transmission question

[kirkmears]

After searching both forums (all 10 pages of "transmission" threads on NLOC), I still haven't a clue what happened last night...

I was cruising around doing a 120mph last night (isn't that the way they always start)

jk..Last night i made a u-turn and accelerated (not WOT, but probably 1/2~ 3/4) and while still in 1st gear, it seems to pop out of gear and started coasting. The engine seems to idle fine. I threw it in neutral to coast to a safe place off the service road. After coming to a stop, I heard a whining noise, almost like a drill sound (medium to high pitch). I shut the engine down and called a flatbed to take me home. It almost seemed like it popped out of gear, so the first thing I checked was the shift linkage cable. (I just recently had a problem starting the truck where I had to shift it to neutral in order to start it) . It appeared fine. Fluid doesn't smell burnt. Tranny should be completely stock. With the truck in neutral & running, pushing it into the garage, you could hear it whining again. I also thought it might have been a rear end issue, but ruled this out when the drive shaft doesn't spin but there's still noise. When the tranny is placed into a gear, the RPM changes accordingly, but nothing happens (no drive shaft turn & engaging of tranny)...truck is stock for the most part except this is the second transmission :tex (they seem to only last around 60k miles). Year is 2000 w/ 128k miles of course the tranny shop I went to before is now closed. I've read quite a bit about CircleD & BTS trannys on the national forum. Not sure if I'm willing to rebuild my own transmission in my daily driver. Now I'm just looking for some local input.

Anyone have 2 cents?

Thanks in advance :bows

[Shiner1]

I would say the tranny is gone. Had that happen to my suburban. Same situation except I lost the high gears and reverse. As long as I wanted to drive 15mph I was OK. I suppose it could be the TC, never had one of those go out so don't know the symptoms of that disease..

[kirkmears]

Yea, I love trannys.:bs
If the converter goes, does it spit a bunch of junk into the tranny or can they be salvaged (if this is the case)? I find it really weird how it suddenly lost all power, no reverse, L1,2,D.

[L8 APEX]

Sounds like a broken input or output shaft. Drop the trans pan and looky at the metals.

[projlightning]

Yea, I love trannys.:bs
If the converter goes, does it spit a bunch of junk into the tranny or can they be salvaged (if this is the case)? I find it really weird how it suddenly lost all power, no reverse, L1,2,D.

My converter went out on my gen1 and left metal shavings everywhere. I flushed it, cleaned valve bodies thoroughly, and replaced converter and tranny still went to the $hitter. It was so bad that it locked up.

The whining problem you have, also happened to me with the next tranny that went in (which was used). Same, situation with 1/2 - 3/4...

This is what's wrong with my tranny (according to trans specialist)

1993 E4OD works only when I turn the OD off or put it in 1 or 2. But is sluggish, once I get it going I can go back to OD untill I stop again. You got any Idea's?

You have a damaged (overruns both ways) Overdrive one way clutch. All the power that comes into the transmission in first through third gears comes in through the OD one-way clutch. There is also a coast clutch that will perform the same function as the OD one-way, but it is only intended to provide engine braking. Since it is only meant for engine braking it is a very small clutch pack and does not perform the work of moving the vehicle forward well, that is why you get the sluggishness. The coast clutch is only applied when OD is cancelled, or manual first or second is selected. This is why your transmission works under these conditions. In OD normal operation is that the coast clutch is off and the OD one-way is overrunning, therefore, OD works normally.

[kirkmears]

Drop the trans pan and looky at the metals.

Looks like I found the culprit (idea what part it is/was?)
still sux.

http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/tranny2_junk.jpg

now to decide what to replace with/repair or buy a daily commuter in the mean time

Is there a specific part number for our transmissions/converters if I decide to go directly to Ford for a replacement? If I go to Ford for a replacement, will the hard parts in that transmission be brand new? Last I heard, they're around 2k (@-cost)??

