*sigh* Transmission Blew Up and lost 3rd and 4th
- Thread starter J
- Start date
Got it all together yesterday and drove it to work today. Drives/shifts much better than before and feels more sturdy. Ended up doing a complete rebuild because my builder found a few issues with how it was put built before. The shaft was replaced with a new Ford part because the issues he found are what contributed to it's failure. Therefor he didn't feel the need for a hardened one. Also found a few burnt clutches as well so I opted to put it back together right. Cost me $1,048 with taxes and a 4R70W2 converter. Labor was free ofcourse. I guess my back paid a lil.
glad you're back on the road!
driller
El Presidente
I can't believe this. Of course there were issues that contributed to the failure. The point was to minimize the risk of subsequent failure!
LOL... so very true!Trans builders are like contractors, they always blame each other
The only component I could see at fault may be the thrust washer being backwards. I think the broken snap ring was a casualty of the broken shaft. It is not uncommon for line pressure to be increased (though preferably only when it shifts) and it is not uncommon for the accumulator to have no bias spring (that's more of a personal shift preference). I think the builder saw several things he wouldn't have done, not necessarily damning evidence.
I hope we're wrong but I have to agree. No way would I have opted for the OEM stub shaft in this application, especially after the failure of the component.
I wish you luck.
J
OCCUPY LoD :)
Oh I don't doubt you're guys' knowledge for sure....I'm just the messenger. He explained the snap ring as being some type of curved or twisted style that is installed a certain way, I never got to see it though.
As far as the shaft goes....I insisted on the hardened one and got talked out of it. I guess I'll just be relying on that warranty.
In the mean time....no letting off like that in second. I looked at the shaft and drum and I'm assuming the shaft is trying to engage into the drum at a fast rotational speed because of the pressure (from being on the throttle and letting off) and then it snaps when it slided into the forward drum? That sound about right?
Naw, haven't been sideways, saving gas because I'm broke. Sucks being paid once a month.
I bet if I manual shifted into second this would have never happened?
As far as the shaft goes....I insisted on the hardened one and got talked out of it.
I guess I'll just be relying on that warranty. In the mean time....no letting off like that in second. I looked at the shaft and drum and I'm assuming the shaft is trying to engage into the drum at a fast rotational speed because of the pressure (from being on the throttle and letting off) and then it snaps when it slided into the forward drum? That sound about right?
Naw, haven't been sideways, saving gas because I'm broke. Sucks being paid once a month.
I bet if I manual shifted into second this would have never happened?
driller
El Presidente
Probably talking about a spiral-lock ring.
Never fear to "lift" when you need to.
The shaft does not slide. It is engaged at all times. It is under torque stress that it breaks.
I'm not sure manual shifts would be better or worse. The shaft breaks from torsional fatigue - the hardened shaft simply lasts longer because it is more resistant to metal fatigue.
You will find the longevity of the stock shaft directly proportional to your driving habits.
Beat the hell out of it and cash in on your warranty!
J
OCCUPY LoD :)
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Ya, spiral ring sounds familiar!
Thanks for info JP, I'll still drive it like I usually do. No need to impress the neighbors every single day.
Ya, spiral ring sounds familiar!
Thanks for info JP, I'll still drive it like I usually do. No need to impress the neighbors every single day.
Stone17
New member
Watch out.Beat the hell out of it and cash in on your warranty!
I did that to my last car and the shop never cover the warranty.
I impress my neighbors all the time and three of them are cops
My neighbor's 98 MKVII did a strange thing, somewhat similar a couple of days ago and I was with him when it happened: We were starting up a small hill and the transmission shifted down and then disengaged, the engine revved up and then when he backed off the throttle, it engaged harshly and we continued on. When we got about a mile down the road, we stopped at a stop light and when we attempted to start off again the car wouldn't move. Jim, my neighbor, gave it a little more throttle and it crept through the intersection and we pulled over to the side of the road and the car would not move forward, only backwards. Reverse was fine, just no forward in any gear position. We had it towed back to his house and there it sits. Any thoughts, anyone??
