Transmission trouble???

[FordNut]

I'm a newby, just got my Marauder after over 6 months of drooling. I picked it up in the Boca Raton, FL area for $27,625 (with both options) and drove it home to east TN for a 800 mile test drive. I couldn't get any dealers in my area to work with me. It was quite a pleasure to drive, did great on the highway, and is pretty much what I had expected. Thanks to this board, I was prepared for the somewhat disappointing performance with the stock gears and chip. Lots of mods planned but after the first oil change. I've only got 1200 miles on it so far.

My question is about the transmission shifting. Second gear feels like it is slipping for a while, then it finally catches. Is this due to the locking torque converter? Is it normal? Does the Reinhart chip's improved shift points improve this? It doesn't seem to do it when I shift manually, or at least not as bad. If it's normal, I'll just wait for the chip. If it's a problem, I want to get it fixed before any mods are done.

Oh, yeah... as many have reported the passenger's side windshield wiper doesn't park far enough down. But the steering wheel, woofer, and exhaust tips seem ok.

Thanks for any help and thanks to Logan for a great site.

[LincMercLover]

Is this doing this when it's shifting itself? I know when I checked my tranny fluid, she was about 1/2 quart low... Check the fluid first. The tranny should not "feel" slippery at all. If you can't get a second gear scratch manually shifting it at 6000 RPM, then your tranny is definately messed up...

[FordNut]

LML:
Checked the fluid, it's full.
Did some more tests, found the following:
Manual shifting, wind 1st to 5000 & hit 2nd, shift feels ok.
Repeat, shifting at 6000, feels like it drops out of gear before it shifts.
No way it's going to get rubber.
Automatic shifting feels even worse, seems like it slips a long time before catching.

Guess it's time for a trip to the dealer.

[LincMercLover]

Something isn't right then. With these new fangled electronic trannies, it could be just about anything. I'd definately take her in ASAP before any internal damage occurs!

[jefferson-mo]

My car kinda surges halfway thru 2nd gear...I just assumes it was the conv locking...but I'll wait 'til I get more miles...just turned 900 today.

Shifts OK auto(a little soft) but WILL bark 2nd in manual mode

:banana2:

[MassMarauder]

Mine does it too. Bothers the Sh** out of me. It's a brief hesitation. It's more noticeable under light to moderate acceleration. Does it Manualy shifting or in drive. I can't see why Ford would design this thing to lock up in 2nd.
Third and 4th I can understand.....but 2nd? Does the Rienhart chip alleviate this? If so, I'll be buying one sooner than I planned.

[Billatpro]

Yes, well I did post this before because my cars does it too, but everyone ignored me :alone:

[Black Terror]

This has been posted many times. Ford Motor recognizes they have a problem but do not have a fix as of last week. I have the problem(same as yours) recorded in the Ford Computer system. They should notify each of us when they come up with a fix.

[RF Overlord]

MassMarauder:

I didn't have mine stock long enough to detect any hesitation or slipping as being described here, but I can tell you that YES, the Reinhart chip does dramatically affect both the shift firmness and the shift-points. I LIKE mine the way it is now. Stock, it up-shifted WAY too soon...

[MassMarauder]

Thanks RF, I'm planning to chip this thing soon.

FordNut, Marauder03 posted this message (below) some time ago. This may or may not be the explanation to our problem. One thing for sure is mine hesitates under light, moderate and heavy throttle....mostly noticeable under moderate. Marauder03 mentions only heavy throttle in his comments.

>>Here is my guess of what you might be feeling there:
In 2nd gear the torque converter lock clutch is locked at less than full throttle. At about 3400 RPM, under heavy throttle, the engine torque output could exceed the torque capability of the converter lockup clutch under certain cir***stances of trans fluid temp, etc. In order to protect the durability of the converter lockup clutch from slipping due to an over-torque situation, the PCM unlocks the converter clutch during that brief period of peak torque, then reingages it again when you are past the torque peak. Since you are going from a direct-drive with a locked converter to a fully functional (slipping) converter, the seat-of-the-pants feel is similar to a hesitation.>>>

[FordNut]

Thanks MassMarauder for the post by Marauder03. That sound like it could be the problem, or at least part of it.

I'll follow Bill Bandy's lead and take it in tomorrow so they have it on record if/when they come up with a fix.

