flexplate possibley cracked..noises can travel in weird ways starter drive could be bad and its bouncing out into the flexplate also.. seen this many times

 

CJ - Is there a good way to determine if this is the case.. how can I check it?

 

NOT SURE GONNA GIVE YA a :bump: SO THE TECHS CAN SEE THIS

 

Absolutely TC. One of my delivery drivers had that exact same sound on his truck. I always new when he pulled into the driveway. His lasted him a couple of years while making that noise and he hauls heavy loads all over the country. He finally got a replacement TC and it fixed the problem. There is no question in my mind that is the TC.

 

That is the most certain anyone has been on this issue. I suspected that if someone heard it that had heard it before, they would definately remember.. it's loud as can be and really annoying. I'm the same way, when I pull up outside my wife's building at work, everyone knows I'm there, and it's a good sized brick office building. There was another guy on here who described something very similar, and he replaced the TC also. I have a PM to him to have him take a listen, and I am hoping he will agree with you, and I suspect he will.

So how much of a PIA is the TC swap out.. any good sources, and/or online writeups or instructions?

Thanks again! This site rocks!

 

how is the trans for driving? any noticable slipping? bad mileage?

 

Our tree trimming crew has an f550 with tthe 7.3(2000 model), and it had that exact noise for over a year. At idle, we could hear em a mile. As soon as they would touch the throttle, it would disappear. The city garage changed the converter, and the noise dissappeared. Never any drivability issues up till the end.

 

T/C swap is a pain in the Butt well it's not bad but the tranny is pretty big it all just matters if you have a trans jack or not I helped a friend do his I just paid the $100 for the install but I had the tranny & T/C blow to pieces on me.

 

I busted a flex plate and it made that same noise.

 

thats what i was thinking... and a bouncing starter drive can make that noise too .... I have changed many :dunno:

 

My truck makes that noise too. it's been that way since i bought it. i work for a fire department, and we joke around that my truck is louder then the fire engines. I had it checked and the mech said T/C for sure. But as i looked more into it, with the 99's it's a cosmetic fix, cause it still works fine.

Question what would any body replace a T/C with, meaning what brand?

 

PI converter from BTS or call John Woods.


That would be my only choice.

 

i would say t/c as well. has a similar issue. the stator id probably shot inside. it has a one way that goes bad

 

Hows this for a late post update.. 4 years haha! I just got an email from someone with the same problem, and realized I had never updated the thread. I can tell you that the problem was located in my torque converter which was found to be nearly destroyed when removed. I had the torque converter replaced, and the transmission rebuilt and that solved the problem entirely. If you are having the same problem, I recommend getting the tranny pulled and checked. Good luck!

 

i think im having the same problem as you were, but mine will shudder under acceleration too and i get bad mpg.
im hoping its just the TC that needs to be replaced
and not the whole tranny

 

When I had this problem I did not experience any shaking, or bad mpg that I noticed. Really the noise was the only issue with mine, but I assume depending on how it is failing, it may have different symptoms. I will try and repost the old videos of the sound it was making.. really terrible sounding.

 

i think i know the sound... like the bell housing is full of rocks haha had a tranny shop and my diesel mechanic check it out both said definately a TC and maybe clutches too...

 

Hey,
I just picked up my father inlaws 1999 F250 (because my 2000 F350 is broke down) and it makes that exact noise I checked it out and it shure sounds like the T/C to me but everything works fine. he just uses it around the farm so he don't care, because he has A 2010 F350 cc.

 

I have the same noise; a clatterery, sound when idle; when increase rpm the sound dissappears or if I am driving ~30-40 mph and let up on the petal, sound comes back.

The sound is an annoying sound to us anyone we talk to while we are in the truck an the truck is idling; my wife can alway tell when I drive into the driveway.

The truck is a early 99F350 PSD, automatic. The sound has been with the truck for years...I thought the sound was from the engine, so-called cackle that is associated with some psd I have read about. Then a couple of days ago I took to mechanic to check all enigne codes..everything perfect...the mechanic questioned the sound which is pretty loud on idling...he removed plate under bell-housing...everything was tight.

Then took the truck to local Ford garage this morning to have the master cylinder sending unit recall fixed. I ask the service guy about the clanging sound...he came back after talking to his mechanics to say very likely something associated with the torque converter and/or the flexplate. Others on this thread have reported the same sound.