This being my second transmission (my OEM was rebuilt @ 66k miles) & my truck is stock for the most part leaves me feeling uneasy about rebuilding it again. Granted, I drive the crap out of it, tow & will put a lot of miles on it...


and just to recap:
http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/4R100issue.jpg

[kirkmears]

so i'm finally getting around to dropping the tranny for the rebuild.

i've made/purchased some kind of go-go gadget 13mm socket extension for the top bolts which worked like a champ, removed the 6 converter bolts, drive shaft, cross member, O2 sensors, tranny lines, starter cables. the 800lb tranny jack from harbor freight was worth the money.

but it's still hanging up somewhere. something seems to be hanging up around the starter. does the starter have to be removed w/ headers? the drivers side comes off at least 1/2" and maybe a 1/4" on the passenger side. thanks in advance :bows

:confused:

[99WhiteBeast]

so i'm finally getting around to dropping the tranny for the rebuild.

i've made/purchased some kind of go-go gadget 13mm socket extension for the top bolts which worked like a champ, removed the 6 converter bolts, drive shaft, cross member, O2 sensors, tranny lines, starter cables. the 800lb tranny jack from harbor freight was worth the money.

but it's still hanging up somewhere. something seems to be hanging up around the starter. does the starter have to be removed w/ headers? the drivers side comes off at least 1/2" and maybe a 1/4" on the passenger side. thanks in advance :bows

:confused:

I would think the starter has to come off-I've never personally done one in a G2 but my mustang and G1 the started had to come off.

[Silver_2000]

Looks like I found the culprit (idea what part it is/was?)
still sux.

http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/tranny2_junk.jpg

now to decide what to replace with/repair or buy a daily commuter in the mean time

Is there a specific part number for our transmissions/converters if I decide to go directly to Ford for a replacement? If I go to Ford for a replacement, will the hard parts in that transmission be brand new? Last I heard, they're around 2k (@-cost)??

This being my second transmission (my OEM was rebuilt @ 66k miles) & my truck is stock for the most part leaves me feeling uneasy about rebuilding it again. Granted, I drive the crap out of it, tow & will put a lot of miles on it...


and just to recap:
http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/4R100issue.jpg

Great Graphics !!

:tu::tu:

[mustgofaster]

Looks like I found the culprit (idea what part it is/was?)
still sux.

http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/tranny2_junk.jpg

now to decide what to replace with/repair or buy a daily commuter in the mean time

Is there a specific part number for our transmissions/converters if I decide to go directly to Ford for a replacement? If I go to Ford for a replacement, will the hard parts in that transmission be brand new? Last I heard, they're around 2k (@-cost)??

This being my second transmission (my OEM was rebuilt @ 66k miles) & my truck is stock for the most part leaves me feeling uneasy about rebuilding it again. Granted, I drive the crap out of it, tow & will put a lot of miles on it...


and just to recap:
http://kirkmears.com/dnn/portals/0/media/4R100issue.jpg
Who are you having rebuild it?

[kirkmears]

probably...
circle d

once i figure out what its hung up on

[L8 APEX]

There are three bolts on the starter, one hidden way up high on the inside.

[kirkmears]

thanks Terry ;) i'll give that a try tomorrow and see if it'll :icon_arrow:easy out this time

[TXLIGHTNING]

thanks Terry ;) i'll give that a try tomorrow and see if it'll :icon_arrow:easy out this time Do you have LT headers? That will make a starter change much more of a pain. It does with the Kooks LTH I have anyway.

[kirkmears]

Do you have LT headers? That will make a starter change much more of a pain. It does with the Kooks LTH I have anyway.

yup. :eek:

i got two bolts. i can't even find the third one terry mentioned..lol. i was jumping online to find a picture of it.

[Flats Man]

I think I used a 1/4 inch socket to get that third bolt! It is even harder to install and is left out because of this sometimes! Assuming you get the third bolt out, use a piece of paper towel on the bolt head and put the socket over the bolt and piece of towel to reinstall it. Good Luck!:icon_mrgreen:

[L8 APEX]

It is right on top of the starter. I use a medium depth 13mm socket and 4 inch extension on the air ratchet.

[kirkmears]

for those with upgraded converters (i think it was the 2600~2800?), have you pulled a load (car) with your lightning? i'm not going to be pulling it from dallas to houston, but dallas to kennedale or cedar creek is likely. i know it'll run hotter, so i'll be upgrading the pan, cooler & lines regardless.

i'm looking at buying a stall from circleD next week when i pick up my tranny and i'm trying to decide if the 11 or 12 inch will work and still pull my impala around if needed. total weight with trailer would be less than 5000lbs. lookin for some local input :tu:

thanks

[mustgofaster]

for those with upgraded converters (i think it was the 2600~2800?), have you pulled a load (car) with your lightning? i'm not going to be pulling it from dallas to houston, but dallas to kennedale or cedar creek is likely. i know it'll run hotter, so i'll be upgrading the pan, cooler & lines regardless.

i'm looking at buying a stall from circleD next week when i pick up my tranny and i'm trying to decide if the 11 or 12 inch will work and still pull my impala around if needed. total weight with trailer would be less than 5000lbs. lookin for some local input :tu:

thanks

I have the Circle D 2600/2800 stall on my Gen1 & it will tow no problem.

