burnt up my first trans at 235,000 miles. first 160 were pulling a 5th wheel horse trailer and then me beating the crap out of it till it quit. I know it was original because I pulled the dust plug for the dip stick out of the pan.

Is the converter locking? If not it is probably a tuning issue and that will build a lot of heat?
These trannies you are putting in are they used?
You ever hook a gauge to it and see what kind of pressure it has? May have plugged cooler
has it got a trans cooler? A lot of shops after a collision will just bypass the cooler
After the first trans were the lines and cooler flushed? Debris from the first failure could still be in the lines and chewing up the next trans as well. I have seen it lots.

 

what mods are on the truck???

 

If the OD light was flashing, you need a code reader capable of reading Ford transmission codes. Where is your dad getting his trannys? Go order a Ford reman with a warranty, I believe they are 3 year/100k.

 

Truck is completely stock, no mods whatsoever. An update, got under the truck and the undercarriage is completely soaked with tranny fluid. After it sat for a day the tranny fluid level was real low, not even showing on dip stick at cold. Started the truck and ran it for 15 minutes and it needed fluid, added 2 qts. of Merc V and it brought the fluid level up to par. After it ran for another 15 min. I got in and it locked into reverse with no issues, and engaged drive. So at this point I dont think the tranny itself grenaded rather a line or a seal is blown somewhere. I hate working on auto trannys so I am going to limp it to my local shop who actually replaced the last tranny and see if they can figure it out...the trannys in the past I believe have been used, I'm not sure as my father just had the work done. I guess its a matter of finding where its leaking and going from there. Thanks for the help, I will update as to what it was.

 

I have the same issue. Run-down of my issues since I've had the truck.

36,100 miles: transmission gave out. New transmission. Ford did a 50/50 split on price because it was only 100 miles.

77,000 miles: another transmission destroyed itself. New transmission, I was at my 3 year one month mark on the warranty and Corp. Ford told me they will not pay anything because I was out of warranty by less than a month. $3,200 later I have a new transmission.

82,000miles (3 months later): transmission is slipping in O/D at approx. 43 mph. Dealer and corporate will not admit there is an ongoing problem with the truck and will not stand by their product. This transmission is obviously under warranty but it’s pointless to get it fixed if it’s just going to burn up.

Best action: Call local Better Business Bureau Office and make a complaint. If they get enough complaints, they have to investigate it. Also they can help you get mediation between corporate. I personally will never buy Ford again. They cannot seem to stand by their product.

 

sounds like operator error

 

sounds like the shop doesn't know how to diagnosis the trans correctly. Probably having sensor problems.