Smoked transmission clutches
I expect that is the problem but its hard to figure that this car has been coddled and maintained all its life and was working excellently with nice firm shifts up until that event. Would you recommend rebuilding the existing transmission or buying a replacement from a rebuilder? I'm not sure that Jim can afford to do much more with it as he is in poor health now and that is why I was with him in the first place. My old 93 has more miles on it than his and its still going strong and has survived both my kids!! I know for sure that they flailed the heck out of my Mark because they used to brag about how fast it was. Anyway, thanks for your input, I will go next door and tell him what I have found.
I expect that is the problem but its hard to figure that this car has been coddled and maintained all its life and was working excellently with nice firm shifts up until that event. Would you recommend rebuilding the existing transmission or buying a replacement from a rebuilder? I'm not sure that Jim can afford to do much more with it as he is in poor health now and that is why I was with him in the first place. My old 93 has more miles on it than his and its still going strong and has survived both my kids!! I know for sure that they flailed the heck out of my Mark because they used to brag about how fast it was. Anyway, thanks for your input, I will go next door and tell him what I have found.
J
OCCUPY LoD :)
These transmissions are notorious for failing after 100+K miles, even with maintanance. Let us know where you live, someone is most likely in the area and can help with the job. It's cheaper to find a good used 98+ transmission as those are the updated versions but if he's gong to rebuild one, it should be his own.
If he decides not to fix it, I'm sure someone on here would buy the entire car as well.
If he decides not to fix it, I'm sure someone on here would buy the entire car as well.
I just came back from next door talking to my neighbor about his car. He had the transmission drained and the torque converter flushed less than 6,000 miles ago. It was refilled with Mercon V per the receipt he got from the Ford Dealership that did the work. We live about 55 miles east of San Francisco in the delta area, in a small town called Oakley. I don't see many Mark VIII's around here and it was unusual for my neighbor to have one as I have had my 93 for about 10 years. He bought his 98 new from the same dealership that did the last (and all ) maintenance of his car. At this point in time he is unsure what to do as his funds are limited and his health is failing so I am not comfortable in pressing him for what he intends to do, I expect he will come over and start talking when he is over the depression of his fine ride going belly-up. Thanks to all of you for all you help, I will post more when I know more.
MICAHS97m8
New member
People brag on the 98, but both of mine have slipped. I have to pull/swap my current one, again.
My neighbor's son just brought the transmission pan off of the Mark VIII over for me to look at and there is absolutely no residue of clutch material or any discoloration on the inside of the pan. Barely a trace of metallic substance on the magnet. If it were dry I could blow it off with an air hose. The fluid is pristine, no discoloration. Hard to swallow that the clutches have gone south but stranger things than this have happened to me in my 73 years on this planet. I'm tempted to drop the pan off my 93 just for comparison as it has about 8500 miles on the last transmission service. My old 93 only has 120,000 total miles on it as it doesn't get out much anymore. I am open to anyone's thoughts on this as it is a major problem for my neighbor. His only other transportation is an old Volkswagen beetle.
J
OCCUPY LoD :)
Well if it comes down to a major repair, I'm not too far away and have access to an enclosed trailer.
That is a VERY good sign that the pan is clean and the fluid isn't dirty. Definitely sounds like an electrical/valve body issue if the fluid is clean. One doubt I have though is that when my 95 failed (sun shell broke) it did the same exact thing you are describing.
That is a VERY good sign that the pan is clean and the fluid isn't dirty. Definitely sounds like an electrical/valve body issue if the fluid is clean. One doubt I have though is that when my 95 failed (sun shell broke) it did the same exact thing you are describing.
Well, we are off to our son's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with the rest of our families and will contact our neighbor tomorrow to see what help he would like and what his feelings are. He himself is not mechanically inclined but his oldest son is a pretty fair wrench. I have a 2 post lift in my man-cave where I maintain my fleet of junk and will offer it to them if they wish to go on a witch hunt trying to chase down the demon that caused all this. I will let everyone know what is found as it unfolds. Thanks again to all for your inputs and Happy Thanksgiving!