Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

bgwrm89GT · Mar 7, 2004

My 02 gt also has the 1-2 clunk/grind whatever you wanna call it. I was at Fun Ford weekend in Orlando saturday and spoke to the reps from tremec.I told them about all of the angry 3650 owners on stangnet and asked if they had a solution to our problem besides getting the run-a-round from ford. They informed me that they will be sending the ford dealers a new kit to fix the probem sometime in mid April. I could be mistaken but I think he called it a nibbler kit? Anyway I guess we'll soon seeif it works , dealing with ford is like

4.6 Mach 1 · Mar 7, 2004

Twisted said:
I talked to my dealer today and they said they have all the parts in stock now for the fix. These parts:

3r3z*7124*BA SYN ASY TRANS
3r3z*7102*AA GR ASY-TRANS INTERM
3r3z*7107*AA RG-TRA/AX SYN BLK
3r3z*7230*AB FK ASY/TRANS 1st & 2nd GR SH
1r3z*7109*aa KIT-TRANS SNP RG
XT*2*QDX FLUID-ATUO TRANS 1QT MERCON

Are these all the parts needed? I am afraid that if I do this before a TSB that there might be additional parts added and I will be screwed?

These are the parts that are listed on my repair ticket from the 5th of Feb. There was one more part added which is:

1 1R3Z*7H150*AA WHEEL - TRNS DR VN SPRKT SPD S

Don't know what the last part was. What are my opinions on the fix? Well, for startes the dreaded 1-2 cold grind is gone completely. The 2-3 lockout is gone as well. The trans overall felt great. Night and day difference. About a week later, I installed my Hurst Billet Plus shifter. On the factory shifter, the plastic cap that you remove to reinstall onto the new shifter was loose and pivoted easy. However, on the Hurst, it is tight. So now my trans feels notchy going into 1st, but 2, 3, 4, and 5 are fine. It wasn't like that with the factory shifter, only after the install of the Hurst. Could just be a bad Hurst, don't know. I will rip it out next weekend and check it again.

Again, the updated parts did fix my transmission woes...

2003BlackStang · Mar 8, 2004

I only have 9,500 miles on my stang and it grinds and slips out of secound.

wvwarrior · Mar 9, 2004

Just picked up my 2002 GT with the new transmission installed. So far so good. It shifts much better than the old and I have not yet experienced any gear clash. However, it was a short trip home from the dealer and it was not very cold outside. It will be colder tomorrow morning and the rest of the week so I will be better able to tell if the new transmission really solved the problem.

The transmission they installed was a 3R3Z*7003*CA. According to the work order they put 4 quarts of XT*2 bulk fluid into the transmission.

Mustang225 · Mar 9, 2004

wvwarrior said:
Just picked up my 2002 GT with the new transmission installed. So far so good. It shifts much better than the old and I have not yet experienced any gear clash. However, it was a short trip home from the dealer and it was not very cold outside. It will be colder tomorrow morning and the rest of the week so I will be better able to tell if the new transmission really solved the problem.

The transmission they installed was a 3R3Z*7003*CA. According to the work order they put 4 quarts of XT*2 bulk fluid into the transmission.

Interesting as my new tranny is 2R3Z-7003-AE. Still a little notchy but Tremec claims it has the updates.

dark_cobra_01 · Mar 10, 2004

Add me to the list of unhappy 3650 owners..

Here's my lenghty experience so far...

I first dealt with this issue over a year and a half ago.. Dealer swapped my tranny to a "new" one but then the same issue appeared within a short distance of driving home on a "new" 3650 . Dealer also said the same thing to me when I went back to complain "Tech can't find problem" .. "We now believe that's a normal operating condition of the vehicle and won't fix it"..

And then a few months later I took it in again for the well known TB squeals and chatters .. They "fixed" it but the chatter came back in a month .. It seems to me that it was more like they greased the bearing but charged Ford for a new clutch assembly that I never got but appears on my paperwork...

I then called the 1-800 number and placed a complaint.. never heard jack from anyone..

Now, after reading this post .. I called another dealer today (3/10/04).. They said No TSB is available yet, but they would love my business after hearing what was done to me at the previous dealer.. I told em I'd be in soon after I know the TSB was released... since I got the extended 75k warranty and it will probably cost me $50.00 but worth it..

Question :Anyone know if an aftermarket shifter voids anything ? I'm ready to swap it back to the stock one but should I bother ?? I've seen a few other people ask this here but noone has answered it?

merc123 · Mar 10, 2004

If you take it in you should, especially if it involves the tranny.

Celsyus · Mar 10, 2004

dark_cobra_01 said:
Add me to the list of unhappy 3650 owners..

Here's my lenghty experience so far...

I first dealt with this issue over a year and a half ago.. Dealer swapped my tranny to a "new" one but then the same issue appeared within a short distance of driving home on a "new" 3650 . Dealer also said the same thing to me when I went back to complain "Tech can't find problem" .. "We now believe that's a normal operating condition of the vehicle and won't fix it"..

And then a few months later I took it in again for the well known TB squeals and chatters .. They "fixed" it but the chatter came back in a month .. It seems to me that it was more like they greased the bearing but charged Ford for a new clutch assembly that I never got but appears on my paperwork...

I then called the 1-800 number and placed a complaint.. never heard jack from anyone..

Now, after reading this post .. I called another dealer today (3/10/04).. They said No TSB is available yet, but they would love my business after hearing what was done to me at the previous dealer.. I told em I'd be in soon after I know the TSB was released... since I got the extended 75k warranty and it will probably cost me $50.00 but worth it..

