[evotech]

I did search and surprisingly came up empty. Can anyone give me a breakdown of which years to avoid and which trannies to avoid. I have been told that these trucks have major tranny problems and I plan on towing cross country with the family. I do not need to break down in the middle of no where with a bad tranny. Thanks in advance.

 

[pabrannan]

Could and will happen with whatever you buy. Weak link in my tranny is the mechanical diode. Since I drive like a little ole man and don't pound on it I hope it lives a long and productive life! Only time will tell. I have 96k miles and so far so good. I did the sonnex/tricumulator and syn fluid to help prolong the probable demise, hopefully further down the road. At least I have the knowledge of who and where to get a trans if needed thanks to this site.

I have been to the Canyon, to Nova Scotia, and everywhere in between pulling a TT with my mechanical diode tranny and just don't worry too much about it, stuff happens no matter what you have. In the fourty years of driving all kinds of vehicles I have only had one tranny failure and that was on a Dodge Dakota factory equipped to tow 6.1k.( TT was only 5.4k)

Paul B

 

[aaron35]

It' a crap shoot really. I have read horrible things about the first 03 6.0's, yet I own one, and have had zero problems. Just returned from the mountains pulling an 8000# bunkhouse and had an awesome trip. A coworker recently purchased an 06 6.0 (supposedly the one that they worked all of the bugs out of) and he hates it. Finds a new problem every time he drives it. Any diesel can have tranny problems depending on how you drive it. An engine with this much torque has the ability to tear things up if driven hard. If you really want a diesel, get one and take good care of it. It will serve you well.

 

[aaron35]

Didnt read the bottom of your post Paul. In all my years of towing, the only tranny I ever cooked was in a Dodge as well. 1 ton dually pulling two horses in a light weight trailer. I wasnt even working it. It just decided it was time to retire, and went about doing it shortly after leaving on a long trip. That's why I'm driving a Ford. I love the Cummins, (my dad and brother both own one),but their trannies scare me to death. I also had problems with a Dakota transmission. I didnt cook it, but it constantly shifted in and out of lockup. I owned it for 6 weeks and actually had it in my posession for a week and a half. The rest of the time it was in and out of the dealer shop. No more.

 

[evotech]

Bump for some more responses. No one really answered which years have the better or worse trannies.

 

[leros]

Hi Evotech,
I have an 04 6.0L Exc. w/30K miles and no trans problems at all. There was a recall on the trans, I think something to to with a planetary gear problem. Brought it in, they changed it, changed trans oil and filter. I had some engine problems early in it's life (around 3k) but I have a really good mechanic here in Orange County and running great now. I heard the problem transmissions were with the pre 6.0L trucks/Excusions (pre 03) with the 7.3 engines.

You could post your transmission question in the "PowerStroke Engine and Drivetrain" section if you haven't already. Same trans in the trucks I believe, if I'm wrong someone please tell me so.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up buying.

I almost forgot, welcome to the forum, alot of really good info here!

 

[Mudraga]

2001 is the year to avoid if you're shopping. Its the year with the mechanical diode that sometimes has issues. My friends '01 just went out with a little over 100k on the ticker. It was the diode that did it in.

 

[bpcheramie]

[ QUOTE ]
2001 is the year to avoid if you're shopping. Its the year with the mechanical diode that sometimes has issues. My friends '01 just went out with a little over 100k on the ticker. It was the diode that did it in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey I seem to remember reading that not all of the 01 had the diode issue. I have an 01 but I have only had it for a short period. I ahve not had any problems with it as of yet. It has 118k on it and I feel that I do run it a little hard doing the stop light race. The thing that make me even more scared it the powered rods in some of the 7.3. Now I have not done much looking it to it as of yet but I have heard bad things about them.

Now please be nice to me and dont flame me for thigs that may be incorrect.

Brent

 

[Mudraga]

I'm sure that there are certain starting and ending build dates to specifically cite which trannts have the issue. I don't know that information. I just avoided all '01s when I was looking to make it easy on me.

As for the Powdered rods. As I understand it, they are easily good for 400 HP or more. I know I'll never be putting that much through my Ex so I don't worry about them. Besides, isn't IMELMO running 13 second 1/4s with powdered rods still in his truck? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[bpcheramie]

Elmo truck has had some major work do to it to get it there. Here are some of his mods to the engine:

DI 6-position chip
4" downpipe to 4" straight pipe
AFE Stage II intake
DI forged rods
DI head studs
DI high performance fuel system
Garrett GTP38r turbo
DI mini-me injectors
tc lock-up mod
BD torque converter
DI headers
DI intercooler
Terminator hpop
2 stage nitrous
custom DI tuning

It just may be something else he may want ot look at when he is getting one. What years did the powdered rods come in?

Brent

 

[Huckster]

My 01' has the trans problem. Mine was an early 01' made in late 2000. It went out at 35K. I drove it really hard though and towed frequently. It was great after they replaced the tranny. It did have the Sonnax/Tricumulator mod done to it and synthetic fluid.

Huck

 

[glennz]

have a 2000 x inthe for sale section, only thing it was ever to the dealer for was a waterpump under warranty, just flipped 90,000 care free miles

glenn z

 

[dougger222]

My wifes Excursion was bought 3 years ago with 104K miles and now with close to 170K miles the tranny is still running strong.

The work truck had a failed tranny at 83K miles due to a cheap chip and $2,000 later on a Ford rebuilt unit the speedo sits at 229K miles.

The work truck has finally been paid off and now I'm starting to look for a 99 or 2000 F350 crew cab 4x4 7.3.

I know the powder coated motors were in 03 and 02 and I think some in 01 had them too.

 

[FamilyRide]

We have a friend with a '01 or '02 7.3 2WD Limited with about 80k that they are selling. If they don't sell it, they may have it repainted solid pure white then painted with the same custom graphics that are being laid in their new boat.

They haven't had any issues with it at all.