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1993 E350 transmission vibration


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marte
New User

Jan 11, 2010, 2:56 PM

Post #1 of 10 (7693 views)
  post locked   1993 E350 transmission vibration  

My Ford E350 passenger van with 5.8 liter gasoline engine has a vibration at about 35 to 40 mph, especially under load like going up hill. It bucks inconsistently and it should be in 3rd gear at this speed. It has an overdrive button on the shifter. I had this trouble in the past and found that the ECU had a fried area on the board so I got a used ECU and the bucking went away for about 6 months. Now it seems to be back the same as before. I had not checked the ECU yet but I wondeded if there is a transmission issue, like I need to change the fluid and filter, or something like that. I changed the plugs, coil, wires, and the ECU, and new tires about 6 months ago. The van has 150,000 miles.


(This post was edited by marte on Jan 11, 2010, 2:57 PM)


Sidom
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Jan 11, 2010, 11:24 PM

Post #2 of 10 (7679 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

Cover the basics 1st. Inspect the u joints and if this is a 2 piece driveline make sure the carrier bearing is in good shape...........


marte
New User

Jan 19, 2010, 12:28 PM

Post #3 of 10 (7664 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

I'll look at the u joint and bearing but it dosen't make sense that the syntoms went away for a while after I replaced the ECU. When it is bucking, I hear some knocking sometimes like I am getting detonation. I recently replaced all the plugs and wires as well as the coil. Any other ideas? Could it be that it just needs a new transmission filter and fluid? How about the Ignition Control Module? Should I just try midgrade gasoline? I'll also try to get the blink codes which should shed light on the problem (but I have a difficult time reading the blink codes, it seems I get different numbers each time I repeat the codes...)


valvebody
Novice
valvebody profile image

Jan 21, 2010, 8:14 PM

Post #4 of 10 (7650 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

Hi there

did you check the egine mounts if they are any good cuz sometimes the power of the acceleration makes the V8 engine dance really bad Smile Also if your timing belt is not set correctly there will be vibration and occasionally the crank shaft dose this too and maybe thats why you hear some knocking sometimes but i dont think the transmission could do that . Any way hope everything is fine and Good luck buddy

Thanks


(This post was edited by valvebody on Jan 21, 2010, 8:32 PM)


way2old
Veteran / Moderator
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Jan 22, 2010, 4:51 PM

Post #5 of 10 (7640 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

Just for giggles, try adding as bottle of Trans Medic Anti Shudder. It is a tempory fix, but if the shudder goes away, the torque converter is the culprit. You need to drain the converter and flush the cooler lines and trans cooler in the radiator.



Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds


marte
New User

Jan 25, 2010, 6:34 AM

Post #6 of 10 (7629 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

I changed 6 of the plugs ( I skiped the two on the front right side as they are difficult to access--maby later but it seems the old plugs were ok on 6 of the 8) and put high test gasoline in the tank. I also checked the diagnostic codes and based on one of the codes (245 if I remember correctly) , replaced the ABS vehicle speed sensor located in the differential. This 1994 E350 Clubwagon apparently has the speed sensor only on the differential as part of the ABS, and no sensor mounted on the transmission. I also found a leaky vaccum hose (large size, almost 1/2 inch ID) that apparently goes to the transmission and also spits off to a box (about 6inches X 6 inches ) near the rail on the driver side. I replaced the leaky section of vacuum hose.

The drive shaft seems solid as I can feel no play in it and I get no clunking sound when I shift from reverse to drive. The van drives a little better but I still get the bucking although less prominent, and less frequently now. It still occurs just when I reach 35 mph as it shifts into 3rd gear, especially going up a hill, and then it sometimes occurs as I reach 45 mph and it apparently shifts into 4th (overdrive?). I can accellerate hard in the lower gears with no performance problems. I'll check the motor mounts, but I have driven the van with the dog house removed and don't recall seeing much engine movement, therefore I think the motor mounts are ok. I think the timing belt is fine as it runs fine until about 35 mph and nothing has been done to the timing chain on this 1993 motor with 150,000 miles. There is an occasional miss at idle, and you can hear the engine stumble once in a while at idle. It is louder in one of the two exhaust pipes. Thanks for your comments. I am still looking for the problem.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 25, 2010, 7:52 AM

Post #7 of 10 (7627 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

What did the plugs you replaced so far look like? Get those other two in as soon as you can. It can take swivels or wobble head extensions to access the hard ones.

You found a large vacuum leak. That size is usually reserved for brake booster. Look for more - anywhere as if one went there could be others screwing things up, fouling plugs and so forth. Anytime engine is running poorly, know it's hard on converter(s).....

Just my 4 cents,

T



marte
New User

Apr 26, 2010, 8:01 AM

Post #8 of 10 (7546 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

Sorry for the delay but I am still dealing with the shifting problems. I replaced the trans fluid/filter and added shutter guard,and I have changed all the spark plugs. No improvement, it still shutters or stumbles when it shifts, mainly starting at 3rd gear and then 4th gear (overdrive).

There is no check engine light on and I scanned the codes (both the KOEO and the KOER test) and only got a code 452 -- programable speed/odometer meter (PSOM) signal to the PCM weak or low... from the KOEO test. I have not check the engine timing but I assume this system is working correctly.

Since the speedometer seems to work correctly, it appears the output from the PSOM to the Power Control Module is inadequate, which may be the cause of the poor performance starting at 3rd gear and higher speeds. One note is that the line to the vehicle speed sensor, VSS, (mounted on the differential housing), has been repaired and it has a short wire spliced into it (both of the two wires are spliced). I think the wire had been cut so this is a repair to the line going to the VSS. Do you think this repair could be causing the problem? I measured the voltage at the VSS and got 0 volts on both wires with the key on. I think there should be 12 volts on one of the wires with the key on but I am not sure.



The ABS system is connected to this system so I am thinking it could be a bad ABS module. Would an ABS scan isolate the failed component? I don't have an ABS scanner.

The PSOM is very difficult to access behind the instrument panel, and the ABS module is easier to access on the passenger side.

Thanks for any advice.


rmcs35
New User

Aug 20, 2012, 9:03 AM

Post #9 of 10 (6099 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

I own three 3 series vans and one of them had a very distinct bucking which seemed like an overdrive transmission problem and it turned out to be the plug wires had cracks in them and I was losing spark under load generall aroudn 40 to 45 mph range. One I changed the plug wires seemed like a new vehicle. I would not overlook the obvious issue of a misfire causing this problem for you.

John


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 20, 2012, 9:23 AM

Post #10 of 10 (6094 views)
  post locked   Re: 1993 E350 transmission vibration  

This question is 7 months old. He has likely resolved his issues already. Please don't reply to old questions.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 20, 2012, 9:24 AM)






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