Truck wont go

[Ranger850]

So My Dad's got a 98 f150, Extra cab with a 4.6. (I think he said its a 3:55 rear end)Not sure which tranny he has but here is the situation. He recently bought a 30 ft. Camper w/ Gooseneck. Added the fifth wheel hitch to his truck and I think some traction bars or something to help with the pull. He was not pulling the trailer the other day and truck was fine. He left his key on all night so he jumped the truck off to start and says it would not go, Puts it in "D" and nothing, no clunking around no nothing. Puts in in Low gear and is creeps at a snails pace. Said he flushed it and ran some LUCAS slip stop in it but nothing still. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Craig0320]

So My Dad's got a 98 f150, Extra cab with a 4.6. (I think he said its a 3:55 rear end)Not sure which tranny he has but here is the situation. He recently bought a 30 ft. Camper w/ Gooseneck. Added the fifth wheel hitch to his truck and I think some traction bars or something to help with the pull. He was not pulling the trailer the other day and truck was fine. He left his key on all night so he jumped the truck off to start and says it would not go, Puts it in "D" and nothing, no clunking around no nothing. Puts in in Low gear and is creeps at a snails pace. Said he flushed it and ran some LUCAS slip stop in it but nothing still. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

It sounds like the trans filter needs to be replaced. Flushing and filter replacement usually goes hand in hand.I think it is just a coincidence that it started doing this with the battery dying.

 

[Ranger850]

I thaught "coincidence" too. THNX Craig. will relay the message to him, he's retired so he has all the time in the world to do this stuff.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That truck is not intended for a 30' fifth wheel at all.

If he didn't tear the trans out of it he will. Or the little 8.8. The little 4.6 will beat its head against the wall for a long time trying, he will probably get tired of throwing transmissions or axles at it before it gives up.

He has a 4R70W transmission. I think they moved the VSS to the rear axle in '98 so he will need to watch for a trans with the port in it for the VSS if he is 2wd.

 

[adsm08]

Couple things to check.

Does the fluid level drop when you start the engine? If yes start checking trans fluid pressures.

The shift tube in the column is known for breaking on those trucks. It can cause all sorts of problems. Usually the first symptom is that it is hard to get out of park.

 

[Ranger850]

Couple things to check.

Does the fluid level drop when you start the engine? If yes start checking trans fluid pressures.

The shift tube in the column is known for breaking on those trucks. It can cause all sorts of problems. Usually the first symptom is that it is hard to get out of park.

He says the shift indicator has been off. N = Drive and so on. in low it looks like its in drive. How much of this could be his problem.

Or is his tranny blown and he needs more truck for that Camper

 

[adsm08]

He says the shift indicator has been off. N = Drive and so on. in low it looks like its in drive. How much of this could be his problem.

Or is his tranny blown and he needs more truck for that Camper

The shift needle being off is probably just that. The needle is pulled along by a little nylon string, similar to fishing line, and it stretches over time. It is under constant tension from the return spring. There is a little thumb wheel under the dash that can be used to adjust it.

If this happened after he towed that camper he probably grenaded the trans. Like 85 said, that truck was not meant to haul that camper.

 

[Ranger850]

Thanks for all the input guys. I think he realizes he muffed up.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I got a 32 Ft travel trailer i tow with a 97 HD with a 460. No way on gods green earth id go to a 4.6. Id even think twice about a 5.4 or 351W. Id look for a 92-96 F250/350 with a 460 (or 7.3 PSD if he wants to spend more), or at bare minimum a V10 superduty.

 

[adsm08]

I got a 32 Ft travel trailer i tow with a 97 HD with a 460. No way on gods green earth id go to a 4.6. Id even think twice about a 5.4 or 351W. Id look for a 92-96 F250/350 with a 460 (or 7.3 PSD if he wants to spend more), or at bare minimum a V10 superduty.

In the right truck, with the right gears, I think a 5.4 could do it. It certainly won't be as happy about it as a 460, or a 6.8, but it would do it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

In the right truck, with the right gears, I think a 5.4 could do it. It certainly won't be as happy about it as a 460, or a 6.8, but it would do it.

A 5.4 SD won't play fair.

Our '04 F-250 5.4 is the same gutless turd running around with a service body and back seat full of tools as it is full of tools and with a tractor on a car trailer. Dunno how but it rallies the troops and doesn't slow down any.

 

[Craig0320]

I'm pretty sure the 04 5.4 had the 4r100 behind it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm pretty sure the 04 5.4 had the 4r100 behind it.

In a Superduty or 7700 (if it lived on with the heritage) yes.

 

[Craig0320]

I was wondering. I know my manual 4406 came out a 03 5.4 f150 with the 4r100

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I was wondering. I know my manual 4406 came out a 03 5.4 f150 with the 4r100

Only F-150 7700's, Lightnings and a few select Supercrews had the 4R100, they were not overly common in a F-150.