Hello everyone, new here so I apologize in advance if I am doing somthing wrong.

My truck: 96 f150 4x4 e4od with a 302, I think it's a XLT

My problem: I think I cooked the tranny, 1st I towed a big old caddy about 3 hours from my house through the mointains never really dropping below 65. 2nd I lent it to my room mate so that he could take all of his crap for an 8 hour drive, I am not sure how loaded the truck was because I was at work but it's safe to say that both the truck and trailer that was being pulled were maxed out.

For the past 10K miles the tranny was whining a good bit, but the truck was shifting smoothly and it's just a beater I keep for mountian trips getting tanbark and stuff like that so I let it go. Now the tranny is louder and shifting is getting a bit more clunky. The truck has around 130K on it now.

I began looking for a used transmission, i figured there must be thousands of these laying around in junk yards. I was wrong I was only able to locate one used one for 700 1500 for a rebuilt one I only paid 1800 for the truck! I was told that the 96 is a unique year and takes a special tranny.

Can anyone help me out here and tell me why this transmission is so hard to locate?

 

try a fluid flush, maybe the fluid is just cooked. also try craigslist, i found a used E4OD for my bronco for 250 there. i know someone else will tell me i'm wrong, but these transmissions dont go out THAT often, and rebuilding any trans is expensive. i'd still try a trans service(flush and filter) before anything

 

Thanks, Is this question misplaced?

 

i think the only differences you'll find in different year E4OD's are a modified front pump, and an upgraded solenoid pack, both of which are supposedly interchangeable. and the reason they are hard to find used, is because theres so many damn fords that are still rolling

 

Nope.Just fine. Welcome to the Forum!

Does the fluid smell burnt? How long since the last service?

As far as 96' being a unique year, we were just discussing that in another thread.

 

I never took the time to smell it but I do remember thinking it to be a bit more brown then I thought it should be. I am apprehensive to get a trans flush as they are expensive and would hate to find that it did no good. I am also of the school of thought that changing the fluid on a high milage tranny can cause more harm then good. As far as service goes I am not sure bought it 2nd hand with a r title. Your guess is as good as mine. I certainly did nothing hell I put 10k on a single oil change and it didn't burn or leak a drop

 

That "school of thought" will eventually cost you a tranny before it's time!

 

The tranny is already f*cked up. How much more harm will it do flushing it?

 

x2

 

I guess it depends if you are suggesting I just drain and refill or take it some where is spend the money to have it flushed on a machine. The harm in getting it flushed would be the money invested.