1997 F150 transmission issue

[deerefan]

Update- I was able to get some lift time at my mechanic's shop last night. I was able to find a couple issues- a lot of clutch debris (black powder, burnt smell) in the fluid and I replaced the tp sensor. I serviced this trans 10k miles ago but went ahead and did it again. Od light still blinking but shifting better. He has a 2002 reg cab F250 XL with a 7.3 auto 4wd sitting in the back of his shop with only 43k miles. Cloth seat rubber floor cruise control. Manual locks and windows. A customer brought it in 2 years ago for new axle seals, lost his job and could not pay the bill. He signed the truck over and then died about 6 weeks later. The truck just gets in the way. I drove it and it runs/drives great. Everything works, needs tires. He told me give him 6500 and its mine. Thoughts?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Update- I was able to get some lift time at my mechanic's shop last night. I was able to find a couple issues- a lot of clutch debris (black powder, burnt smell) in the fluid and I replaced the tp sensor. I serviced this trans 10k miles ago but went ahead and did it again. Od light still blinking but shifting better. He has a 2002 reg cab F250 XL with a 7.3 auto 4wd sitting in the back of his shop with only 43k miles. Cloth seat rubber floor cruise control. Manual locks and windows. A customer brought it in 2 years ago for new axle seals, lost his job and could not pay the bill. He signed the truck over and then died about 6 weeks later. The truck just gets in the way. I drove it and it runs/drives great. Everything works, needs tires. He told me give him 6500 and its mine. Thoughts?

4x4 diesel for $6500. Buy it!

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. buy it or post it's wherabouts.

 

[3930dave]

If I were you, and this was a trusted mechanic, it would be sitting in my driveway already. I'm a happy 7.3 owner myself.

(I'm asssuming that down your way the body will be good to very good. Usually not the case where I live.)

Rgds, D.

 

[deerefan]

If I were you, and this was a trusted mechanic, it would be sitting in my driveway already. I'm a happy 7.3 owner myself.

(I'm asssuming that down your way the body will be good to very good. Usually not the case where I live.)

Rgds, D.

The body is in good shape. A few scratches, no dents. How about the auto trans from that year? I dont want to spend 6500 vs 1800 then have to rebuild a trans again in a year. Not sure what truck was used for, no hitch in bed or signs of one ever being there.

 

[Soundguy]

if it was not used for heavy towing it may be minty.

my 99 f450 WAS for sure used to tow and it has it's oe tranny in it. I suspect my 99 350 has it's oe tranny as well.. and it also has a gn hitch and plenty of evidence bumper pull was used a bit.

 

[3930dave]

The body is in good shape. A few scratches, no dents. How about the auto trans from that year? I dont want to spend 6500 vs 1800 then have to rebuild a trans again in a year. Not sure what truck was used for, no hitch in bed or signs of one ever being there.

My 2001 has a Ford Reman. trani in it, but was used as a City of Toronto heavy service vehicle. Mine has the 4R100 trani in it, yours may be the same model.

Given regular trani service on a stock vehicle, they seem reasonably durable. Other than neglected fluid and towing abuse, the other problem area (trani wise) can come from if the truck has been turned up - ie. maxed out with a high output tuner.

If it feels right to drive, and the Trani fluid looks/smells decent on the stick, I'd go for it.

I added a trani Temp gauge to my truck pretty quickly (not stock on the vans), make sure it's working on this p/u.

Not trying to spend more of your money.... but other than the motor oil, I'd change the Trani fluid/filter, and coolant ASAP - unless your trusted mechanic can report recent work.

Some guys upgrade the trani cooler on the 7.3 to what the factory used on the 6.0. I plan to upgrade mine, before next RV towing season here. The 6.0 part is said to be a good quality/capacity cooler; I may end up with a decent aftermarket one though, just on price.

I'm not saying the 7.3 has a known bad T cooler - just that a higher capacity one had to be spec'd for the 6.0, and as time moved on, higher capacity ones became more common in the aftermarket. Esp. down your way, I can't imagine it's easy to go too big with a Trans. cooler.

Let us know how this goes, and if it does follow you home - Pics Please !

