Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

screaminr1 · Dec 25, 2003

Well, this is all interesting. I just bought my car used. 2001 gt with the t45 think? I just put a new pro 5.0 shifter on and now I have 1st to 2nd grind under high rpms and I even backed the shift stop all the way out. Of,course I did have the 2nd third grind before but now under high rpms the shifter just goes to a dead spot far right and it puts the trany in neutral. I am waiting for a reply from pro 5.0 about this, but never had the issue with stock shifter. I am very confused. Well, I hope this is informative somehow and hope it's not completely off the thread, I'm a newbie, so please don't flame me... I'm just desperatley upset and in need of help.

mustangbob19 · Dec 26, 2003

This is very frustrating because I would love to trade in my 03 GT on 05 GT as soon as they come out. But I wouldn't buy another car with the 3650 until FORD comes out with a SOLUTION to this problem. It's a pain in ass!

screaminr1 · Dec 27, 2003

Ok, Sorry. My vendor gave me the wrong shifter model. So problem solved and it did resolve the 2nd to third grind as well Sorry for the wasted time.

screaminr1 said:
Well, this is all interesting. I just bought my car used. 2001 gt with the t45 think? I just put a new pro 5.0 shifter on and now I have 1st to 2nd grind under high rpms and I even backed the shift stop all the way out. Of,course I did have the 2nd third grind before but now under high rpms the shifter just goes to a dead spot far right and it puts the trany in neutral. I am waiting for a reply from pro 5.0 about this, but never had the issue with stock shifter. I am very confused. Well, I hope this is informative somehow and hope it's not completely off the thread, I'm a newbie, so please don't flame me... I'm just desperatley upset and in need of help.

chris-g · Dec 28, 2003

Throw my hat into the ring

2003 GT 10,000 miles. Really ticks me off!

34Ford · Dec 29, 2003

Ditto

My Mach 1 is doing the same thing (1-2 grind) when its cold.

I just got my Tri-ax today and Im wondering if I should hold off putten it in till we see if a TSB will happen.

Mossberg · Dec 29, 2003

yup, me too!

02 GT 18,000 miles. Member of the 1-2 grind club.

Ford, Please release a fix b4 I'm out of warranty!

brianmef · Dec 29, 2003

It seems to me that we have all tried to get this resolved through our dealer without success. Some of us have also contacted Ford's Customer Relationship Center in Dearborn, Michigan without much success. I have found one more place we can contact. Maybe we can try this and get something done. I found this in my Warranty Guide book.
-----------------------------------------------
DO YOU NEED THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD?

Your satisfaction is important to Ford Motor Company and to your dealer. Experience has shown that our customers have been very successful in achieving satisfaction by following the three-step procedure outlined on the front page of this booklet.

However, if your warranty concern has not been resolved using the three-step procedure, you may be eligible to participate in the Dispute Settlement Board, an informal, cost-free alternative process for resolving disputes.

A warranty dispute must be submitted to the Dispute Settlement Board before taking action under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, or to the extent allowed by state law, before pursuing replacement or repurchase remedies provided by certain state laws. This dispute handling procedure is not required prior to enforcing state-created rights or other rights which are independent of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state replacement or repurchase laws.

HOW DOES THE BOARD WORK?

The Dispute Settlement Board offers a free independent process for resolving warranty disputes. You may apply to the Board if you are an eligible owner of a Ford Motor Company vehicle in the United States.

For details, please refer to your Owner Guide. For a brochure/application, speak to your dealer or write to:

Dispute Settlement Board
P.O. Box 5120
Southfield, MI 48086-5120
1-800-428-3718

NOTE: The Dispute Settlement Board may not be available in all states. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change eligibility limitations, modify procedures, and/or to discontinue this process at any time without notice and without obligation.

These state laws - sometimes called "lemon laws" - allow owners to receive a replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, under certain circumstances. The laws vary from state to state.

To the extent your state law allows, Ford Motor Company requires that you first send us a written notification of any defects or non-conformities that you have experienced with your vehicle. (This will give us the opportunity to make any needed repairs before you pursue the remedies provided by your state's law.)

In all other states where not specifically required by state law, Ford Motor Company requests that you give us the written notice.

Send your written notification to:

Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48121

psnous · Dec 29, 2003

Don't waste your time dude, been there done that. It's supposed to be an unbised board but it's not. It was a complete waste of my time although if you try for the lemon law you are required to go through the dispute settlement board first.

52merc · Dec 31, 2003

Had the 1-2 shifter fork, sychro, and blocker ring replaced on warrantee 2 yrs ago. Cold shifts are hard and sometimes grind, both the 1-2 and the 3-4. Never any problems downshifting (at any temp) or when tranny is at full operating temp.

brianmef · Dec 31, 2003

52merc said:
Had the 1-2 shifter fork, sychro, and blocker ring replaced on warrantee 2 yrs ago. Cold shifts are hard and sometimes grind, both the 1-2 and the 3-4. Never any problems downshifting (at any temp) or when tranny is at full operating temp.

