Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

It states here www.ttcautomotive.com/English/faq/faq.asp#15 that Tremec Transmission already have interanl shift stops. I am no mechanic and I am also experiencing these problems as well, but if the grind was due to a defective shift fork wouldn't it grind all the time...not just when the tranny fluid is cold??? I admit there's a problem here though. My bad...it told me my post didn't go through, appearantly it did

Nothing to do with forks

Ur right Torch ! The shift forks have nothing to do with the problem being created, or at the least, enhanced by the cold weather. Sorry - Kirky - but its a flaw in the tranny & Ford has taken a real hands off approach to this - they redid my sychros for 3 weeks and when I got it back it did it the next day.

Um no i stated 95% of true tremec 3650 transmission problems are related to a defective or cracked shift fork. The stock transmission as far as i know has basically no protection for over-extending the shift fork. I wish i could see a diagram of the stock setup to compare but when i pulled the stock shifter off there was no stop bolts or metal there to protect so i assume there is nothing thats why the shift fork was gone at 3600 miles on my car (probably messed up from the factory).

The problem that you people are discussing is an "annoyance" not a problem. If you can't get your car in gear or when it triest to synchronize and spits out of gear...now thats a problem.

kirkyg

"Um no i stated 95% of true tremec 3650 transmission problems are related to a defective or cracked shift fork" - Kirky G

Curious where you get your figures from ? Anyway..... I would say if it is cold and you need to pull out in front of fast moving traffic in the morning... not being able to put it into 2nd timely - could result in a rear end "problem"

2003 Mach 1. Just over 1000 miles. At or close to WOT, when shifting 2-3 between 5500-6000 RPM, it just "refuses" to go into 3rd. No grind or clunk , it just don't wanna go. Shifter feels kind of "soft" when it happens. No problems with 1-2. I really don't want to bring it to the dealer and give the tech a reason to beat on the car. Installed a Pro 5.0, seemed to help but, not eliminate the problem. It's frustrating as hell, cause otherwise this is an awesome car.

Jim

I noticed the whole 1-2 issue when i had the stock shifter at cold temps, but now that I have the steeda tri-ax I don't notice it at all. the only problem i noticed is after a few runs at the track the shifter seems rubbery or something. also the other night i was getting on it... maybe to about 4 grand or so in 2nd.. shifted to 3rd and it made this weird clunking noise.. hopefully nothing is wrong, because I plan on heading to the track this weekend..

Originally posted by kirkyg
The problem that you people are discussing is an "annoyance" not a problem. If you can't get your car in gear or when it triest to synchronize and spits out of gear...now thats a problem.

kirkyg

Click to expand...

It sure seems like 95% of the people insinuating that the rest of us are just complaining either:
1. Live down south somewhere (i.e. TX).
2. Have never driven the 3650 in "cold" weather. I'll even go out on a limb and say that SLOW 97 has probably never driven the 3650 period, needless to say in cold weather.

All I can say is you would have to drive it to believe it. I don't think this many people would reply if it was a minor "annoyance".

We can all agree that it's a major flaw in the car, enough that I have recommended anyone interested in buying the car to get it in automatic or go for the Cobra since it has the 6spd, or just get a totaly different car. If Ford don't step up and do some sort of recall to help out it's comsumers this may be the last Ford I ever buy.

I have 1-2 grind-clunk, I live in North East Pennsylvania. Shifts really well when warm. Seems to shift even better when i really wind the motor out.

I also have a UPR shifter.

TOTAL BS

Well..... I hate to say it but nothings ever going to be done about it. All our bithching and moaning resulted in me losing my car to Ford service for 3 weeks - getting it back with the same problem. I've seen many others on here with comparable complaints.

In fact - Ford service drove the car with me in it and I knew it was doing it and they said they "couldn't feel" anything wrong. Ford is scared to aknowledge this problem and I'll tell you why I think...

the number of people who have this problem would be a huge $$$$$$ for Ford to make good on. --- I'll say it again - we need to investigate an attorney who's willing to work on a contingency for a class action suit. - Sorry I just don't see Ford stepping up to the plate here.

Just my aggravated .02 Of course summers coming and our $26,000 will shift smoothly for a few months anyway.

for those of you who say the grind from 1-2 is "just an annoyance", maybe you better try driving your stang in COLD weather...

and also, what happens when my tranny takes a dump because of all the premature wear and tear from the grinding? is it still just an "annoyance"???

for those who know what problem we're talking about, is it actually causing any damage to the tranny, or not?

bottom line: a brand new mustang shouldn't shift like a bagged out 82 chevette

What is the root cause?

What is the root cause of the 1-2 shift grind? If some cars do it and others don't, there is something different between them!

We need to figure out what it is if we're going to fix it.

I too had the oil changed to Mercon at around 5K on my 02 GT; no change. Then they replaced the trans; no change but two new problems. Now a sticky notch in the middle of the neutral throw, and a slight 2 - 3 clunk. Thought they were going to put in a "new" part, turns out it's "reman"; in my brand new car! B.S.!

I'd like to know exactly what is different between the different revisions; was a dimensional change made to a syncro or related part? Can the old models be rebuilt with the new components? Not if the changes are not backward compatable; the whole assy must be changed to the new rev (probably the case). I'd like to see a comparison bill of materials for the 2 assemblies.

We need the technical details, this is what Ford won't to tell us ($$$$). The ford service rep, service manager and field service guy all played dumb, like they never heard of the problem, now I see these discussion threads of dozens (hundreds?) with the same problem.

I asked the Ford Field service rep if there was an updated P/N for the trans, he told me "no updated P/N". NOT TRUE! So I asked the parts guy for the P/N, he says there are 3 different ones, depending on production date.