Question :Anyone know if an aftermarket shifter voids anything ? I'm ready to swap it back to the stock one but should I bother ?? I've seen a few other people ask this here but noone has answered it?

i've heard aftermarket shifters do void the warranty, but it all depends on the dealership...

btw, 14.1 seems a little slower than you should be running with that rwhp.. what's the deal?

psnous · Mar 10, 2004

Most dealers think that most consumers are dumb and don't know that if they do try to void it due to a shifter that if that consumer fights it then the dealer has to show proof and/or evidense that the shifter caused the tranny to fail. Most people aren't willing to go through all that so the dealer wins. Just to be safe and as easy as it is, put the stock shifter back in. When putting the aftermarket one make sure to do it right as far as spacing etc...... and check it from time to time to make sure the gaps are still in spec.

wvwarrior · Mar 10, 2004

First full day experience with a new 3650 in my 2002 GT went well. It was cold this morning and the transmission did not gear clash. The transmission still has a very "notchy" feel sometimes but after it gets warm even that seems to be better than the old unit that was in my car. The car doesn't shift as smoothly as my wifes Acura but at least it's not grinding on the synchro's 10 to 12 times a day like the old transmission.

If you have one of the old bad 3650s in your car I recommend trying to get a new transmission rather than letting them rebuild your existing 3650. All that metal floating around inside the trans can't be good for all the rotating parts, including the bearings, that won't be replaced by the TSB.

Good luck to all!

Angus · Mar 11, 2004

Took my Mach in for the 1st time to try & get Ford to fix the 1-2 grind & 3rd gear "Lock-Out" that I've experienced since the car was new.

Dealer had the car for several days & test-drove the car numerous times. I even gave them the new part numbers listed in several other threads on this board & a detailed description of the problems I've had with the tranny.

Final result?

"Could not duplicate issues - transmission shifts normally."

I'm almost tempted to swap-in an automatic trans & just be done with it...

Anyone have any ideas how I can get Ford to fix this???

bluefishboy · Mar 11, 2004

Angus said:
Took my Mach in for the 1st time to try & get Ford to fix the 1-2 grind & 3rd gear "Lock-Out" that I've experienced since the car was new.

Dealer had the car for several days & test-drove the car numerous times. I even gave them the new part numbers listed in several other threads on this board & a detailed description of the problems I've had with the tranny.

Final result?

"Could not duplicate issues - transmission shifts normally."

I'm almost tempted to swap-in an automatic trans & just be done with it...

Anyone have any ideas how I can get Ford to fix this???

Find another dealer in your area. There are dealers you can work
with to get this done. Take the time and do it.

The improvement in the trans is worth the time spent.

Good Luck

wvwarrior · Mar 12, 2004

File a complaint with the Dispute Resolution Board using the procedures identified in your owners manual. As evidence, I suggest you provide the following information to the board:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
A spreadsheet or table showing the number of shifts/grinds you experience in a typical day. (#total shifts, #total grinds, Outside Temperature)

An recording taken inside your car that has the grinding sound clearly audible as you shift between the gears. A battery operated cassette recorder can be used on the passenger seat with a microphone on the console. Put a towel under the microphone so it doesn't pick up road noise and vibration.

The URL of this WEB Forum to show that you are not alone in your complaint.

A copy of Service Message 15669 - available from the NHTSA site. This documents the grinding problem from a government site.

Copies of all service records (visits to the dealer) complaining about this problem.

You can appear in person or just send in the material and wait for a verdict. If you appear - you can let a board member actually drive the car to verify the problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I did the above and the Dispute Resolution Board ruled in my favor and required Ford to install a new transmission in my car. The decsion of the board is binding on the manufacturer.

dark_cobra_01 · Mar 12, 2004

VW,

Can you post a link to that NHTSA document.. I can not find it in thier database and have been rerouted all over their website for a 1569 document on traffic safety in crosswalks...it seems 15669 is an invalid number in thier serach tool.

psnous · Mar 12, 2004

bluefishboy said:
Find another dealer in your area. There are dealers you can work
with to get this done. Take the time and do it.

The improvement in the trans is worth the time spent.

Good Luck

Wait for the TSB should be out next month

jrc_03_gt · Mar 12, 2004

There is no "TSB" There will never be one. I just drove a 2004 mach 1 and a 2004 gt it was around 30* outside the mach 1 shifted like butter. Does it have the same 3650?Are all gears 1-5 the same ratio? I Think it has a different clutch it even feels better. I only have 1700 miles on my gt. It still catches between 1-2 and 2-3 . I have the so called "FIX" And Im not that impressed. IT needs to be better.

motley · Mar 13, 2004

I brought my 03 GT to the dealer this morning and told them about the 1-2 gear clunck before the trans has fully warmed up. They drove it that afternoon and said there is something wrong. They said they should have parts tues or wed so hopefully it will get fixed. They have been very helpful so far.

wvwarrior · Mar 13, 2004

For NHTSA search go to the following link -
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Click on the link that says "Service Bulletin Database"

Then search on vehicle type. For example - 2002, Ford, Mustang, Power Train - Manual Transmission. You should see 15669. Don't just search under Mustang GT since they list the service message for some years under Mustang (not Mustang GT, etc.).

Good luck.

dark_cobra_01 · Mar 15, 2004

got it..

03poontanggt · Mar 16, 2004

I grind 1-2 almost everyday in easy driving cold or hard driving at any temp. My girlfriend is like man your a crappy driver. I'm like no it's not me it's the car's fault and she say's "sure" So my point is this tranny is giving me a bad reputation. It almost feels like the clutch is not fully engaged. I've pulled up on the clutch pedal a few times and believe it or not it really helps.

Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

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