Wondering if I made a big mistake

[Badunit]

TDR Magazine said the one related mechanical failure point in the transmission, a thrust washer, was fixed in 2005. Problems related to transmission overheating were fixed in 2006 with an ECM change to get the converter to lock up and stay that way. It also stated that the 2005 has an ECM that can handle the new code but that the code isn't yet available for the 2005. I cannot verify that all that is true, I'm just paraphrasing the magazine.



DHamblet, check out http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbthreads/ to get a flavor for Ford trucks and http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/index.php for Chevy trucks. You'll see a lot of complaints over there.



While many stories about trucks breaking down repeatedly for no good reason are probably true, you have to believe that many are not. I have a friend who was very hard on vehicles. He'd do things that would make me cringe. When something broke he would ***** and moan about how "it should have held up to that" and that "it's a cheap piece of junk, I'll never buy a ___ again". I think there are a lot of people out there who do the same kinds of things and then get on web sites and complain how bad their trucks are. So, welcome to TDR where most of us care about and care for our trucks, accept responsibility for the failures we cause, and try to get to the bottom of failures and annoyances that are the result of poor design or manufacturing.

 

[GAllen]

I just returned from a 2,000 mile trip to Oregon and back with a GCW of 21,000 lbs (TA / Cat scales @ Wheeler Ridge) and the truck handled it great. We pulled many posted 6% grades starting in Shasta, CA. and continuing through Oregon. Going downhill, 5 miles of 6% I would engage the T/H feature @ 65 mph and the truck would downshift to 3rd and lock the torque converter. I could hold 60 - 63 mph, only have to tap the brakes 3 or 4 times during the entire decent. I couldn't have been more pleased.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

As long as your wife doesn't get bored and start crusing the internet for other dudes, or chicks , and doesn't start flaming folks hereabouts you will do just fine. :-laf

 

[JDennis]

DH--



I have a 2003 HO 48 RE Automatic w/ 373 rearend--no exhaust brake



I pull 35' 5th wheel (13k prox)---pulled over 12,000 miles last fall (3 mos) from Houston, TX to Colorado, Utah,Montana, Idaho on to northwest Washington State---back thru northern Calif--Arizona--New Mexico --returning home---pulled a lot of high country--used overdrive in flat areas--range of RPM 1500-2800 depending on terrain--used combination of Cruise Control-Downshift-Brakes--Had no problems---tried to go down hill no faster than it took to go uphill--No problems----Like the guys ahead of this quote said--"GO--Pull--Enjoy"--



Safe Trucking / RVing to you!!



Jim D

 

[jwduke]

Latest TDR magazine has info on Jacobs exhaust brake that states that the 2005-2006 48RE transmission is capable of handling it while the 2003-2004. 5 are not. Something to do with a new coating on a thrust washer so it can better handle reverse torque on the transmission. It apparently still has a problem related to non-lock-up of the torque converter (and the resulting heat generation) that is solved in the 2006 model with some ECM programming changes. I'd think with a transmission temperature gauge you could monitor the transmission yourself until an ECM change comes out to fix this for the 2005 model year.



I don't know about the electrical problems you've read about. That's a new one for me.

Is the 2004. 5 to 2005 able to handle it? My truck is (1) day shy of being a 2005! Any thaughts guys??