So, does this sound correct?...problem is with torque converter and/or flexplate. I suppose I really should not be driving the truck with this problem,,,but as I said that noise has been with the truck for years.

Any and all comments welcome, and Thanks!!!

 

It's definitely the TC and sorry to tell ya but your trams is most likely ready to go. Mine had this and I replaced the TC and the trams went within500mi I lost 3rd and reverse. It's a common problem with the early 4r100 what happens is is the clutches in the TC eat away at the grooves they sit in and cause the rattle to get worse but all that metal getting eaten away goes through the teams and pump

 

TC, the problem; what about the rest of the automatic transmission?

Thanks for the quick reply...okay, I read you. The torque convertor is the problem and will have to be replaced...what about the rest of the automatic transmission? So far the truck tranny seems fine, shifts into all the gears automatically...I am assuming that the TC is a separate item from the actual automatic transmission, or are they a complete unit?

Many thanks....

 

They are separate. The tc can be replaced by itself and will usually cost ya around 400-900 bucks for the part itself. Not including labor. Which could be another 1000. I've done a few and it's pretty easy there are write ups on here I believe.

You won't know the condition of the trans until it goes out. My guess is it would be ok so just replace the TC for now

 

Thanks; I will be taking in the truck in about 2 weeks...I usually do as much as I can on the truck, but this time I will leave to the garage guys...

Note: my sister/family and brother/family lived in Vacaville in the 90s....now living elsewhere...I spent a few trips there...the only thing I remember was The Nut Tree shopping center.

Again, many thanks...will let you know in ~ 2 weeks on the TC status-after replacement.

See F350 (early99)-PSD-Bigfoot Camper-Saturn Vue

 

actually its really easy just time consuming. just drop the trans roll it back about a foot pull the old TC out fill the new TC with fluid, put it on the input shaft and turn it until it engages into the pump then bolt the trans back up and bolt the TC to the flexplate.

oh wow, small world huh? you wouldnt even recognize the nut tree now,

btw nice looking truck and good luck with the TC replacement

 

Thanks again.

Okay, I know I will be getting a new torque converter. Because I carry a large truck camper on the bed of the truck and sometimes two my wife's Saturn view (camper + saturn~7500 lbs), would you recommend a multdisk torque converter?

If so what brand...?? I have seen several on the web..including the Banks; see:

Banks Billet Torque Converter

Can you comment....also suggest other brands...did you upgrade to multidisc...because you also have the 1999 PSD.

Other viewing this thread please comment.

 

Thats an expensive one for what it is. The PDQ that Wood uses are good for the money. Precision Industries and TCS, both comparable and top notch and around a grand each. I have used several Road Runners triple disc and haven't had any issues.

 

Fordnutz, thanks...I am trying to decide whether to insall a new TC from ford or go with multidisc aftermarket TC. I will have local ford garage do installation because at 71 I am getting a bit old to be removing/installing trannys.

The truck is F350 1999 psd used mainly for around town for getting home stuff from HomeDepot or Lowes...but we also use to haul 4300lb truck camper, sometimes towing my wife's saturn vue (see picture). While we live in FL we do travel through some of the mountain states..thus a better TC might be better than a stock unit. On the other hand will the after market TC be campitable with truck electronics/computer that shifts the tranny? Can you please comment.

Since money is always an issue, I am thinking of getting a new Ford TC installed but will also pick up one of those BD transmission pans suggested by a friend

1999-2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty Transmission Pan - BD Diesel - Big Daddy, Wrinkle Black, Aluminum


The pan I believe has larger tranny fluid capacity which may lead to cooler tranny fluid, fins to cool the tranny fluid a bit, a port for thermometer so i can monitor tranny fluid temp when we are climbing. What do you think...?

If you have not read my earlier messages, my current TC is almost shot..makes that clanging sound...and thus I must do something....Thanks.

 

A converter won't do anything to the electronics but should improve mileage and overall performance. Also, a pan is up to you but I think other than looks they are a waste of money unless you are going to race or pull. The thick cast aluminum pans can help with rigidity of the case. As far as needing extra fluid, you don't and it won't help the cooling. Money better spent would be a larger cooler if you don't already have one. You can plumb the sending unit of the temp gauge in the plug just before your shift lever on the driver side of the case.