My car was built 01/02, the Ford Special Service Message 15669 on the grind issue states that cars built before 03/15/02 "may exhibit the grind". This implies cars built after this date don't have the problem.

The latest trans P/N is 2R3Z7003AB ($3440) for production dates after 05/06/02. This P/N is also for 03 models. The other P/N is 2R3Z7003AE ($2531) for prod dates after 09/05/01. There was another P/N for dates after 02/22/01.

Why is the latest part $1000 more? Better syncros??

The trany they put in my car was the same P/N as the one they took out (2R3Z7003AE), (likely taken out of some other complainer's car). I want them to replace it again, this time with the later P/N, I'm meeting with Ford tomorrow for the Nth time, we'll see?!

I'd like to hear more about production dates to see if there is truly a cut-off for good/ bad parts. I know this thread is for the "haves" (the grind), I'd like to hear from some of the "have nots" to see who's trans works right, and when it was built. If they replaced your trans, what P/N is on the receipt?

Tom

What is the root cause?

What is the root cause of the 1-2 shift grind? If some cars do it and others don't, there is something different between them!

We need to figure out what it is if we're going to fix it.

I too had the oil changed to Mercon at around 5K on my 02 GT; no change. Then they replaced the trans; no change but two new problems. Now a sticky notch in the middle of the neutral throw, and a slight 2 - 3 clunk. Thought they were going to put in a "new" part, turns out it's "reman"; in my brand new car! B.S.!

I'd like to know exactly what is different between the different revisions; was a dimensional change made to a syncro or related part? Can the old models be rebuilt with the new components? Not if the changes are not backward compatible; the whole assy must be changed to the new rev (probably the case). I'd like to see a comparison bill of materials for the 2 assemblies.

We need the technical details, this is what Ford won't to tell us ($$$$). The ford service rep, service manager and field service guy all played dumb, like they never heard of the problem, now I see these discussion threads of dozens (hundreds?) with the same problem.

I asked the Ford Field service rep if there was an updated P/N for the trans, he told me "no updated P/N". NOT TRUE! So I asked the parts guy for the P/N, he says there are 3 different ones, depending on production date.

My car was built 01/02, the Ford Special Service Message 15669 on the grind issue states that cars built before 03/15/02 "may exhibit the grind". This implies cars built after this date don't have the problem.

The latest trans P/N is 2R3Z7003AB ($3440) for production dates after 05/06/02. This P/N is also for 03 models. The other P/N is 2R3Z7003AE ($2531) for prod dates after 09/05/01. There was another P/N for dates after 02/22/01.

Why is the latest part $1000 more? Better syncros??

The trany they put in my car was the same P/N as the one they took out (2R3Z7003AE), (likely taken out of some other complainer's car). I want them to replace it again, this time with the later P/N, I'm meeting with Ford tomorrow for the Nth time, we'll see?!

I'd like to hear more about production dates to see if there is truly a cut-off for good/ bad parts. I know this thread is for the "haves" (the grind), I'd like to hear from some of the "have not's" to see who's trans works right, and when it was built. If they replaced your trans, what P/N is on the receipt?

Tom

2003 Mach 1 here, I also have 1-2 grind when it's cold. Seems ok as long as I "let it" go into gear slowly. Push it into gear, and it grinds. 1100 miles on it now.

Mark

I have had the 1-2 grind/ hesitation since day one. I went with the Redline ATF D-4 and it made it very liveable. Granted I am in a souther climate and don't have to deal with real winter like conditions. Some people have not had as good luck with the Redline. Others have used teh GMSynchromesh and they are happy with it.

Redline states the problem is that when the fluid is thick you have to push the fluid out of the way for the synchros to engage. That is why shifting slow will stop it from grinding. Way too many people have had Ford replace the tranny or rebuild it only to have the problem return. I believe it is a problem in the design.

I would think an updated sychro pack with more channels for the fluid to pass by would solve the problem but then maybe we are getting into an area where the synchros would wear faster and reduce reliability.

For me the Redline works, for others with the problem I would try a different fluid and or both the Redline and the GMSynchromesh.

Mine grinds going into second and third between the months of October through March. I took it to ford at least five times. They replaced the trans fluid and said that's all they can do. (WTF kind of fix is that.) The grinding and 5th gear noise is normal to Ford. Any temp below 45 the gears are going to grind.

If you get anything going, I'll sign that petition.

***NOTICE*** The people that don't have this problem live in the Southern states where it doesn't get as cold as the rest of the states.

I have a 2001 Bullitt and the trans grinds from 1st to 2nd when cold. I tried using redline in it but it didn't help. The trans has been rebuilt by ford twice and they couldn't fix the problem.

My solution, shift carefully when the car is cold. I take it out of 1st, wait a second and then shift into 2nd. This seems to get me past the crunch.

My trans also makes very loud clunking noises when manuvering around a parking lot.

Good news - I've got 28,000 miles on it w/ 50+ passes at the track and it hasn't blown up.

I'm going to get an X2C Motorsports TKO Version 1.0 when the time comes.

Originally posted by kirkyg
Um no i stated 95% of true tremec 3650 transmission problems are related to a defective or cracked shift fork. The stock transmission as far as i know has basically no protection for over-extending the shift fork. I wish i could see a diagram of the stock setup to compare but when i pulled the stock shifter off there was no stop bolts or metal there to protect so i assume there is nothing thats why the shift fork was gone at 3600 miles on my car (probably messed up from the factory).

The problem that you people are discussing is an "annoyance" not a problem. If you can't get your car in gear or when it triest to synchronize and spits out of gear...now thats a problem.

kirkyg

Click to expand...

The 3650 has internal stops in it.