Hi all,

I've towed many times with my truck and love the way it tows (8000-10,000lbs.), but on my last trip I had a problem and was wondering if it is the actual trans. or electrical gremlin. I was running the NYS thruway about 75-80 mph (I know, too fast for towing), truck was in tow/haul entire time. Everything was normal until I came to a toll booth and started to go again. Truck was laboring to get going, kinda like it was slipping or starting in second gear. Unfortunatley I didn't think to try and manually put it in first (dummy). Once we finally got going it wouldn't shift into third (I think) because we were taching out and only going 50-55 mph. I let off the gas for a long time trying to coax it into shifting with no luck. Tried taking it out of tow/haul, no luck, pulled off to the side thinking maybe it was too hot (no dash warning lights though). Started going again and same exact senario happened so we puttered to next exit. Checked fluids, OK, no burnt odor and nice and clean. Let it sit about 20 min. and decided to do a test run down a county road. Everything back to normal. Got back on the thruway ran about 65 mph for 5-10 miles and decided to pull over and do a "take-off" test to see if the problem was really over, thinking maybe it did overheat the first time but didn't trip the sensor. Had the same problem agian. Called it a night and camped out by a dealer till morning as we still had a 2 hour tow ahead of us going into the hills by Lake Placid. Dealer checked it, found for a code for tcc (torque converter control, i think), did some tests and couldn't pinpoint and problem. He felt it could possibly be the ECM. Decided to head home and had no issues at all the entire run. Brought it to my local dealer to have checked, they said the computer did indicate the problem did occur, but they couldn't get it to happen again. Said they felt it was a communication link problem and they checked all the wiring and harnesses but could not get it to fault agian. They cleared the codes and said to bring it back if it happens again. Do you think maybe the first dealer while testing unknowingly fixed a loose connection or something? Does this trans have a limp mode? Why no indicator lights? HELP!!!! Can I trust this truck or is it bound to ruin another vacation. BTW, it's running great, for now.

 

Since you were towing, if your torque converter won't lock-up and it went into overdrive, you're going to be superheating the fluid because the TC can't put that much power down. When my tranny gets hot >200 it starts off in third.

 

Well, they're replacing the valve body and soleniods on the trans. thinking this may be the problem. Parts are on back order. Anybody else having issues with these parts or am I the only lucky one. Before buying I heard good things about this trans as long as your not bombing or towing very heavy. Say a prayer for our southern brothers and sisters in that mess, they could use it.


Sticky

 

I had one similar event. I didn't go to a dealer to pull codes...
My tranny acted up once -- not towing, nothing special to note.
I limped to work, worried all day... then it never happened again (at least not yet)

 

Well, when I pull the tranny to do some work on it, I plan on cleaning all the sensors / drop in a new VB and see if that fixes it. Once the tranny gets hot (180-200) pan temp it starts off in third gear. Usually it will downshift, but sometimes it won't. Yesterday it was particularly hot, and I was pulling into traffic (heavy traffic) from a little side street, I was there powerbraking to 3psi (yes I build booost launching into this kind of traffic) turn and nail it, it seems my tranny was feeling saucey cause my 37's caught on fire, looked at the spedometer, 45mph, look back, white smoke with black on top. I was like "Well, this is more like it " My friend with an ex-modded 03 now has an 06 (**** I'M JEALOUS ON THE IMPROVEMENTS) saw it and was grinning ear to ear, I guess he knows what to expect with the bug hits him.

 

Got the truck back after the work was done. No problems at all, even when towing, and then about 10 days later my turned into a . Driving on the highway in some traffic (not towing) everything was fine. Traffic cleared and we were cruising again and when I got off the exit it was staying in third gear (I think) not shifting up or down. Tried manually to shift and messed around with tow haul mode to no avail. Happened twice that night. One thing I did notice is that after you turn the truck off and on it resets everything. Dealer checked over again and this time had no codes and "could not duplicate problem". They are ordering a new ECM as per Star. Said there are currently 800+ units on order. Is he full of it or what, with that many on order I think we would of been hearing of more problems. Unfortunately I'm starting to consider the lemon law because I'm getting real close to the 18K mile cutoff (NJ rules).

Stick

 

It is going into limp mode. Most likely caused by a bad gov. pressure sensor or transducer.

Just because they changed them it doesn't mean they put good one in it. Ask them to change them again. Check the wiring too.

 

When I worked for Gm, I would use the scanner, and go up and down the roads shifting the truck with the scanner, and if it shifted fine, I would know the solnoids, and hard parts were OK, that leaves the ECM, or sensors(temp.,Speed,etc.), or harness problem.

 

Thanks to the help of a fellow member on this board named "Pearce", my trans problems are finally gone (at least think). Turns out Pearce had the same problem I was having and it turned out to be a wiring harness going to the trans getting cut and grounding out while rubbing on a ground strap. All seems ok now.

Thanks for everyone's help,

Sticky

 

Its a wonder how they dont find that when they checked ti man i hate dealers

 

That is why you never buy an electronic transmission! I had problems with a Ford Tranny once and will never buy an automatic again.