I have a '99, 4 sp auto, 2W supercab, 4.6, 3:55, with towing. It too slides in and out of od to 3rd any time I take my foot off the pedal - drives me nuts! Also, when I pass or hit a hill when I'm in cruise, it downshifts into what feels like 1st and sounds like it is going straight up. I have 6,000 miles on it and am interested in the stories of tranny replacements - am I headed for one or will I benefits from a superchip? Do I get the chip from Ford?

 

SDWill, are you sure the 5.4 gets the 4R70 trans like the 4.6. My understanding was the 5.4 got the 4R100 (which is an upgraded E4OD)and the smaller engines get the 4R70 which is an upgraded AODE. The 5.4 seems like too much engine for the 4R70.

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'93 Regular Cab XLT Shortbed, 5.0, K&N, Borla, 160,000 miles; Future SuperCrew owner.

 

hey blake, it sounds like the same problem I am having with my truck, I have been told that it is the torque converter unlocking. My truck goes in next wednesday and I will let you know what they tell me because it is driving me nuts. I was driving down the freeway the other day at 80mph and sure enough the rpm's shot up for no apparent reason.

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99 F-150 sc, 4x4,5.4,wedgewood blue,mods are on the way

 

Tenderpaw -- According to my info, the 4R70W is the transmission behind the 5.4 liter in non-California Emission equipped vehicles. The order code for the 4R70W is 44U and for the E4OD/4R100 is 44E. As stated in my earlier post, Northeast and "cross-border" states can also request the 44E code. Northeast states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington D.C. Cross-border states include Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and West Virginia. My dealer has had good luck with the lighter 4R70W but I would still prefer the E4OD/4R100.

 

I'm new to this board sorry to read about trans probs... I blew my rear seal at 35,895, dealer said casting was bad and allowed seal to pop out.
Shifting seems ok but dealer didn't balance driveline right and i had to pay to do it over again... one dealer won't honor the other's work!
Truck still shakes... I suppose tires are the next failure; it's only $$$$$$$$$$

 

Those of you who don't like the shifting of the auto consider a superchip it affects the shift points.
Yes the '99 5.4L hauls a$$.
Shifting is fine on my truck for an automatic. Stick would be better.
When I test drove mine after driving the 4.6L
I just had to have it.

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99 XLT 5.4L reg cab
4x2 120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc brakes/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador Red/Silver
3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)
Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp for components.
Jensen 50x2 RMS for subs.
2 6.5" Bazooka tubes
Lowering shackles?
Columbia SC

 

Walt 46,

I experienced something similar. I towed my travel trailer 10 hours and the truck handled fine. After I got to my destination I unhooked and went to go to the store. The engine seemed to rev real loud with the truck barely moving. The next day everything appeared fine except the truck seemed to sound a little louder when beginning acceleration. I was able to drive the truck home and then back again (I was in the process of moving). It just seems a little louder and the power isn't quite the same.

I'll be making an appointment next week now that I'm settled in. I love my FORD but their tranny's aren't the strongest.




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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

I was over in the topic"2000 gas milage", and brought up the free wheeling on my 2000 5.4/3.55 rear and it seems to me that Ford started this troubledsome problem in 1999 model year??
I made a trip around 1200 miles, mostly interstates and all I can say is If I can;t get this corrected, Ill put on a exhaust brake, if I have too, I am not a BRAKE RIDER, and never intend to be one.
Any good solutions out there, and I read above ,that someone said a superchip?? how's that going to help free wheeling??
I know there's good Ford people on this site, that can give a reasonable or correct answer to all the above...Take Care

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DOGCAM
2000 F150 Lariat flareside 4X2
S/C
5.4, 3.55 Ls, Tow Pack, Captain
Chairs, White clearcoat/w
harvest gold & wedgewood blue accent,17"X8"
BFG T/As 275x60s on chrome wheels
Mods:K&N Filter, True duals
(Dynomax) with 3.5 chrome
tips out behind the rear
wheels
dog46cam@webtv.net
dogcam@myf150.com

 

dogcam, that freewheeling you speek of is really the computer keeeping the cats hot by throttling the engine up a little during decel. It does this by opening the idle air bypass valve. I have been told that superchips can fix this if they can find the specific location in the computer maps.

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98 SC 4.6L stepside, Gibson headers, Gibson single exhaust, superchip, Intake mods, Piaa's, high end audio stuff.

 

I just ordered a 2000 Lariat with the 5.4l
and the 44U transmission. The CA emissions
are only required on vehicles less than 6000
GVWR (which includes the 44E trans.). Since
the 5.4l comes in at 6300# the Ford computer
would not take the 44E. Has anyone out there
been able to order the CA emissions with the
44E when it has not been required? Do the
benefits of the 44E outweigh the negatives
of the CA emissions (if any)? Thanks for any
info. By the way, if you make changes to an
order before the build do you retain your place or go to the back of the line?

Bryant

 

I am not bashing your Fords, but having been a Ford owner 15 years, I now own a 99 Silverado 5.3l 4X4 Ext Cab. I have had a couple very minor problems, windshield noise from molding - fixed from a windshield reseal, and light ping on 87 octane gas - fixed from computer update.

I now have 9,300 miles and I love everything about my truck.
I bought my Chevy for the same reasons mentioned in this topic. My 98 Ford had some of the same symptoms.
Hopefully Ford will help you guys out. They wouldn't help me.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by BassCat (edited 10-08-1999).]

 

BassCat: You hit on something that really pegs my meter: Service after the sale. Most ford trucks are built quite well, but for the few that do have problems, Ford service is the pitts. To bad you also ran up against this and traded out. Hope you enjoy your new truck and keep us post on any mods you do and how they work out.

------------------
97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Dogcam..
I just picked up my 2000 last night and drove it back about 90 miles on the interstate. I currently have 155 miles and did not notice the free wheeling you and a few others have been talking about. I did plenty of accelerations/decelerations along the way (I read about this before I picked it up) and wanted to see just what this was. Nothing.
So far, no different than my 98. I'll continue to monitor the tranny/engine for this.

I really like the changes made for the 2000 model year (vs my 98 model). The overhead console is the best! I still have a while before the engine is broken in..but I can already feel the power difference over the 98 model. I like it!

------------------------------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, towing package, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, bedliner, K&N air filter, cabin filtration system

 

Im on my second late model f-150, first was a 4.6, the only problem i had with that truck was an out put seal on the transfer case at 10,000 miles, it dumped all the fluid and trashed the transfer case, dealer replaced it no problem. now I have a 98 5.4, 4x4, the only problem Ive had with this truck was the paint blistering, dealer repainted the truck no questions asked. my friend also has a 98 5.4, when he tried to accelerate the truck would not shift out of a lower gear, if he held the gas long enough, something would let looose and it would rev up extremely high. he would have to let off the gas to get the tranny(?) to re-engage. He took it to the same dealer where I take my truck and they said the tranny was completly trashed and replaced it no questions asked. I cant believe how much trouble u guys r having with your dealers, I dont credit my dealer, Im sure thier as shady as the next one but they dont have a choice if its under warranty. Theyre also backed up on the tranny's, if yours is not right take it back!!!