Rgds, D.

 

[deerefan]

My 2001 has a Ford Reman. trani in it, but was used as a City of Toronto heavy service vehicle. Mine has the 4R100 trani in it, yours may be the same model.

Given regular trani service on a stock vehicle, they seem reasonably durable. Other than neglected fluid and towing abuse, the other problem area (trani wise) can come from if the truck has been turned up - ie. maxed out with a high output tuner.

If it feels right to drive, and the Trani fluid looks/smells decent on the stick, I'd go for it.

I added a trani Temp gauge to my truck pretty quickly (not stock on the vans), make sure it's working on this p/u.

Not trying to spend more of your money.... but other than the motor oil, I'd change the Trani fluid/filter, and coolant ASAP - unless your trusted mechanic can report recent work.

Some guys upgrade the trani cooler on the 7.3 to what the factory used on the 6.0. I plan to upgrade mine, before next RV towing season here. The 6.0 part is said to be a good quality/capacity cooler; I may end up with a decent aftermarket one though, just on price.

I'm not saying the 7.3 has a known bad T cooler - just that a higher capacity one had to be spec'd for the 6.0, and as time moved on, higher capacity ones became more common in the aftermarket. Esp. down your way, I can't imagine it's easy to go too big with a Trans. cooler.

Let us know how this goes, and if it does follow you home - Pics Please !

Rgds, D.

The axle seals was the the first time my mechanic worked on the truck. He is the go to guy for all the local diesel repairs, has a good rep for fixing and bullett proofing the 6.0 diesel. I oferred him my F150 and 4k cash. He knows my truck well as he has worked on it and my other trucks for years. He said he will mull it over and let me know soon. He has a 7.3 in an older ford pushing 400k miles on the original motor, a 96 I think.

 

[JasG]

Update- I was able to get some lift time at my mechanic's shop last night. I was able to find a couple issues- a lot of clutch debris (black powder, burnt smell) in the fluid and I replaced the tp sensor. I serviced this trans 10k miles ago but went ahead and did it again. Od light still blinking but shifting better. He has a 2002 reg cab F250 XL with a 7.3 auto 4wd sitting in the back of his shop with only 43k miles. Cloth seat rubber floor cruise control. Manual locks and windows. A customer brought it in 2 years ago for new axle seals, lost his job and could not pay the bill. He signed the truck over and then died about 6 weeks later. The truck just gets in the way. I drove it and it runs/drives great. Everything works, needs tires. He told me give him 6500 and its mine. Thoughts?

I'd buy it.

FWIW: I just traded my 03 F-150 because the trans dropped out. Check the fluid level 2 weeks before and looked good, no burnt smell. Driving home with the kids from shopping on Columbus day truck started doing what you are describing. Then a few miles later when in OD it wouldn't do anything the engine would only rev, no movement. Got home and the fluid had a burnt color and smell. I could drive it with the OV locked out, so I drove down to a dealer and traded that day. Next day went to go to work and had no drive.

Had to drive to the dealer in 2nd to pick up my new truck. Had it not been for the salt the truck has seen from all the NY winters I would have had the transmission rebuilt or swapped. The body was getting very bad and I planned on trading in spring anyway.

Truck had 143000 miles, and yes I told the guys when trading it the truck had trans issues.

 

[3930dave]

The axle seals was the the first time my mechanic worked on the truck. He is the go to guy for all the local diesel repairs, has a good rep for fixing and bullett proofing the 6.0 diesel. I oferred him my F150 and 4k cash. He knows my truck well as he has worked on it and my other trucks for years. He said he will mull it over and let me know soon. He has a 7.3 in an older ford pushing 400k miles on the original motor, a 96 I think.

Good luck with the deal. Your mech can swap a used trani into your existing truck fairly easily - for many of us that is a PITA job - so he may go for it.

7.3 is a good choice, esp. if you hang onto your vehicles for a while. I've driven the new 6.7's - a blast to drive, but IMO kind of like dating a supermodel - way too costly for my wallet. Many guys driving the new diesels don't hang on to them much past the warranty period.

Rgds, D.