Trans slips when COLD

Adam Hartman · Nov 15, 2012

I have a "01" ST 4x4 the trans is slipping but only when its cold. Like when I get in to go to work in the morning or when the truck has been sitting for a 4hrs and gets cold again. Once I get going down the road and it warms up it stops. Has anyone had this problem and how did you fix it. I'm sure it doesn't need a full rebuild if it did it all the time I could see that. Any help would be great,thanks.

Vic Sorlie · Nov 15, 2012

More info please: 1) Miles on truck; 2) Miles since last ATF service; 3) What is fluid level?

Gavin Allan · Nov 15, 2012

My '03 Adenalin did that too. I would back out onto my busy street, put it in "D", and it would just sit there and engine rev real high. Then all of a sudden it would "BANG" into gear and take off. It only did it when the temps were cold. I had the transmission checked out, fluid and filter changed at the Ford dealer but they could never repeat the problem. I had 40,000 miles on it.

I fixed it by trading for an '07 Trac.

Good luck.

EddieS'04 · Nov 15, 2012

Since you have an '01 trac. I would look into the upgraded valve body seperator gasket. Also relplace your solenoids. Most shops know of this problem.

Or you could spend afew hundred more and have the complete upgraded valve body changed.

$500 to $700 for the new valve body might save you $3000 later on.

At least have the first sugestion done.

scott degroot · Nov 16, 2012

This is typically the first sign of a transmission that is going to need a rebuild soon. The internal seals and o-rings get a little hard when the transmission is cold and therefore will not hold enough pressure to properly operate the transmission. Once things warm up the seals start to seal again and all is well.

Have you checked the fluid level? This can also cause that type of problem. When was the last time you changed the fluid?

Robert Howell · Nov 16, 2012

Our 01 was also having a forward gear slippage when cold as well as a 3rd to 4th shift flare. I ended up dropping the transmission and doing a full rebuild. Found the non-updated spacer plate gasket blown out, one of the solenoids had gasket bits plugging it up and the OD servo rubber was cracked and hardened like glass.

Ended up having the shop upgrade the valve block and add a TransGo shift kit. Shifts very nice now, crisp and the transmission doesn't hunt near as much going up steep hills.