[ThunderBolt]

Level 10 makes a good tranny. Mine has 30K on it at this time. I also run a PI 2400 stall.

http://www.levelten.com/
http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/trans_failure_temp_chart.jpg

I took my travel trailer to New braunfels a couple of weekends ago and it did well. I added another trans cooler along with a flex-a-lite fan. The trans temp ran under 180* on the highway and 205 in the city.

http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_06191.JPG
http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0615.JPG
http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0716.JPG
http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_07181.JPG

[kirkmears]

i wanted to say thanks to everyone for their input and help. i wouldn't have been able to get this far w/o it.

Ron, what is the pic of near your battery? You're truck lowered? Does it sag much in the back? With a car, you can move it to distrubute the weight...not so much with that trailer. How much does it weigh? Thanks~

Operation Tranny Pickup was a success today!:tex wait...that didn't sound right...:icon_idea: i better attach a picture for clarification
i ended up going with a non billet circle-d tranny & the 11" converter. i still need to pick up new cooler, lines and redo the exhaust. then maybe... :d
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6500_1147681182571_1543826962_359723_4702013_n.jpg

[ThunderBolt]

Ron, what is the pic of near your battery? You're truck lowered? Does it sag much in the back? With a car, you can move it to distrubute the weight...not so much with that trailer. How much does it weigh? Thanks~



Sorry for responding late. I just got back from camping at Kemah Texas.

The object next to the battery is the electric fan controller for the trans cooler.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-31147/

Here's the cooler and fan I installed.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLX-392/
http://www.oregonperformancetransmission.com/performance-transmission/HAY-1405.html

Here's the weight distribution kit. I couldn't pull this 6,000 trailer without it, and yes my truck is lowered. I'm running the Hotchkis TVS kit. I'm also running JLP long bars. I haven't had any trouble yet. You just have to be careful where you go.
http://www.reese-hitches.com/products/Pro_Series_550_lb_Weight_Distribution_Hitch_with_R ound_Bars,49575


http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_06491.JPG

[kirkmears]

don't you hate when you accidently hit backspace and loose your response...:nono: so here's the short version:

i'll definitely be looking into that setup Ron :tu: ty

so the tranny shop said my old tranny had "burnt direct clutches, damaged center support, forward drum stripped out, damaged pump gears & worn sprags!" and i thought something just broke :rolleyes:

after getting that beast installed today (starter included, well 2 of 3 bolts...just in case), i got to the last converter bolt to find out i had damaged it somewhere between houston & my flywheel. i tried running a little sand paper over it to see if that'd do the trick, but no luck. looks like a tap and die set is in my future. there's nothing i like more than dropping a tranny. i'm just hoping it warms up a little before i get the chance to drop it again later this week. i have to say-the toughest part was probably getting it on the tranny jack while under the truck, so hopefully, i'm done jackin with that :icon_cool:

[smbony9]

how much did you pay i had mine rebuild at barton transmission in mabank tx and with a hd converter cost me $1495 and he put bigger clucthes 1 and 2 second gear they can only do that if it has room for them to fit my trans works great it shifts real firm and give a year warrenty on it i have had 3 of my trans done there 93 bronce e4od and never had a problem and i was running 36 inch tires with 4.56 gears and played in the mud alot alot worked great until i traded it in on my lightning

[kirkmears]

over 3k, but it wasn't built with just a master rebuild kit...also included power pac, couple of drums that were damaged & other perf mods.

[kirkmears]

i'm going to replace my tranny lines with either...Push-Lite vs. Stainless? :icon_question:

Weight is a given...seems to be cheaper too (push-lite). Any personal experiences with the Fragola? I see you need a special tool to complete the fitting. I've always used SS in the past. Thanks for any input~


(apparently these self locking nuts can be a pain if the threads are even slightly out of place, still working on that last bolt/nut)