Overdrive is out?

[Eckie]

2004 F150 5.4 --- Overdrive is non-functional -- if I don't turn it off, it's like it's in Nuetral -- I'll get it into a shop asap, but I'm fearing the worst right now (transmission) --

Tranmission fluid levels have been checked and are fine.

Any pointers on what's going on here?

Thanks.

[reinhard1]

i had something like that happen to me with my dodge 4wheel drive. it turned out to be a bad celunoid. price the job out. i was quoted $500 for this and i finaly went to wholesale transmission near the northtown shopping center and they did it for $150. i also had my transmission re-built there for $1500. been going there ever since. great work, and stand by their job. good luck.

[Scott K]

I share fearing the worse with you

[Eckie]

98 views and 2 replies --- I was hoping for a little expert help here...hmm.....

Any recommendations on a good place to go in Maple Grove?

Reinhard -- I will be giving the place you referred a call. Thank you.

[hanson]

In my experience, no overdrive = tranny rebuild.

I had the tranny in my GMC Sierra done by AAMCO in Crystal (think its Crystal, its on Broadway).

I was happy with the work and they did their best to educate me as to what happened and why and what they'd be replacing, etc.

$2,500 bucks or so.

[reinhard1]

the guy is actualy expanding and will have another place in blaine soon. he is vietnamese and so are all his workers. they take pride in their work and i have found them to have the lowest price for work performed. this is work on my truck i just had done:

U joint driver side

U joint passenger side

differentioal pinion seal

front hub assembly [bearing replaced] total price for all $785.36 parts and labor.

good luck.

[Scott K]

98 views and 2 replies --- I was hoping for a little expert help here...hmm.....

Any recommendations on a good place to go in Maple Grove?

Reinhard -- I will be giving the place you referred a call. Thank you.

Sorry I could have been a little mre professional about my response, but in the end, it will come to the same conclusion. Almost everytime one gear in a tranny neutralizes when it shifts there, either the clutches are smoked in the clutch pack, or you have fluid bleeding past a seal, or cracked hub. Over drive is the most abused gear of them all, the engine is usually at lower RPMs, and has less power to increase speed when demanded, so while pulling something, it is easy for over drive to go out. I could take a few stabs at what is wrong in side your tranny, but the only way to tell for sure is to tear it down and inspect it.

Was the fluid burnt at all? Was it dark? Did it smell like it got really hot? Removing the pan and inspect for clutch material would be the next step after pulling codes. If there is a bunch of clutch material, its time to tear down, if there are no codes, and there is no clutch material in the pan, its time to tear down, if there are gear ratio codes, and no bad fluid, its time to tear it down.

I know my previous anser was kinda cocky, and short, I do apologize for that, but as I said the first time, I do agree with you, I fear the worse, that it will need to be torn down and inspected (rebuild). The only way to tell on it would be to bring it in and get it tested. I would stay away from the big transmission shops, they love to throw remans in when they arent needed.

[Eckie]

Wandering --- no worries---and I wasn't upset at your first post -- I can appreciate a little humor, even if it made my stomach cringe a bit. Thank you for the insight. You were one the "experts" I was hoping would chime in --

I changed my oil the week before, and they did tell me that a seal was out and I was leaking fluid -- so my plan was to bring it in within a week when my schedule allowed.

Less than a week later, OD slips and goes out. Does the leaking fluid change the prognosis at all, even if it's not low? It does not appear burnt -- it's still fairly clean and red/pink.

[Scott K]

Ah, I would make sure they put the correct fluid into the tranny. Also if a filter was replaced, it is possible the seal for it may be leaking and sucking air.

Did they say what seal is leaking? Was it the torque converter seal? If so make sure the T/C isnt blue in color, if it is, this indicates the transmission has been over heated, and the T/C has expanded from the heat, and is leaking, usually will have some other internal problems, that caused the tranny to get hot.

[Eckie]

I haven't fixed the seal as of yet -- the oil change guys said it wasn't urgent but should get it fixed sooner than later -- but now, a few days later, I'm having what may appear to be real problems.

Thanks 4W...appreciate the help.

[Eckie]

UPDATE ---

My worst fear was confirmed -- 4th gear is gone -- transmission need to be rebuilt.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

[Scott K]

That sucks! But at least you did suspect it, and it wasnt a huge surprise.

[JohnMickish]

How many miles on your truck? I had the exact same thing happen to my Explorer years ago. One day OD just quit. I didn't feel bad since it was in the 150,000 mile range.

[Eckie]

mnfishingguy -- 139k on the truck.

Wandering -- not surprising, just really disappointing.

Sure appreciate the help!

[JohnMickish]

Bummer. That's not unreasonable for mileage but still a bummer.

[CaptainMusky]

I changed my oil the week before, and they did tell me that a seal was out and I was leaking fluid -- so my plan was to bring it in within a week when my schedule allowed.

Just curious, when you had your tranny fluid changed did you have them "flush" it or drop the pan, replace filter and top off with fluid?

I am not a big fan of flushing the tranny because it pushes all that [PoorWordUsage] back through everything. I prefer to drop the pan, change the filter and top off. You dont get all the fluid out, but historically it has been good for me. I change the fluid more frequently this way, like every 40K or so maybe sooner.