7.3 Tranny Reverse problems

[seanyounk]

I had my tranny serviced at my local shop about 5 months back and soon after the reverse began acting up. It would sometimes not go into reverse, and I would have to push my truck back. Once down the road it would work fine. This has happened about 4 times in the last five months. I took it to that shop soon after the trouble started, and they said there were metal shavings in my pan and I would need a new tranny soon. I have come to realize that we only experience this issue with the reverse and no other gear.

Is there a possibility of rebuilding something in the reverse without rebuilding the entire tranny?

 

[patrickc]

Some transmission rebuilders will do partial rebuilds if they can easily determine what the problem is. Most rebuilders prefer to rebuild the entire transmission though. Generally once you find metal particals in the pan the transmission the clutches, hubs, or planetaries are damaged or worn. (the particals/shavings are usually gold, bronze, silver and/or dark grey in color) It is possible that the particals/shavings have plugged a valve, stuck a valve open in the accumulator body or one of the valve bodies making the shift into reverse sluggish or no shift at all. Best of luck!

 

[aklim]

I took it to that shop soon after the trouble started, and they said there were metal shavings in my pan and I would need a new tranny soon.

I have come to realize that we only experience this issue with the reverse and no other gear.

Is there a possibility of rebuilding something in the reverse without rebuilding the entire tranny?

Time for a new trans. Look at Brian's Truck Shop for a bulletproof option.

YET. That is the key operative phrase.

Why? You are already there. Why not do the rest? How do you thik the life of the rest of the trans is affected by the metal particles in the trans? I talked to Brian's and they DID NOT recommend the TC when I purchased the VB. The reason was that if the trans goes, the TC will be flooded by metal shavings and the only way to get it clean is to cut it apart and clean.

 

[patrickc]

seanyounk, It really depends on your budget. A new trans and a heavy duty TC (triple disc) you are probably looking in the $2000-$3000+ range. Aklim is right if there is metal stuck in the torque converter it is just going to cycle threw the transmission and probably damage something else. I don't know where you are located but ATS diesel puts together very good transmissions as well. ATSdiesel.com

 

[DaveBen]

Don't skimp on this and end up doing it twice!!! You will spend more money in the end.

Dave

 

[BWard]

I Love My BTS Transmission. Great group of people. After my tranny went out I did alot of research and finally used BTS.
Again, I love it.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[seanyounk]

Thanks for all of the input gentlemen

I was hoping for a simpler temporary fix. I had an old Ramcharger and the reverse went out in it. It ended up being a $60.00 Reverse Solenoid when the Trans shop said I needed a whole tranny. I was hoping for something along these lines, or something I could try myself-Trans is already bad anyway, what do I have to lose. I am in Salem, Oregon. BTS is a ways from me, but I have never heard a bad thing about his shop at all.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

... I am in Salem, Oregon. BTS is a ways from me, but I have never heard a bad thing about his shop at all.

Only once have I ever heard of a negative comment about BTS. But after reading the guy's actual rave & rant, he was out of line and wasn't justified.

BTS will ship a tranny to you for the same price plus shpg. You install it and send the core back. If one is able to get your truck to Brian's shop, the labor is part of the price.

If you do replace replace the tranny, make sure you replace the cooler and flush the lines. It'd be a shame if metal shavings from the old tranny trashed your nice new tranny.

 

[jvencius]

BTS isn't the end-all/be-all of trannys. John Woods and ATS also build good transmissions and they're both west of the Mississippi, so at least they're a little closer to where you are.

 

[aklim]

I was hoping for a simpler temporary fix. I had an old Ramcharger and the reverse went out in it. It ended up being a $60.00 Reverse Solenoid when the Trans shop said I needed a whole tranny. I was hoping for something along these lines, or something I could try myself-Trans is already bad anyway, what do I have to lose. I am in Salem, Oregon. BTS is a ways from me, but I have never heard a bad thing about his shop at all.

I can go along with that EXCEPT for the fact that there are metal shavings in the pan which means it has been floating around for a bit.