Whiny transmission

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

muchocheko

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2019
Posts
6
Reaction score
3
Location
Illinois
I've got a 2012 Expy Limited and decided to change the atf and filter as I'm at about 70k miles and will start towing a camper soon.

The job went well, but when I was done, the transmission emitted a whining sound, getting higher pitched with increased rpm.

From what I read, this could be caused by low atf. I checked the level (and burned my hand about a million times) and it looked good. This did not fix the problem.

I again checked it after driving it about 20 minutes (at normal temp, level, with the vehicle on and in park w/ emergency brake), and it was a little low. The fluid came to the bottom end of the dotted part of the dipstick. I added half a quart and it was still a little low, so added more.

Before I finished that last half a quart, fluid came out of the fill hole.
I haven't driven it again, but my question is, can the whining noise be from wrong fluid level or something else entirely?

The vehicle seemed fine before I started messing with it, so hopefully it's just a matter of getting the right amount of fluid in the trans. FYI I used Mercon LV, as specified in the manual.

BTW, if there are any Ford engineers reading this, please go back to the normal dipstick at the top of the engine. What were you thinking??

Thanks guys!
muchocheko
 
OP
OP
M

muchocheko

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2019
Posts
6
Reaction score
3
Location
Illinois
Trans fluid filter was too long, hitting the bottom of the pan. Didn't let any fluid circulate through the transmission. Luckily there was no damage.
Leaned my lesson...don't buy important parts like this at autozone, or at least don't trust their parts system nor the knucklehead manning the system.
 

stamp11127

Full Access Members
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Posts
6,218
Reaction score
1,250
Location
Temple, Georgia
One of the first lessons learned when turning wrenches is to check the new part against the old - for size, shape, construction etc. Even then don't toss it when the job is completed.
 

1955moose

Full Access Members
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Posts
5,981
Reaction score
1,336
Now you know why we are pro Ford parts on the critical items. Like Stamp stated, you always compare old to new parts, when doing even the simplest jobs. As far as Ford going back to the long dipstick, like first edition, don't hold your breath. It's amazing they have a stick at all. Their are a lot of vehicles like BMW, and Mercedes, that have no way of measuring how much is in there. They expect you to just leave the fluid in till you replace the transmission. I guess they feel if your not rich enough, you shouldn't be driving a Beemer or Benz.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk
 

762mm

Full Access Members
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Posts
639
Reaction score
388
Location
Quebec, Canada
Thanks for the updates, OP! I just did the same job today using a Motorcraft trans filter and Mercon LV fluid. No whining noise on mine, luckily.

My first guess would've been that you forgot to remove the round gasket at the top of the filter neck when removing the old filter. But I guess it was just a simple matter of having been sold the wrong part... happened to me too lately, both Rockauto and Autozone are selling "fuel filters" for my 2014! Yes, I bought one... bought the line disconnect tool kit too... imagine my surprise when I went under the truck and couldn't find a damn filter!


Also, I can literally feel your pain in regards to cat burns... I have a few on my hands from earlier. Thank you FoMoCo for making sure we'd have scars to remember each ATF change...


:flame:


Tip for anyone reading this : the 6R80 transmission requires exactly 7.4 quarts of Mercon LV after a pan drop / Motorcraft filter change. The last 2-2.5 quarts have to go in with the engine running and truck leveled. If you do this, your fluid level should be right on the money on 1st try.
 
Last edited:

762mm

Full Access Members
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Posts
639
Reaction score
388
Location
Quebec, Canada
My setup to keep truck level off the ground - 4 ramps, had to drive onto them in 4x4 mode, because rear wheels were slipping on metal ramps :

Trans-Fluid-Change-2019.jpg
 

WEDGE

Full Access Members
Joined
Jul 5, 2019
Posts
158
Reaction score
86
Location
Kimberley BC Canada
My setup to keep truck level off the ground - 4 ramps, had to drive onto them in 4x4 mode, because rear wheels were slipping on metal ramps :

Trans-Fluid-Change-2019.jpg
Did you by chance replace the bulkhead connector or o-ring seals on it when you had the pan off? The release for the connector is inside the pan. My 2010 leaked from there like crazy, so the only remedy was to drop the pan/filter/oil and release the connector and changed it. I let the boys in the shop handle that for me ( I work at a ford dealership)
 

TobyU

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Posts
2,479
Reaction score
869
Location
Ohio
My setup to keep truck level off the ground - 4 ramps, had to drive onto them in 4x4 mode, because rear wheels were slipping on metal ramps :

Trans-Fluid-Change-2019.jpg


The underside looks clean on that for a northern climate but I'd get after that little rocker rust and scrape/grind it off and maybe Ospho then Extend it and then rustoleum 2-3 coats
then maybe consider POR 15 or rubberized undercoating on that edge and the back side as far as you can.

We have a 2000 that was perfect in 2012 and around 16 the rockers started rusting and now are about gone! I never even got under there to inspect them.
A little cleaning and even minor rustoleum would have gone a long way.
 

762mm

Full Access Members
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Posts
639
Reaction score
388
Location
Quebec, Canada
Did you by chance replace the bulkhead connector or o-ring seals on it when you had the pan off? The release for the connector is inside the pan. My 2010 leaked from there like crazy, so the only remedy was to drop the pan/filter/oil and release the connector and changed it. I let the boys in the shop handle that for me ( I work at a ford dealership)

No, unfortunately I did not... I didn't know about the bulkhead connector issue until I watched Makuloco talk about it on a YouTube video AFTER I did the job... :(

I'll do it next time. Mine is not leaking for now, so I'm hoping it will remain like that for a while.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
53,391
Posts
500,597
Members
46,798
Latest member
geovanni
Top