'07 F-250 engine & trans acting up

[First VT Properties]

I posted this on www.plowsite.com, so it might be a repeat for some of you....

This is going to be a long one...sorry!

About 8 weeks ago, during the first really cold spell we've had (-5 f.) I started my '07 F250 Powerstroke w/an auto trans, and it sounded like it backfired. I let it idle for about 15 minutes, and everything sounded okay. I pulled out, and it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear. I thought that the trans fluid hadn't warmed up yet, and this was a safety thing w/the trans (like my old Duramax had), so I pulled over, and sat for another 15 minutes. I pulled out, and again, it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear, however it would shift manually if I put it in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, but the trans banged into gear. I pulled over again, and noticed that the trans temp was in the operating range, but the engine temp was all the way at cold, even though the heater was blowing hot air. I shut off the truck, started it up again, and the engine temp gauge went to normal, and the truck changed gears like it should (although a little rougher than it used to).

I called the dealer, and they couldn't get me in for another week, so I continued to drive/plow w/it, and everything was fine, except for when I plowed, the trans would slip and take several seconds to engage, and twice the speedo dropped to 0 when I was driving.

The dealer told me that there was a loose sensor on the trans and speedo which is what caused the problems (there was a TSB on it), and I wouldn't have another problem.

I plowed several times since then, and 2 weeks ago the trans started to slip and act funky again.

I set up another appointment, but in the week before they were able to get me in, we got our 2nd cold spell of the year (-8 F). Started the truck up and it ran like crap, so I let it warm up for 30 minutes. Got in, drove down the road, and it wouldn't go above 30mph, and it sounded like it was either being starved for fuel, or not running on all 8 cylinders. Again, I had heat, but the temp gauge was all the way down. I made a u-turn to head home, and this time it would barely make it to 15mph. I pulled over, shut her down to call for a tow, and when I got back in I started it up and it ran fine and shifted fine.

I took it to the dealer again, and they said that there was another TSB on this issue, and they reprogrammed a couple sensors, and said I wouldn't have any more problems..... WRONG.... the trans still slips, but only when I plow. We haven't had any more really cold nights, but this Sunday night it's getting down to -8 F, so we'll see what happens..... I'll try running an extension cord to the truck so that I can plug in the block heater and see if it still runs rough...

Does anyone here have any ideas what's going on w/it? I always keep the tank above 1/2 full, run diesel fuel additive all winter, and always buy my fuel from high volume dealers. I do not have an outside outlet, so the block heater is not plugged in, but in many years of driving diesels, I have never had to plug one in, in weather as cold as -25 F. The trans fluid and oil levels are all w/in operating range, and the truck has the factory plow prep package.

Also, this truck is completely stock, no mods at all.


Thanks!

Evan