HELP!!! transmission going out - Diesel Forum

acade · 09-05-2009, 02:45 PM

ok, I started up my truck last night, and when I put it in gear it made this awful grinding noise...sounded like 2 metal faces rubbing against each other, not like gears grinding...so I didn't think to much of it

well, today when I started it up, it did the same thing, except worse...so I got out and checked, didn't see anything wrong, just a bad noise; I drove down the road abit, and I come up to a stop light...turns green, give it gas...and I'm not moving...it revs up to almost 2g then, all a sudden I'm going; I have the 4spd automatic trans, but it felt like someone revved up the motor and popped the clutch; and it makes the grinding sound even worse when that happens...I stopped by a car care place and they said it may be the planetary gear going out, but couldn't really tell until taking the casing off...but from the sound and performance, both him and I are pretty sure I'll need a new trans....any suggestions fellas? what are my options? I have the 4spd automatic trans....any chance I could get me a 6 spd....or should I just do a rebuild....any and all suggestions welcomed

Pappy19 · 09-06-2009, 11:23 PM

You'll have to stay with the 4 speed what you now have. I suggest a rebuild with a Suncoast rebuild kit and torque converter. That's if you plan on keeping it for a while. Otherwise, you can go cheap and get a Ford rebuilt and a stock torque converter. Make the chage real soon or the tranny will granade totally and you'll never get all of the metal out of the lines and cooler.

doczenith1 · 09-08-2009, 02:53 PM

I had the same symptoms and it turned out to be my planetary gear set. Below is an excerpt from an old post of mine.

The dealer wanted $3700 for a re-man with 3 year warranty or $3000 for a rebuild with a 1 year warranty. I opted to take it to a shop here in town that was recommended by a few coworkers. The owner seemed knowledgeable and honest on the phone. He would rebuild for $2000 to $2500 and include a 3 year/50k warranty and some upgrades. He explained that the gas engine version of the 4R100 came with an aluminum 4 pinion planetary gear set while the diesel version came with a steel 6 pinion planetary gear set and that he would install the steel version when rebuilding my tranny. He was also aware of the sonnax/tricumulator mod and based on my light towing said he would recommend what he called his mild kit which firmed up the 1-2 shift but left the others closer to stock. $2350 later and the tranny does shift much better than stock.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

acade · 09-09-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doczenith1

I had the same symptoms and it turned out to be my planetary gear set.

I stopped by a car care center just down the road when this was happening last week, and just from hearing it and the symptoms, the technician thought it was the planetary gear set going out...so I guess its common on these transmissions??? I took it to Aamco transmission today and told them to do what was needed to bring it back; whether that was just replacing what was broken, or just doing a complete rebuild. I guess I will find out tomorrow what they think it is.

Pappy19 · 09-09-2009, 10:04 AM

You can get an upgraded rebuild kit for $500 from Suincoast. If you could trust someone to do the install, it shouldn't cost that much. The TC will run you around $1200. Again, do not replace the tranny w/o changing the TC. Also, I would also add the Summit Racing external tranny filter ($35.00), as it will save you more future problems.

Sun Coast Converters Diesel Transmissions, Fort Walton Beach FL

acade · 09-11-2009, 06:31 PM

well, got the truck back from aamco today, they rebuilt the trans for me and put a new torque converter in...all said and done, it was a bit over $2600; I got a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty with it also, so not to bad I guess; I got 180k on the clock, I guess it was about time to be expecting the tranny to give me probs, haha