Hopefully the chip will take care of it but I don't want to risk giving any reason for refusal to honor a warranty claim, especially if it's a pre-existing problem!

Gotta talk to the service guys anyway to see about the 4.10s, chip install, etc. so I can find the right place to get it done without warranty worries.

[MassMarauder]

I hear ya

[SergntMac]

Hey guys...(just a figure of speech) got room for my two cents?

I too, felt my tranny was disappointing when I first got behind the wheel. I catalogued a whole s**t list of complaints about shifting and held them for my 3000 mile check. Just like you guys say here, sloppy shifts, unsure shifting and "hunting" for the right gear, slow throttle response unless you're WOT, and even that is greatly delayed in kicking in. If I didn't watch myself, the car was in 4th gear (OD) before I cleared an intersection, and that just isn't right. I took to driving the car like it was a four speed, just so I could get what I wanted out of the powerband.

Dealer said everything was fine, just the way the factory planned it, and I guess he was right. The factory's intent, is to get the car into OD ASAP, in order to comply with CAFE. So, if you're a grandpa driver, the car rides fine and shows decent mileage. If you not a grandpa driver, you're p*ssed, and burning a lot of gas you don't need to burn.

At 4000 mles, I did the Reinhart package, and every problem shift related went away...every one of them! I can prove this because I have a switch on the chip that allow me to shut it off and restore factory programming, and all my complaints return.

You'll probably hear the same from your dealer about the shifting, unless they find a lose cable or chafing harness. However, the chip will deliver strong, solid, crisp shifts at ideal RPMs for performance, I've seen it on the dyno sheets. In normal driving conditions, your fuel consumption will also improve simply because you're not mashing the throttle for performance anymore. You won't have to shift manually for giggles and grins, or, play with the OD button. Just drop it into drive and drive with a smarter toe. With all the other things the chip will improve, you'll have to learn how to drive this car all over again. It is that remarkable of a change.

Okay, so it was fifty cents...shoot me.

[RF Overlord]

^^^what SergntMac said...exactly...^^^

[MassMarauder]

Music to my ears

[FordNut]

Went to the local Ford dealer today for a somewhat disappointing visit.
Results: Tranny shifts just like the Lightning, supposed to be that way. Updated PCM program anyway. He couldn't/wouldn't tell me what the version was (I was going to post it here) but I already had the xxxBMD0 version which I thought was the latest.
Wiper position can't be repaired, as they are not authorized to bend or adjust the arm outside design specs.
Warranty may or may not be voided if gears/chip are changed. Gear change voids warranty on entire rear end. Chip change voids warranty on entire engine. They will not install the chip at all.
Time to find anther shop.

[RF Overlord]

FordNut:

Unlike the ads on TV for miracle weight-loss products, your results ARE typical...

[chapel1]

My dealership took care of my passengerside wiper not parking with no problems!
I'm going to call and see if they can tell me what they did ?I don't know if they will or if they know?But all I know is that it parks were it should now!
No Promises.sometimes I wonder what they KNOW?

[RCSignals]

"Wiper position can't be repaired, as they are not authorized to bend or adjust the arm outside design specs."

Odd, my dealer fixed mine by bending it slightly. The "specs" for the position are taken from the manual and measured from the rear hood line to the wiper blade. If your dealer measures this they will undoubtedly find it sits too high.

The dealer had to bend the arm, as the way the arm adjusts on the drive spindle the other choices were "way too high" and "way too low"

[Billatpro]

OK Sarg, BANG :uzi:

[TAF]

If you want to take a little road-trip for mods...I've got the shop and guy for you in ATL. Ford, BlueOval, High-Performance, Saleen Dealer that embraces mods. Even willing to do on a Sat.

Let me know and I'll hook you up.

[MassMarauder]

RF - Did your dealer endorse the mods? I bought mine at Rodman and I haven't asked them yet. If they don't, I'll bring it to Tasca for service.

[RF Overlord]

Dealer? We don't need no stinkin' dealer...

Since the median age here on the Cape is, like, 80, and they ALL drive GMs from the ONLY L/M dealer on the Cape, you tell ME if I bothered to ask them about a performance chip... ;)

Bobby J: You're tight with the service people there...how do you think they'd react?

[MassMarauder]

Not likely I'll bet. Will you be doing the gears soon?

[SergntMac]

Ahh...Isn't an FMC/SVT dealer a comfortable place to shop mods?

