tranny failure? - Diesel Forum

bork · 06-09-2005, 09:18 AM

On a 4R100 , what are the symptons I can look for to forecast failure ,(besides obvious slipping) as to not get stuck on highway with family and dog. Or can a good tranny shop apply any instruments to tell anything ? And can you limp in a different gear?

Kennard04 · 06-09-2005, 10:07 AM

pull your tranny dipstick, smell the fluid. If it smells burnt it may be too late, but, unless you tow alot and don't change your fluid you should be OK. Regular applications of new fluid is the best insurance for long tranny life. A chip will actually extend the life of your transmission because instead of slipping into gear comfortably it reprograms the shifting to engage much quicker so less wear and tear is done to the bands. Heat is the biggest enemy of automatics, keep your fluid cool by staying in OD. Or add a tranny cooler to the factory unit if so equipped. A trans fluid temp gauge is cheap, and you will know if you go over 220 degrees which starts to burn the fluid, making it non lubricating and destroys the additives. Normally you'll know when a trans is going, it's obvious. But a good, honest trans shop will check it over, tighten the bands and change fluid for about $40. If they tell you you need a $1200 rebuild run, get another opinion. Alot of shops prey on folks who are unaware of their operation of the rig.

Casey_1 · 06-09-2005, 10:20 AM

[ QUOTE ]
A chip will actually extend the life of your transmission because instead of slipping into gear comfortably it reprograms the shifting to engage much quicker so less wear and tear is done to the bands.

[/ QUOTE ] Only if you get a chip that doesn't increase power or torque. More power and torque = shorter trans life.

[ QUOTE ]
But a good, honest trans shop will check it over, tighten the bands and change fluid for about $40.

[/ QUOTE ]
A good honest trans shop won't adjust the bands on a 4R100. There is only one band in this trans and it isn't adjustable.

And the $40 fluid change is a waste of money. All they do is drop the pan and change that fluid. That's less than half of the total. Many places use a fluid exchange machine. That will change nearly 100% of the fluid. There is also a do it yourself instruction HERE that I've used several times. It works great!

Mr_Roboto · 06-10-2005, 07:50 PM

I've dealt with a "failing" trans for about a year now. Increasing the line pressure to the clutches helps tremendously.

I bought a Ford reman for another van (who's trans failed completely) and I have a device called a "pressure riser" to increase line pressure to avoid another early failure. That's certainly not the best way to raise pressure, but it was the quickest. My "pressure riser" is adjustable, with 4 settings.

bork · 06-12-2005, 02:05 PM

Does anyone know what usually breaks/wears out inside when it does fail? If it has only one band can it be viewed to check thickness like a brake shoe? I just got the van (99 with 250000mi on it & no records)

Casey_1 · 06-13-2005, 07:56 AM

The only way to measure the thickness of the band is to remove it from the transmission. But the band isn't going to wear out. It is only used when you have the shifter in the "2" position.

The torque converter or one or more of the clutches are what usually go first.

If you are so worried about it failing at a bad time, have it rebuilt now.

Mr_Roboto · 06-13-2005, 02:49 PM

I've had 2 failures (in the same truck). The first was caused primarily by overheating, (Previous owner had bypassed the air to oil cooler, and the engine overheated due to my stupidity, which heated the trans fluid via the water to oil cooler).

Second failure was caused by a defective ball bearing in what appeared to be a recently rebuilt trans from a "junkyard" (dismantler).

Third trans is a Ford reman with a warranty.

bork · 06-13-2005, 06:32 PM

I'd love to just have it rebuilt but from what I gathered ,its not cheap . Thats why I thought if I could forecast a little and save up for now and have brian do it.

BlizzardVan · 06-13-2005, 09:17 PM

Congratulations on your new Van. Really, no other manufacturer’s van even comes close to the Ford E 350 with a diesel. That motor is what really sets it apart in the market place. Unfortunately, it comes attached to that stellar piece of engineering Ford calls an E4oD/4r100. I am assuming the van was used as a small people mover for 250000mi, meaning, even with 15 healthy Americans the van was only tugging around at the most 3750 lbs of meat and Vegas isn’t known for its hills. Actually, Florida is pretty flat too, no problem.
There is no way of telling the amount of life left in a trans without tearing it down, but two things you can do to prolong it are: First, don’t step on the gas hard if the van is coasting. The ratcheting sprag turns into a grenade. Second, hard downshifts when accelerating are tough. When climbing a hill, if you can find one in Florida, or you feel the trans about to shift down on the freeway use the od cancel button on the end of the shift lever to take it out of overdrive.
Have fun with your van, and no matter what, if the trans does go don’t waste the money having a regular rebuild. Call BTS.

ddog · 06-14-2005, 10:04 AM

Since you don't know what's been done, the easiest thing to do is go ahead and service the transmission.If there are no chunks of metal in the pan chances are its going to be ok for a while especially with some new fluid in it. Its easy to do yourself and on the 99 I think they still have a drain plug on the torque converter which allows you to get 95% of the fluid out. The filter and fluid will set you back maybe $50-60 +/- tops. I've serviced the trans in three prior ford vans I had with high mileage ( always draining the torque converter)and it made a huge difference in the shifting all had some sort of shifting quirks when I got them.New fluid and filter and easy driving should buy some time.

You haven't said, but does it seem to be shifting ok now? Any problems? There are two common items that will make them shift poorly that are not internal to the trans. The vehicle speed sensor (in the rear differential) and the TPS? (transmission position sensor I think?), its a flat black box with an electrical connector on the outside of the trans where the linkage attaches.The PCM will store fault codes for that. The TPS fixed a friends truck that felt like the trans was going to fall out. He bought the truck from the original owner with 250K miles and tranny was never serviced. TPS fluid and filter change and still shifts like new.