1999 7.3PS Transmission Shot! Help!

[mike.germann]

Help! I'm on a 3,500 mile road trip from Maryland to Florida and Texas and back to Maryland. I arrived in Texas without problems. The second day I was here, hopped in the truck with my father to go to the local off-road shop to buy new shocks (woo!) and I noticed that I was doing 57 MPH at over 2700 rpm's.
Basically the truck has no 4th gear.

My trans temp gauge never registered anything suspicious. No unusually hard shifting (I have a beefed up ATS transmission that shifts firm regardless) but nothing out of the ordinary. Checked my transmission fluid: it's fine, still has color, doesn't smell burnt, etc. No leaks of any kind.

I'm stumped. I've taken it to a local shop to get fixed. He said it's an internal parts breakdown, and said it would be expensive.

Keep in mind I have no idea what's involved with a transmission. As far as a rebuild goes, is that something you can just replace the 4th gear inside the trans? (I hope that's not a stupid question).

Does anyone know what a fair transmission rebuild would cost? I'm not from here and don't want to get raped on the price without knowing.

Any advice or input would be appreciated.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Where in TX R U?

 

[trackspeeder]

No burnt fluid is a good sign. Kinda rules out clutch failure.Luckily the 4th gear stuff is right behind the pump. But you need to find out why it doesn't work. Good chance its just the feed bolt that loosened up. Or the valve body bolts loosened up. To get to the feed bolt you need to remove the valve body.

Get your mits on an ATSG manual. You can find them on flea bay.

A good tranny shop should be able to do it for cheap.

 

[JLDickmon]

mine twisted the high gear clutch drum..

 

[mike.germann]

I'm in D/FW, on military leave. Since it happens to be a holiday weekend, it looks like I won't know what's wrong with it til Tuesday evening, at best.

I really wish I could tinker with a transmission enough to figure out how they work. I hate paying for someone else to do repairs...

 

[rammertide07]

Domt them ATS transmsmssions have a 500,000mile warranty...or is that just the tc

 

[mike.germann]

I bought the truck from Nazty4x4 about 2 months ago. Apparently the transmission comes with a 500,000 mile warranty, but is non-transferrable. Sucks.

Transmission can't be that old. Which leads me to believe that it probably had a rough life before I got. Reeeaaaal rough.

 

[clintusaf]

Almost sounds like it's stuck in tow/haul mode. it may be, but your light on the dash may not work or something to that effect.

 

[mike.germann]

My firs instinct was to check and see if I accidentally pressed the 'Overdrive Off' button on the shifter. I pressed it and felt the RPM's raise a little bit as it kicked in. I don't think that's the problem, unless there's internal parts that aren't where they should be. It's jus weird because I noticed nothing unusual before, no temp changes, etc. Just happened.

I'll find out more from my trans mechanic by this evening. I'll keep y'all posted with the damage toll.

 

[mike.germann]

Update: $3000 repair cost. This thing is scorched. AND. This "ATS" transmission is nothing more than a stock trans with thicker drum and 5 extra clutch packs.

Sure glad I didn't buy this transmission. I'd be pretty upset. It's almost more aggravating seeing it busted after only owning truck 2 months. Fantastic.
Kinda smells like lemon. A lemon that was built at 4:59pm on Friday.