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wjkrostek · 05-02-2016, 11:29 PM

I'm new and don't know where to post this so I'll put it here.
This is a two parter. One is to tell whom ever is interested that I just went up and down the AK highway (4200 miles) or at least part of it, the other part was hwy 37 for part of it. Both the roads were good at least by Alaska standards. Lots of bears and moose to be seen so drive careful.
gas cost was from .98 cents in the south to 1.22/ lt in the north depending where you stop. Canada dollar is about 80 some cents.

Part two is I have a skip or a fast slip in my Ford 1994 Motor home 7.5LT E350 Automatic 3 speed with overdrive. (anyone know what transmission is in these fords) At first I thought it was a engine miss. But I was in it long enough to figure it must be a transmission slip. It is a sharp little jerk and seems to happen only sometime when I think it going into lockup and then back out. Have any of you had this problem and what did you do? maybe its normal for these to act this way. I had a small engine miss and after I fixed that and started the trip to Washington and back did this problem showed its self. It's a little jurk or at least more than I expect to feel. Any ideas?

Skip426 · 05-03-2016, 12:07 AM

Welcome to iRV2.

Transmission issues on the Al/Can .

.98 a liter to 1.22 , so summer gas pricing hasn't cut in yet.

Does the transmission fluid , look brown or blackish. Any color but red is not good.
If memory serves , the trans you have should only lock up in 3rd or O/D.
If you drive holding the trans in 3rd , gear do you feel the same issue , or is it only on O/D ?

wjkrostek · 05-03-2016, 08:35 AM

The summer prices must not of been in yet as a lot of places were still closed for the winter. Spring has not yet sprung up here. I can't hold it in 3rd. Mine only goes 1,2,D/over drive. at first I thought it was Overdrive when it happen then a few times it happened going up a long steep hill in D in when overdrive was already out. I never put it in 2nd I would just lug her down and let it shift down on its own. Never had it happen in 2nd. oil looks good no off colors or smells. I sucked out 6 quarts of oil and put in 6 fresh and it seemed to help. (hard to say for sure, the oil in there must of been at least 12 years old) I'm going to do that again and see if it gets better but my drive is over and I'll never get any miles on her now. I don't drive 500 miles a year or maybe less.

Skip426 · 05-03-2016, 09:07 AM

If you didn't drop the trans pan and replace the filter , I'd say that would be a good idea.
The problem you describe, with the timing being close to torque converter lock up, could be due to a partially plugged filter , when the trans need max fluid flow to operate correctly.
Take a picture of the trans pan , showing the shape , and the parts department you visit should be able to tell you the trans type and supply a gasket and filter, and the correct fluid.

wjkrostek · 05-03-2016, 10:23 AM

Thanks Skip. I'm going to change that filter when I can or at least before I take her out again. I expect I will not get her on the road again for some time. (maybe years) I have been thinking that I owned her for 12 years and as far as I know the oil has never been changed in 22 years. she only has 50k miles on her. Do you know if oil can go bad over time. Oil in there looks new but I'll change her again anyway just to be sure I get the filter. Have you ever used oil additives to your rigs. I never have used that stuff and don't know if any of it works. Seems to me if it was any good they would already put it in. A lot of people add a can of Heat to there gas and then complain about gas companies adding 15% alcohol to there gas. Makes no sense to me.

Skip426 · 05-03-2016, 05:25 PM

With sitting as much as it does , any internal problems with the trans , could be from slight internal rust/corrosion rather that oil breaking down. The rod that activates the torque converter lock-up , may be binding , or possibly, internal surfaces in the torque converter are rough from spending time dry, if the converter ever drained back.
Drop the trans pan with caution , you'll want to see any debris or residues that may be on the bottom of the pan. Take pictures if you see anything unusual.

ajpaero · 05-04-2016, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjkrostek

I'm new and don't know where to post this so I'll put it here.
This is a two parter. One is to tell whom ever is interested that I just went up and down the AK highway (4200 miles) or at least part of it, the other part was hwy 37 for part of it. Both the roads were good at least by Alaska standards. Lots of bears and moose to be seen so drive careful.
gas cost was from .98 cents in the south to 1.22/ lt in the north depending where you stop. Canada dollar is about 80 some cents.

Part two is I have a skip or a fast slip in my Ford 1994 Motor home 7.5LT E350 Automatic 3 speed with overdrive. (anyone know what transmission is in these fords) At first I thought it was a engine miss. But I was in it long enough to figure it must be a transmission slip. It is a sharp little jerk and seems to happen only sometime when I think it going into lockup and then back out. Have any of you had this problem and what did you do? maybe its normal for these to act this way. I had a small engine miss and after I fixed that and started the trip to Washington and back did this problem showed its self. It's a little jurk or at least more than I expect to feel. Any ideas?

More than likely you have the Ford E4OD transmission. I did the Alaska trip in 2015 and had the problems I will describe here. See if it sounds similar to what you are seeing.
In overdrive on a flat stretch of hwy, the transmission would suddenly shift to neutral and only way to get it back into gear was to take it out of OD. I would then run it in Drive for a mile or so and put it back into OD and it would be OK for many miles, then do it again. We were cruising at about 57 MPH. We had the pan dropped and replaced fluid and filter with no change.
It did that trick for about 2500 miles at which time we had the transmission replaced in Anchorage at Quality Transmissions (NOT RECOMMENDED). The replacement transmission began to fail after only 600 miles and had to be repaired again in Fairbanks. Our MH is very heavy at 20000 GVW with the 7.5L engine and Banks Power. We were also pulling a 3500# Jeep. I believe that combination is pushing the capabilities of the tranny.
The upshot of this story is that we ended up purchasing a newly rebuilt transmission warranted by Ford for only $2500 once we got back home to Tucson, AZ. Ford warrants this Ford Rebuilt tranny for 3 years parts and labor good at any Ford Dealer worldwide. Unfortunately, they are almost impossible to get in a short time in Alaska unless you are willing to pay for expedited shipping from the lower 48.
If you are interested in getting repairs done on your transmission, H&H Repair in Fairbanks did a fine job of getting us going again and the tranny got us 4000 miles to our home in Tucson, AZ where we immediately ordered the Ford Rebuilt tranny.
Any questions, just post here and I'll try to give all info I can. Tranny problems on the road are a huge pain.
a.j.

twinboat · 05-04-2016, 04:11 PM

If the fluid looks good, I would be looking at plugs and wires before messing with the transmission.

Hard to imagine what would make a trans. skip, without burning the oil. Even if it was an electical issue, it would slip a bit more then a skip, under load.