Help, Help, please , truck shutters in reverse gear

[collazoscesar]

I have a 04 expedition, 5.4l awd,4x4 etc. with 105,000 maybe someone has encountered this before and can help me out. when i put my truck in reverse it shutters or shakes, mainly when i give it some gas. If i just shift to reverse and let it go on it's own it wont shutter at all. Somebody told me i have to get a new transmission and i'm hoping that is not the case. all other gears work fine, it moves into reverse with no problem but it shutters when i give it gas. ive changed the transmission fluid and filter, checked the differentials fluid levels, but still can't find the cause. Hope someone can help me with some ideas. Thank you in advance.

 

[jfe1]

I have had similar and yes, it did gave up on me, $3K to get the tranny rebuild. Have it checked out by professional a.s.a.p., thought I was still backing up one day with a bike trailer in tow and next thing there was no reverse gear. Forward gears kept working fine.

 

[Skauber]

Most likely the reverse clutch or something with the control solenoid on the reverse gear. Most issues like this won't be easy to solve, without a rebuild.. Take it to a transmission specialist and have them diagnose it. The sooner you do this, the better your chances are.

 

[03EXPO4x4]

Before you spend money on a rebuilt. I would just drop the pan and change the filter. super simple to do. Cost you about $20 for the filter and seal and takes 30 minutes to do at the most. A buddy of mine was having shudder and it stopped his for now...

 

[stimpson.j.cat]

2x on getting it looked at ASAP. Sorry, cannot offer any useful info except to check whether the transmission fluid is burnt. Maybe Lucas transmission fix or lubegard might help.

I recently had a different transmission issue. Sounded like a steering pump/transmission/whine. Using a stethoscope, the noise seemed to be originating from some of the idler/tensioner pulleys for the serpentine belt. Since the motor had +100K miles and I had no records from PO, I figured probably time to change all of them, plus serpentine, and power steering pump (also making noise). That quieted things down a lot. Probably should have changed the water pump while I was in there. Next go round

But the whine was still there - but only when putting the transmission into forward or reverse. Didn't feel like a failing torque converter - no clunk or shudder and didn't go away when in O/D. No slipping in gears, engaging issues. Took it to the local AAMCO for an opinion. Our local one seems fairly reputable.

Turned out the bushing for the front pump (known issue) had separated enough from the front pump that the pump was grinding merrily away. We caught it early enough that we didn't wreck the transmission. But there were some shavings scattered about and since I'd paid the labor for removal - gave the go-ahead for a rebuild.

Now for the bad news:

All told, the rebuild plus new torque converter (usu. standard to replace) cost $2550 w/ a 1 year, 12K mile warranty! Most of that was labor. AAMCO wanted an additional $245 for a 3 year, 36K mile warranty. I opted for it since I hope to keep the beast for another 100K. Additionally, if the transmission takes a bath while we're on vacation, I can hopefully find a competent AAMCO to honor the warranty. This is not our daily driver but used more for longer trips, vacations, towing the boat, etc.

If I were to do it again, I might have opted for a remanned transmission. A different local transmission shop would have charged $2350 for an R&R including remanned transmission cost and also warrantied it for 3 years, unlimited mileage. Only bad thing is they are a mom and pop shop so I would have to pay towing to get it back to the shop. If I had more time, knowledge, and garage space (building soon), I might have tried to do the R&R myself - since I hate parting w/ $. A remanned transmission at RockAuto would have been ~ $1200-$1500...

 

[collazoscesar]

looks like a trip to the dealer time.

Thanks for all the advice guys, sounds like i might need a new tranny. i'm dreading going to the dealer and getting it checked. will let you know the results when i go. has anyone got that thump or grind sound when your making a sharp turn in reverse like when your parallel parking, i don't know if that's the tranny also. Thanks again

 

[Skauber]

Well, I wouldn't go to the dealer.. They are most likely gonna charge an insane amount of money for it. Better to go to a standalone transmission specialist, and they're just as good as the dealer when it comes to transmission rebuilds, sometimes even better.

 

[stimpson.j.cat]

collazoscesar,

I occasionally got a slight grinding/binding sound making sharp turns in forward. Don't think I've ever noticed it in reverse...

In my case, the fix was to add 4 oz of friction modifier to the rear differential. May eventually have to replace the clutch packs but hoping not to. There is a TSB on these limited slip diffs - TSB 06-04-04.