I have a question. I was off roading and sunk my truck. I hit a mud hole that was a little to much for my stock 4x4 truck. The mud / water hole was just a little above the doors. Anyway I got someone to pull me out and my truck wont shift out of second. I took it to the dealer. The dealer told me he has to replace all the sensors. Ok no biggie. He does, this does not fix the problem. Now he is telling me I need a complete rebuild. Can this be so?
Is it possible to get water and mud in the transmission? The guy at ford tells me that the trans needs air to work??? Since it was under water it took on water and mud and there was mud inside the trans. Could this happen? Has anyone else got stuck in some water and had the same thing happen? I have a 97 5.4
Thanks,
RG

 

Wow! You were stuck! Yes, water can get into the trans...at least on older ones...they have a breather on top of them where water could have gotten in. I'd have a fluid flush & see if it helps. May save you the rebuild.

 

A couple of years ago my wife and I drove to the Second Annual Xpedition Expedition. Part of the fun was wheelin' through a mud pit that wasn't quite as deep as the one you were in. Anyway, of the 4 trucks (Expeditions) that went through the mud, ours was the only one that came out "alive". The other three Expys all had the 5.4L engine (ours was a 4.6L) and they all had the same problem- couldn't shift out of second gear. Luckily, two of the three had good relationships with their dealer and didn't have to pay full price for the new transmissions. The third guy got his replaced under warranty I believe.

mud pit picture

Hope you can get your truck fixed soon.

 

Geez that is a mud pit, same with you Nomo. Hope the tranny works out.

 

I should know something today. Thanks for the help!

 

I've had my truck buried like that before, but I made it out. Tranny fluid looks great still, no problems with the truck itself.

The only problem I had showed up 20K miles later when I changed the plugs. Turns out I filled up the spark plug wells with muddy water which dried (no idea how the spark still fired, but it ran fine) and left nothing but rust and mud. Had to replace the plugs and wires as a result.

-Jay
98 F150 SC 4x4 ORP
33x12.50 Pro Comp AT's, RS5000's, transgo shift kit, K&N filter

 

hey primetime, do you know if the newer 00 5.4 has the same breather as the older? I wanted to take my truck out but if that happens I won't. Thanks

 

Not 100% sure, but I think it'd be a safe bet they do. I'm sure it has to be vented somehow.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll try to keep the tranny above water

 

the breather on the trans is on the top but has a metal tube coming out of it that runs to the side and goes down by the pan. if the water level reaches that area and the trans was pretty hot. when the trans start to cool down do to the cold water it will stuck water threw the tube.

what i did to my bronco was i install breathing tubes to anything that breaths (transmission, transfer case, front and rear axles) and ran it high into the engine compartment with small filters on the end.

Cop Bait- if i were u i would change out both the front and rear diff oil and transfer case oil and maybe install longer breathing tube just incase this happens again

good luck