I sure hope Ford fixes this problem by putting out a TSB. But until then, just be gentle in shifting from 1st to 2nd. Never force it! I've been shifting to 2nd at 10mph or below in cold weather which usually makes a half way smooth shift. Or I've found 3 different things to keep it from grinding...
(1) Double clutch
(2) Shift from 1st to 3rd
(3) When you shift from first, pull it to the neutral position then yank it all the way to the right and pull it back to the left and go into 2nd, which makes a half way smooth shift. All 3 are a pain in the arse but is worth it because you want to avoid any gear grinding which would eventually ruin the transmission.

Also, I've read posts in these forums about people complaining about not being able to shift to 1st easily from 2nd gear. You never want to shift to 1st unless you are at least 10mph or below. It says that in the manual. It will damage the transmission if you force it into 1st.

20BlackGT02 · Jan 1, 2004

Yup, I do number 3 all the time. That's the easiest and best way to shift when the trans is cold. Man am I pissed!!!

MystanGoTu · Jan 1, 2004

I have a 2003 GT 5spd and have the 2nd gear problem and waiting for Ford to do something my 2000 had no problems.

jrc_03_gt · Jan 4, 2004

I have an 03 with 900 miles on it and I have the so called 1-2 grind or hang up. If you guys take any action inform about it .

Slow5.0 · Jan 6, 2004

My friend in his Bullitt have same probleme like you guys , other friend in 01 have too, I have in my 94 Mustang with T5 too , all Ford tranny is suck

jrc_03_gt · Jan 6, 2004

bad 3650

Tremec is going to make a "nibble" kit for gears 1 and 2. I just talked to someone from tremec and they said that that does not mean for will buy them and fix everones transmission. If ford does not buy the kit it will be available for aftermarket purchases. I have a real problem with ford if they are aware of the problem and choose to do nothing. That is just wrong. I will be in the market to buy a mini-van in about 6 months if ford does not take care of the problem promptly I can tell you I wont even look at ford vans.

brianmef · Jan 6, 2004

jrc_03_gt said:
Tremec is going to make a "nibble" kit for gears 1 and 2. I just talked to someone from tremec and they said that that does not mean for will buy them and fix everones transmission. If ford does not buy the kit it will be available for aftermarket purchases. I have a real problem with ford if they are aware of the problem and choose to do nothing. That is just wrong. I will be in the market to buy a mini-van in about 6 months if ford does not take care of the problem promptly I can tell you I wont even look at ford vans.

I feel the same way. If Ford doesn't fix this and soon, I will NEVER buy another new or used Ford vehicle again. They know about it. They just don't want to pay they money it will cost to fix every Mustang with this transmission. I feel that ignoring this, is really a bad business practice. You piss of one customer, you lose many potential customers. Word gets around. It wouldn't surprise me if they are sued with a "Class Action" lawsuit sometime in the future.

BMan5150 · Jan 6, 2004

Did you read Ford's press release on the new 2005 mustang (located here on Stangnet)? Did you see there comments on how they have improved the shift action on the 3650 for the 2005 cars? Nice. Thanks for helping out the rest of us who bought the "old" mustang with the notchy 3650.

We are buying a new SUV in the next month or so. I am not buying a Ford Explorer, that is for certain. We are probably going to buy a Honda Pilot. I'm sure Honda would act similarly when it comes to defects/issues, but here's a newsflash - Hondas don't have defects like this!!! Not to this degree, anyhow. I''ve heard enough of my friends and family members make comments like, "my Honda Accord is so reliable . . . my 1993 Honda Civic still runs like it was new . . ." I'm going to finally give Honda a shot. I've owned 4 Fords now, and the best one by far in terms of reliability was actually a Mazda! (1994 Ford Probe GT.)

I won't go so far as to say that I'll never own another Ford (I still have an addiction to Mustangs) but I just can't see buying any other Ford if I plan to keep the vehicle more than 4 years. Sorry for the rant . . .

Skud · Jan 6, 2004

Ok, so I took my '02 in for the 3rd time to have someome ride with me. The service manager talked with their tranny specialist over the phone and then told me that (and I quote) "They do that when it's cold outside". He said that the only thing for me to do it let it fully warm up before I take off. I asked him if there is any way to fix it and he said "No, just let it warm up"..

So, I'm going to talk to ford directly as soon as I get some time. I mean this is getting plain rediculous. It was -30C (No Joke) here this past week and 2nd was useless until the tranny warmed up. It wouldn't even go into 2nd.

Riley

Skud · Jan 6, 2004

I did some googling and I found this on hotrod's website. It appears they are aware of the problem too!!

So if you've got a late Mustang with the Tremec 3650 five-speed that already tends to crunch into Second and Third when cold, you might want to get that resolved before adding the blower.

(End of the 5th paragraph)

http://www.hotrod.com/projectbuild/113_0312_pax/

Riley

Twisted · Jan 6, 2004

Can HotRod Magazine Help Us?????

If HotRod knows about it, maybe if we all write them and tell how Ford dealerships keep bull****ting us the can help. Imagine what an full blown article would do to get Ford to step up to the plate and fix it. Kind of like the SVT Cobra underrated HP issue. I'll look for a contact at HotRod.

Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

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