I have the 03 HO 4x4, 25k miles on it and am starting to have problems going into gear when I am at a stop. It's as if the clutch is not disingauging. It's not all of the time, just at random. It seems to happen more when I first start the engine up. It doesn't make a differance in time of day or temperature. It will sometimes do it to me at a light after I have driven it a few miles, so I can't really see a pattern. I'm going to change the fluid and see if that helps, but I doubt it.
I have worked on trannys and can't figure this one out. I'm suspecting something in the hydraulic clutch system may be at fault.

Has anyone had this happen?
Thanks
Greg

 

It could be in the clutch master/slave hydraulic system, but it could also be a pilot bearing problem (rare but not unheard of in the 2nd generation trucks). With 25K under your belt, I'm sure you know that you can't slam the NV5600 into gear just as soon as you depress the clutch - there's a lotta mass in there that the synchros have to slow down, so a slight delay before it drops into gear is normal.

Rusty

 

This is more than a slight delay.....
I can sit there messing with it for a minute or two sometimes.

I don't have any vibrations or weird noises.

Is there any history of problems in this area?

Next time it happens, I'll try letting it set a secound with the clutch in and see if that makes any differance.

G

 

Mine was notchy before I changed out the fluid @ 18k.

 

Either the clutch is not releasing completely or the pilot bearing is siezing.

 

bulabula...what tranny oil did you use?

I just changed to Redline MTL and my 6 speed is still not real smooth.....better than with the stock oil, though!

 

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck..... (I have this vision of Curly...),

I used Amsoil that time; and the shifting improved considerably. The techline guys recommended ASL 5W-30. I felt a marked improvement.

I've read here that some guys who have used both amsoil and redline say that they both work great, but that the RL "seemed" better to them. FWIW, I'm a happy Amsoil customer, but I've got 5 quarts of MTL sitting on the shelf for next time. I'm also using MTL in my Mustang's T5 with great success (better shifting than with ATF the manual calls for).

Oh, on the 5600 I only drained out the old and refilled with the new. For next time I'll get myself a PTO gasket and open the tranny up and clean off the magnet in there as well.

hth

mule, yeah it sounds like the clutch isn't totally releasing for you.

 

bulabula,
Where is the magnet at? Are there more than one? Is there a gasket? I was looking at mine and it looks like just RTV for a gasket. I will be changing mine soon to MTL (waiting for 15,000 Miles). Thanks for any info you might have.

 

Jerry, I understand there's a magnet sitting on the bottom of the tranny between the PTO "holes". Its only accessible when you remove a PTO cover; the left side affords more space to work.

Maybe the PTO sealant is just RTV but I wasn't sure; so I bought a standard 6-hole PTO gasket at NAPA. There seems to be lots of choices on how thick a gasket to buy, and I told the guy to "just give me the right one". I think it was $3 bucks after tax. If I don't need it, I can take it back.

Don't forget to take it for a spin to warm up the lube before you dump the old stuff; and I think its a great opportunity to change out the diffs and the xfer case while under there.

 

I'm thinking this has something to do with an odd noise that surfaced after I first pulled in the mountains. When I am going up hill, loaded, and I let off the gass, I get a weird sound from the drive train. It's a "rebound" with two quick bearring spins. It's really hard to explain..... If you have had a throwout bearring go bad on you, it's a bit like that rattling bearring sound you get in the beginning. It only happens when I pull under a load up a hill or I'm runnning hard up a hill. I was originally thinking it is the carrier bearring on the drive line hanging up, but that would cause a vibration.
I suspect it's more of the hydraulic throwout bearring being bad. I had one on the 12 spd in my tank truck go out and act the same way. Of course my driver didn't complain of any noises.......

I'm going to change the tranny fluid and see what happens. I have 25k on the truck now. I did the t-case and diffs at 15k, but didn't have a pump for the tranny fluid. I'm also going to use the Amsoil 5-30.

Anyone in Denver?
Can you tell me where to get the Amsoil stuff?
thanks
Greg

 

I'd make sure to open up the tranny and inspect the bottom of it and the magnet for any evidence of possible chunkies that may be in there. Also look through the fluid too.

You can order the amsoil directly from them online - its easy.

http://www.amsoil.com/index.htm or call them at (715) 392-7101

 

thanks

I'm going to hit Napa on the way home and get the gasket.

 

The power take off gear deapth is adjusted by the thickness of the gaskets, so they come in different sizes. Easiest is to not get the thinnest one and go with it, in your case the thickness does not matter.

 

Sounds like I ought to get a service manual on this tranny first......
thanks
Greg

 

Naaaa, just slap a gasket on it and fill it. Any one will do.