Transmission & Fuel injectors

[Jon]

Hi,

I am looking into buying a 1997 F-250 powerstroke diesel, ext. cab, long box, 4x4, automatic, interior and body are in excellent shape.
However the transmission (automatic), slips under load and it needs 2 new fuel injectors.
The guy wants $6200.
What should I do.

If the transmission slips under load what would be the problem? I was told torque converter or clutch pack.
How much would parts cost?

The guy said it puffs white smoke (raw diesel), when the engine is cold, he said that's because it needs 2 fuel injectors. Is that probable? If so, how much are new fuel injectors?

Thanks guys

 

[JOAT]

Assuming you'd do the work yourself....

Transmission slipping under load is a clutch issue, and could just be the TCC (Torque Converter Clutch) which varies with performance level from $400-$1000 for parts. Should also go with a $50 shift kit while you are in there. That assumes there is no serious debris in the pan and the fluid isn't badly burnt. In that case you'd want to go thru the whole tranny to be safe.

If it's internal clutches, and no other damage, a trans kit runs $150-250, plus probably a shell at $30. Some other hard parts may be worn. You could spend another $200-400 upgrading to steel planets. $300+ if you replace the pump. And of course you'd want to replace the converter too while in there.

If you want a professional rebuild with a warranty, about $1000 plus installation for a cheapy. $2000-3000 for a high performance build. Most shops would be in the $300-500 range for installation.


Injectors can run you on average $75-150 each for repair, depending on how bad they are. White smoke when cold could certainly be broken nozzle springs, but could also be low compression. If you are serious about this truck I'd say pay a professional diesel mechanic to evaluate it and check compression, as well as confirm there is no blown head gasket.

$6200 is a pretty good price, but if you have all the work done by someone else it could drive the price up pretty high.

 

[oi8228oi]

if your gonna pay some one to work on the tranny i would suggest just running it to the ground and buying a ATS or similar trans which starts at $1388.00 on there web site http://www.atsdiesel.com/atswebsite/ProductsFord/Transmissions.asp just remeber to give your tranny back to them to gett the $100 core charge back...

 

[Jon]

I talked to the owner.
He says that the first thing everyone asks him about the white smoke is, is it a blown headgasket? He's mechanic and says it's not. If it was a headgasket it wouldn't be raw diesel coming out the pipe, it would be white coolant smoke.

 

[Jon]

Broken nozzle springs

Don

If the cause of the white smoke is possibly broken nozzle springs, can the injectors be taken apart and just have springs replaced.

Thanks



Jon

 

[JOAT]

Blown head gasket, while uncommon, can cause low compression without coolant intrusion. Low compression can lead to unburnt fuel, white smoke. Just something to check for, while checking compression.

Another thing you could check is remove the filler cap with it running. A casual drift of smoke is normal. If it's pretty forceful, you have blowby issues.

Isolating which injectors are causing the problem can be tricky. Sometimes you can isolate the cylinders causing the problem, either with a scantool or unplugging each cylinder. That doesn't say for certain that injectors are the problem. For that matter, in sub freezing temps bad glow plugs can cause some cylinders to smoke white.

Figure if it were cheap and or easy, the current owner would have taken care of it before selling it. Especially since he claims to be a mechanic (I'm always sceptical of sellers, just the way I am). The problems described may just be normal wear and tear, but could also be caused by abuse. You should be able to get a really good price on a truck with major problems.

The more work you can do yourself, the less money you''ll have to spend.
Pull the tranny and injectors, take them in, then reinstall yourself, and you'll save $$$

There will be fuel injection shops in any major city (for trucks). Call some and see what they charge to fix injectors. If you want to upgrade them for performance, you'll have to send in the whole set. If they've already been upgraded, that can complicate having individual ones repaired unless you know who did the work.

Injectors can be repaired yourself, at your own risk.
Injector parts are a little hard to come by, but available.
Click Here for 95_stroker'swrite up on injector R&R
Click Here for my write up on injector teardown and re-assembly.

 

[Jon]

question

So don, another option you suggested may be the best.
Take the injectors and transmission out myself to save $, but take them in by themselves to be repaired proffessionally, and then re-install myself to save $.
Is that a good way to go?
Any idea on price. (in Canada)

Thanks

 

[95_stroker]

The removal and install is really the easy part of the job (on both the tranny and injectors), its the repair work on both that is a little bit more technically challenging. For the injectors you can contact one of the injector builders and have a set of injectors on your doorstep for about $ 850(USD). All you'll have to do is send yours back as a core.

The tranny can be a whole nuther ball of wax on prices.