Transmission Mechanics...'05 Superduty F250

LD1 · Dec 22, 2011

Working on my BIL's truck.

My buddies dad rebuilds trannys for a living, but wont be able to talk with him until 5:30 this evening. So I figured I'd run it by the board and see what everyone has to say

5R110W transmission to be exact.

BIL said symptoms started last week with it slipping in reverse a little. Problems got worse.

Current symptoms are
No OD
No reverse. (barley moves. Slips like a mother)
1-2 shift is perfect.
2-3 and 3-4 shift harsh

Checked fluid. Was two quarts low:confused2:
Topped off but I think the damage has been done. Problems are still the same.

Throwing two codes. P0766 and P2703. Both about the drive clutch.

Dropped the pan today. Didnt seem to have any peices or chunks. Just burnt fluid.

I have heard that these transmissions can get costly to rebuild. That when things go wrong, expensive parts break

Junkyard transmissions are ~$700-$1000.

I think thats about it. Going to talk with the transmission guy tonight and see if he wants to take a look before I pull the trans. (sometimes things can be fixed without the R&R.) But I am expecting him to say to pull it and let him tear it appart. And then give me a quote to fix/rebuild.

Just wondering what you all think. Any experience or truth the the costly rebuilds. It sounds to me like it will need at least a complete overhaul...new clutches and steels and bands.

Peacock · Dec 22, 2011

Rebuild is pretty straight forward. The trans is a glorified 4r100. The difference is in the valvebody, or lack thereof. I'd probably replace the line pressure solenoid and check all the apply pistons real carefully. If you're mechanically inclined(you obviously are) you could rebuild that trans yourself with a quality aftermarket kit. Pick up an atsg manual for it and go to town. Pay special attention to the clutch clearances.

rasimmo · Dec 22, 2011

Surely sounds like that one is smoked. Low fluid = high heat = broke parts It has burned the clutch plates and needs to be pulled and rebuilt. My brother had one of those rebuilt for his 04 F-250. I think it was about $3000 for just the rebuild. He spent a few more dollars on upgrades because of some minor modifications he had done to the engine. The mods and a heavy foot is the reason his tranny fried at 60,000 miles in the first place.

Diamondpilot · Dec 22, 2011

I think I would go with a Junk Yard tranny and have your friend go though it before installing. Rebuilding gets costly and on my Ram they rebuilt it at just under 40,000 miles under warranty and it did not make it another 30,000 miles.

Reason being is I have been down the tranny road before. Replaced 2 on a 03 Ram 2500 Hemi before 68,000 miles. Also replace one in my old work truck, a early 2000's V6 Dakota at around 105,000 miles. Never seen the invoice on the Ram because it was under the 100,000 mile warranty but the little Dakota was about $2000 by the time it was all said and done with a new larger tranny cooler, ect.

Chris

LD1 · Dec 22, 2011

rasimmo;2632873 My brother had one of those rebuilt for his 04 F-250. I think it was about $3000 for just the rebuild. [/QUOTE said:
That is what I am worried about.

Most other trannies are cheap to rebuild. 350 and 400 GM's. 4L60's, C4, C6, aod, none cost more than a few hundred to rebuild and another few hundred for a converter.

@ $3k, it will most likely get a junkyard tranny:thumbsup:

Peacock · Dec 22, 2011

LD1 said:
That is what I am worried about.

Most other trannies are cheap to rebuild. 350 and 400 GM's. 4L60's, C4, C6, aod, none cost more than a few hundred to rebuild and another few hundred for a converter.

@ $3k, it will most likely get a junkyard tranny:thumbsup:

Nothing expensive about that trans unless it needs hard parts or a bunch of solenoids. Transmissions aren't rocket science. The 5r110w gearset was designed off the 4r100 and resembles it very closely in operation. Most guys replace too many parts in a transmission because they don't properly diag them.

Car Doc · Dec 22, 2011

Peacock has good advice sounds like he knows them pretty well. I would add this from my perspective since I am in the auto repair business I go for the sure thing always.

By that I mean if I am taking the time to do it I want it to pay me I dont want to do it the second time for free or at a discount and I can imagine your buddy's dad is the same he is going to do it right.

I put in only factory remans or Jaspers (rather than have them rebuilt) both come with 3-5 year 100k warranty's that pay labor too and if I go used I get the same warranty and let my customer pay the 100 bucks for the warranty. good luck hth :thumbsup:

RDrancher · Dec 22, 2011

BIL said symptoms started last week with it slipping in reverse a little. Problems got worse.

Current symptoms are
No OD
No reverse. (barley moves. Slips like a mother)
1-2 shift is perfect.
2-3 and 3-4 shift harsh

Unfortunately that's a sure sign that the tranny is toast. I've been through it 3 times with my '99 (270,000 mi) and always right after the warranty ran out. Through a friend I met a guy that works out of his home shop. He normally only does work for the gasfield / oilfield folks, but he agreed to rebuild mine since it's a work and tow rig. Total cost with a billet converter and 3-year, unlimited mileage complete rebuild warranty was $1780 for my 4r100. Good luck with yours!

To add - Don't use the normal drive to reverse method to unstick your truck from mud or snow. These trannies have a "delay" built into them and doing so will fry it real quick.

LD1 · Dec 22, 2011

Thanks for the advise so far.

I knew I could count on you to chime in here car-doc:thumbsup:

Buddies dad is well known around my area. He has been rebuilding transmissions for 30+ years. It is his bread and butter. He is also well known by the local drag-racers (bracket racing) for his excellent transmission work:thumbsup:

I trust his opinion more than anyone elses when it comes to this.

Just searching online was turning up very costly repairs:confused2: North of 2k for a rebuild:confused2: I didnt do a whole bunch of searching. But I figured it wasnt much different than any other transmission that needs a rebuild. Last time I asked him (buddies dad) he normally gets $325 for a rebuild of a 3 or 4 speed auto + whatever the converter costs if needed. That is just a standard rebuild (clutches and bands). IF hard components are broken like shafts, gears, bearings....it goes up from their.

Never asked him about these newer 5 and 6 speed autos though.

We'll see if I can get in touch with him tonight. But Peacock's advise has got me being hopeful that this will just be a $300-$400 simple rebuild + converter.