Excursion 7.3 Transmission Woes

Towed the boat to the lake. Tranny overheated for the first time in 96k miles. Changed filter/fluid. Tranny temp still goes higher than normal under light towing load. Temps reduce out of OD. If left unused, takes a few seconds to move upon startup. No issue after repeated use. Tranny hunts the appropriate higher gear when accelerating from a cold start-up. No issue afterward. May have a humming noise at cruising speed. Any thoughts?

Pull your dip stick and smell it if it smells like rear end grease your clutches are toast and tranny oils is used up may be able to change tranny fluid I had the same trouble with my f350 dually untill I put the sun coast tranmy in and I have had no troubles out of it

Ncmayo wrote:

Pull your dip stick and smell it if it smells like rear end grease your clutches are toast and tranny oils is used up may be able to change tranny fluid I had the same trouble with my f350 dually untill I put the sun coast tranmy in and I have had no troubles out of it

Fluid was black after overheating. Nothing in the pan. Can I have more info about sun coast? Thanks

Hate to hear that finz.

Yeah that's what I put in mine after I started drag racing my truck burnt the stock tranny up and yes my fluid turned black and was going to have to tear it down to put new clutches and bands ex. But had a guy tell me about sun coast tran and they have a lifetime warranty that comes with them up to I think 1000 hp but they will build it how or what you need it for I got mine happy medium because I was pulling with mine also drag racing. You can go to www.suncoasttrannsmisions.com and check them out.

When we had 7.3's the only issue was the trannys. We kept losing the automatic trannys. We put ATS diesel trannys in them and never had an issue on that. Great motor and great truck.

Sorry for your issues Finz. We had one that had 6 transmissions put in it in its first 30,000 miles.

Appreciate the input. I guess nobody thinks there is a remedy other than replacement? Some say check the fluid flow back rate and cooler by-pass as correctable conditions. I appreciate any opinions.

Have you talked to Gary Pauley about it ?

scottwv wrote:

Have you talked to Gary Pauley about it ?

I know I've heard the name. Tell me more.

He has a shop there in Kenna...I have his number at the house. He is SUPER smart on the 7.3 !! If you cannot find his number, I can get it for you whenever I get home.

Sounds like your transmission cooler is plugged wiaterial or your by-pass valve is stuck and needs replaced.

Here's how to test it:

Get two clean containers, each at least a gallon. One piece of clear 7/16" tubing at least 5 feet long.

Warm up the transmission. With the engine off remove the cooler line from the rear of the transmission. Attach the hose to this line. Put the other end of the hose in the first container. Have someone start the engine. Leave it in park at idle speed. Once the flow is steady move the hose to the second container for exactly 15 seconds then move the hose back to the first container and shut the engine off.

If fluid sprayed out of the opening in the trans the flow test failed. Something is blocked or the bypass valve is stuck open. A small drip from the opening is fine.

If the second container has at least one quart in it the test passes. Anything less indicates low flow to the coolers. Hope this gets you going in the right direction. I've come across this problem before. Some people actually put larger transmission coolers on these transmissions when they know they will be towing on a regular basis. Also make sure you are in tow mode instead of highway mode if your excursion gives you that option while towing. Regular highway mode uses shift points in the transmission that are not good for towing and at some point WILL burn the transmission up. Also check and make sure you don't have trailer brakes dragging as well.

The transmission shift points are controlled by computer also. Sometimes (not common) it can be a software problem.

There are transmission trouble codes that can be checked out also at a dealership with the proper test equipment. A good private dealership would probably be able to check for x-mission codes too.

Privately owned mechanics shop..not private dealership, oops.

Finz, I had a dulley that gave me fits. It had the E4OD tranny and I think I went through 4 trannies. The solinoid packs would get plugged very easy and that would burn the clutches. It was a 94 with banks sidewinder.

Great stuff guys. I'll do the flow check. Since there's nothing in the pan (and if cooler flow is good), doesn't a new Torque Converter sound like the answer?

Perhaps, but if flow test is good, check codes. Eliminate the obvious of course before going to that length. There is also a auto transmission/engine oil pressure test kit that you can buy for around 50.00 to check pressures in the circuits of the transmission via transmission lines coming off of it. You would need an actual service manual for the specs and or pressure values required. kinda doubt thats the problem YET though since this problem has just occured. I would expect to need to do this kind of test in oreder to narrow down a problem that you know for a fact is physically in the transmission itself.

Shift points are also affected by throttle position sensor. You could have something strange going on there as well. TPS sends signal to ECU and ECU creates the perfectly timed shift point signal to x-mission and makes it shift.

This would be something that would show up as a trouble code also. (BAD TPS or bad connection on TPS) How many miles are on it? Has your transmission filter been changed? Not low on x-mission fluid are ya? Leaks anywhere?

sprinklerhead wrote:

Perhaps, but if flow test is good, check codes. Eliminate the obvious of course before going to that length. There is also a auto transmission/engine oil pressure test kit that you can buy for around 50.00 to check pressures in the circuits of the transmission via transmission lines coming off of it. You would need an actual service manual for the specs and or pressure values required. kinda doubt thats the problem YET though since this problem has just occured. I would expect to need to do this kind of test in oreder to narrow down a problem that you know for a fact is physically in the transmission itself.

