[losfinch]

The factory transmission lasted 205,700 miles. I replaced it with a BTS at that point. That one lasted to 285,988 with just 80,298 miles. I sent it back to BTS for fixing. Now that one is gone at 425,000 with 139,002 miles on it. I haven't abused these transmissions. I've put in the newer larger oil coolers and I rarely see temps about 160...most of the time I'm in the 140 range due to the colder area I live in. I've kept up consistent fluid and filter changes every 30,000 miles and have only used BTS recommended Shaeffers All-Trans synthetic fluid. I've probably only towed a total of about 2500 miles in all the years I've owned the truck. Its been my daily driver.

Recent saga is that it was running fine up until this morning when out of nowhere it will only engage into reverse. Any forward gears it will just rev up and not move. last summer out in Arizona it puked out fluid out of the transmission just sitting after a day in the heat while visiting there. Its done this before with the last transmission. Never leaks until I get into Phoenix in the summer months and parked it. Leave it for a day or two and there will be a large puddle of fluid under the truck. I fill it back up and everything is good. It has lost about 2 quarts from this heat related expansion.

I thought I was doing myself a favor by going with the BTS transmission but my experience has not been very good up to this point. I'm not sure what to do at this point? What are people recommending for transmissions these days?

 

[Oneof6]

Well, that's disconcerting, that many BTS rebuilds being short lived. Did BTS do the change outs?

I have been all over the West including long project periods in Phoenix, Springerville and Southern Utah. Never had a fluid loss due to ambient temp expansion or even a running towing application on Service Trucks. Maybe it starts out over filled. Other events can be water from a bad cooler in the radiator increasing the volume and pushing " puking" it out.

Who to use?, well my first choice would have been BTS, second choice a Hercules transmission from DIESELSITE in Florida. I can see why you would be reluctant to use BTS, so try DIESELSITE's product.

But, it's just as likely that there is something else that's the root cause of the failures.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Problem is these many of these self proclaimed trans experts or not. They try getting away with rebuild techniques they squeezed by with when these transmission had less miles on them. Those days are over. Everything must be inspected and all hydraulic critical wear areas must be tested with a vacuum stand to find wear which can cause many issues including damage to hard parts.
What do you want to do? Do you want a replacement? ( good luck.. As you are finding out) or do you want to fix it the right way and in doing so rectify design flaws?

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Dieselsite has been out of the transmission business for over a year now. Parts were difficult getting. They are not sure if they will ever get back into the transmission business if parts availability turns around. They are focusing on expanding aftermarket parts segment. ATS might be an option for you. Thoroughbred might be able to get you one. They are just a distributor.

 

[John in OkieLand]

I have watched a lot of Marshall Williams videos on the 4r100, he is in Kentucky.

he has a whole series on how to clean them, and test each and every component to make sure the rebuild is good.

worth a look

https://www.youtube.com/@marshallsanders5672/videos

 

[losfinch]

Well, that's disconcerting, that many BTS rebuilds being short lived. Did BTS do the change outs?

I did the installs myself both times and was sure on the fill amounts per Brian's instructions, etc. The first time one failed they said that it looked like I had used some sort of detergent additive to the fluid. I hadn't and I was the only one to ever service the truck.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

The above link is not the way to build a transmission. He does no vacuum testing in critical wear zones in hydraulic components to find wear and that is critical. He address and rectify the design flaws.
If you want to laugh hysterically, fast forward to when the installs the front pump seal. I had to run to the bathroom. I was afraid that I was going to pee my pants.
Oh and he called it the pump from hell because he does not know what he is doing and that trans probably came back on him a few times.

 

[losfinch]

The transmission is out and will be sent back to BTS next week once I receive the shipping box from them. Brian mentioned a problem that they had with some of the old purple Precision (???) brand torque converters giving them problems and maybe this had something to do with its failure. These were converters that went into their transmissions some years back. Mine second one was installed in 2015. He wants to open her up and take a look at things to try and determine what was going on. I'll keep you posted on what turns up. Looks like I'm dead in the water for at least 2 weeks...this is my only and daily driver.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Toque converter would not give you only one direction. Plus you gained forward for a little while after you disconnected the harness. It is internal for sure.
Is he covering this back and forth shipping?

 

[Oneof6]

The transmission is out and will be sent back to BTS next week once I receive the shipping box from them. Brian mentioned a problem that they had with some of the old purple Precision (???) brand torque converters giving them problems and maybe this had something to do with its failure. These were converters that went into their transmissions some years back. Mine second one was installed in 2015. He wants to open her up and take a look at things to try and determine what was going on. I'll keep you posted on what turns up. Looks like I'm dead in the water for at least 2 weeks...this is my only and daily driver.

Sounds like a good plan, I hope you get a result that both solves the mystery and is budget friendly. Hope you can find an alternative transport while BTS does their inspection.

 

[John in OkieLand]

sounds like Budget Rent a car time, or Uber

 

[losfinch]

We actually live in Mexico (full-time missionaries down there since 1987). We went up to in El Paso, Texas for a 2 day shopping/supply run when it happened. We're very grateful it happened here and not out on the highway somewhere. We have a safe, comfortable place to be while waiting for it to come back. We're thinking of jumping on the Amtrak to Arizona to visit some family there while waiting. Once there we can borrow a car. Friends let us borrow their car the other night to get some groceries with (I was getting tired of Dominoes pizza for every meal). We're good.

 

[John in OkieLand]

We actually live in Mexico (full-time missionaries down there since 1987). We went up to in El Paso, Texas for a 2 day shopping/supply run when it happened. We're very grateful it happened here and not out on the highway somewhere. We have a safe, comfortable place to be while waiting for it to come back. We're thinking of jumping on the Amtrak to Arizona to visit some family there while waiting. Once there we can borrow a car. Friends let us borrow their car the other night to get some groceries with (I was getting tired of Dominoes pizza for every meal). We're good.

glad you are 'okay' and Dominos pizza?
ummmm, no thanks.

and thank you for the TrueTrac report a few minutes ago.

I used to live in Mesa, Arizona and worked for Phoenix Fire Department 20 years in the IT 911 dispatch department.... my team installed the dispatch equipment in the fire stations, and did all the maintenance & installs for the Laptops in their Apparatus ( vehicles for the non-educated )

 

[John in OkieLand]

looked up Sierra Madre Mtns, Mexico
and got a huge list of places to look, none of them close to El Paso, TX.

you must be up in the northern Sonora area?

thank you for your devotion to the Lord

 

[losfinch]

We're down in the lower section of the state of Chihuahua. Look up Copper Canyon and Tarahumara Indians and you'll see the general area. I'm originally from Phoenix.

 

[John in OkieLand]

We're down in the lower section of the state of Chihuahua. Look up Copper Canyon and Tarahumara Indians and you'll see the general area. I'm originally from Phoenix.

ha ha ha, google maps shows Copper Canyon, but won't give me a route to drive over.
looks like that is a once a month trip?


Sorry, your search appears to be outside our current coverage area for driving.

 

[John in OkieLand]

but the Tarahumara Indians, gave a route, that is much closer

 

[losfinch]

Oops...that puts you into the city of Chihuahua. Do this search instead...Guachochi, Chihuahua, Mexico. That'll get you within 10 miles of where I'm at.

 

[John in OkieLand]

that is NOT a casual Sunday afternoon drive

 

[Greg687]

Hey man, I'm 35 miles from EP (grew up in EP) so if something comes up and I can help, let me know.