Given the advice here (over several months), had I not gotten lucky with a sympathetic dealer and SM close to me, I would have searched along these lines. Word is, is that SVT dealers are very mod comfy, and just may enjoy your visit too. IMHO, just a suggestion.

[RF Overlord]

Mass:

Not sure if I'm gonna do the gears...SergntMac and I went around on this a while back and I haven't made up my mind yet...I'm holding out for the blown ragtop version in 2005...yee-ha

Even if the dealer WOULD do it (see my reply above), I'm not sure how performance-oriented the service dept is (see my reply above, again). You're probably right about Tasca; I bet THEY would do it...

[RF Overlord]

Sarg:

I think there's only like one SVT dealer in all of Massachusetts :depress: , but you're probably right about them being more mod-tolerant...

[MassMarauder]

Just did a search for SVT dealers in my area.
Rodman Ford
Tasca Ford
Rizzo Ford
Fall River Ford
Framingham Ford
Plenty of choices. I'm sure one of them will bless the mods.

[tomd]

how you get it so cheap! And with both options! LOL! WOW!
:po:

[tomd]

Hey guys,
What happens to your car warranty if you put in a chip doesn’t that void it???

[WolfeBros]

Chip ? What chip ? I don't know what your talking about. ;)

PS
Don't tell the dealer anything about it, take the chip out when you have to go to the dealer for engine/driveline work. They don't know unless you tell em.

[SergntMac]

I've been told by my dealer that the Reinhart chip is invisible to their diagnostics. Unless someone crawls around under your dash, no one will know it there. If you drive in with the chip turned on, someone may notice how nice your car runs, and if you turn it off, it's a stock MM again, with a wacky speedo, (presuming the presence 4:10s). Pulling it should not be necessary for routine repairs, these mods have nothing with a blown heater core, or, carpeting falling off the door. However, if you end up with major power train troubles and you think you may have to prove a case, pulling the chip may be wise. My dealer told me of a 2002 Navigator he had in the shop about 4 months ago, the owner installed a chip purchased blindly through some "performance" site. The injectors and a few valves had melted down, LM paid that bill, but not the chip, also shorted in the failure. He didn't say if the chip had a warranty, Reinhart's does.

My dealer has copies of my dyno reports, and he likes what the chip is doing. If I could keep my foot out of it, it's easy to see how this chip is a "conservation" device, and what would they argue then?

Keep shopping, you'll find your wrench soon enough.

35 cents...

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by SergntMac
I've been told by my dealer that the Reinhart chip is invisible to their diagnostics.

Thank you, sir...I was wondering about that very issue if I ever need to bring the Black Falcon in for service...

Now, if there were only some way to make the K&N FIPK invisible...

[tomd]

$27,625!!!! How the heck did you get it for that price! I paid full price back in june! PLUS TAX! Am going off now to cry in the corner! )-;
LOL!

Second gear feels like it is slipping for a while, then it finally catches. It's more noticeable under light to moderate acceleration.
MINE does the same thing.

[FordNut]

As posted a short time ago on this forum, a dealer in Boca Raton, FL had an ebay listing, trying to unload his remaining stock. Sounded too good to be true, but it was for real...brand new with 15 miles on the odometer. Well worth the drive to pick it up! The price is before tax, title, tags but bottom line out the door was just under 30k.

About the chip: the dealer I spoke with said that if there is an engine warranty claim, they should remove the computer from the car. If the access cover has been removed and/or the conformal coating cleaned off the circuit board (i.e. a chip has been installed whether or not it is currently installed), the warranty claim will be refused. Hence I need to find another dealer, more mod-friendly. There are about a half-dozen in the area, I'm sure I'll find one but if not, Atlanta's not far away!

[TAF]

I can hook you up down here. Just let me know. BTW...I'm a Vol from Chatt. & Knoxvegas....

[FordNut]

Todd,
I live just outside K-town in Lenoir City and commute 2-3 times/week to my job in Macon so I go right by you. I'm gonna try to find one at home first, but if unsuccessful I'll look you up. It's just more convenient if I can get a local guy to work on it and honor the warranty with mods.

[kashvili]

can the dealer order & install the chip?

[TAF]

The BEST chip that is custom programmed for our MM is from Dennis Reinhart. Click his link on the site and order through him. As far as dealer install, that's a case-by-case basis. But, yes, my dealer (Ford not L/M) helped with the install.