Shift points are also affected by throttle position sensor. You could have something strange going on there as well. TPS sends signal to ECU and ECU creates the perfectly timed shift point signal to x-mission and makes it shift.

This would be something that would show up as a trouble code also. (BAD TPS or bad connection on TPS) How many miles are on it? Has your transmission filter been changed? Not low on x-mission fluid are ya? Leaks anywhere?

No leaks. New fluid flush and filter. 96K miles

I hate to her that man. I just traded my 2005 ram 2 wheel drive with 96000 miles for a 2012 ram 1500 4X4 for that same reason. Every time I hit those WV hills I worried about the tranny.

pretty basic Ram 1500 4X4. same red as my 2005 ram and my 2010 wrangler.

https://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/jetdriverx/jetmobile/

Finzup wrote:

sprinklerhead wrote:

Perhaps, but if flow test is good, check codes. Eliminate the obvious of course before going to that length. There is also a auto transmission/engine oil pressure test kit that you can buy for around 50.00 to check pressures in the circuits of the transmission via transmission lines coming off of it. You would need an actual service manual for the specs and or pressure values required. kinda doubt thats the problem YET though since this problem has just occured. I would expect to need to do this kind of test in oreder to narrow down a problem that you know for a fact is physically in the transmission itself.

Shift points are also affected by throttle position sensor. You could have something strange going on there as well. TPS sends signal to ECU and ECU creates the perfectly timed shift point signal to x-mission and makes it shift.

This would be something that would show up as a trouble code also. (BAD TPS or bad connection on TPS) How many miles are on it? Has your transmission filter been changed? Not low on x-mission fluid are ya? Leaks anywhere?

No leaks. New fluid flush and filter. 96K miles

UPDATE - Tranny failed Saturday. New(reman) Ford 4R100HD in the driveway. OTA Cooler on the way. Making the Poker Run Saturday looks shaky.

Finzup wrote:

Finzup wrote:

sprinklerhead wrote:

Perhaps, but if flow test is good, check codes. Eliminate the obvious of course before going to that length. There is also a auto transmission/engine oil pressure test kit that you can buy for around 50.00 to check pressures in the circuits of the transmission via transmission lines coming off of it. You would need an actual service manual for the specs and or pressure values required. kinda doubt thats the problem YET though since this problem has just occured. I would expect to need to do this kind of test in oreder to narrow down a problem that you know for a fact is physically in the transmission itself.

Shift points are also affected by throttle position sensor. You could have something strange going on there as well. TPS sends signal to ECU and ECU creates the perfectly timed shift point signal to x-mission and makes it shift.

This would be something that would show up as a trouble code also. (BAD TPS or bad connection on TPS) How many miles are on it? Has your transmission filter been changed? Not low on x-mission fluid are ya? Leaks anywhere?

No leaks. New fluid flush and filter. 96K miles

UPDATE - Tranny failed Saturday. New(reman) Ford 4R100HD in the driveway. OTA Cooler on the way. Making the Poker Run Saturday looks shaky.

wow, sorry to hear that finzup. that sucks.

Finzup wrote:

Finzup wrote:

sprinklerhead wrote:

Perhaps, but if flow test is good, check codes. Eliminate the obvious of course before going to that length. There is also a auto transmission/engine oil pressure test kit that you can buy for around 50.00 to check pressures in the circuits of the transmission via transmission lines coming off of it. You would need an actual service manual for the specs and or pressure values required. kinda doubt thats the problem YET though since this problem has just occured. I would expect to need to do this kind of test in oreder to narrow down a problem that you know for a fact is physically in the transmission itself.

Shift points are also affected by throttle position sensor. You could have something strange going on there as well. TPS sends signal to ECU and ECU creates the perfectly timed shift point signal to x-mission and makes it shift.

This would be something that would show up as a trouble code also. (BAD TPS or bad connection on TPS) How many miles are on it? Has your transmission filter been changed? Not low on x-mission fluid are ya? Leaks anywhere?

No leaks. New fluid flush and filter. 96K miles

UPDATE - Tranny failed Saturday. New(reman) Ford 4R100HD in the driveway. OTA Cooler on the way. Making the Poker Run Saturday looks shaky.

If I lived closer I would come help u Finz! Sorry about the tranny and good luck with the swap

A few things that I have learned -

1. If your tranny suddenly overheats after years of good service, don't deceive yourself that a flush & filter is going to fix it. It'll only let you run for a little while longer even if you don't tow anything.

2. The cooler by-pass function is not temperature related and seldom goes bad.

3. Ford says you CANNOT flush the OTA filter clean. You must replace it to gain the 3 yr. warranty on a reman HD transmission.

4. Tousely Ford is without a doubt the most friendly, customer conscious and cheapest source for OEM Ford parts.