Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

yeah, its official, I have a 1st to 2nd bump . . . .

Please Read!!!!!

Well, I have an update with TSB. I had Ford install TSB about 1K miles ago and I was very unhappy. I felt the trans shifted differently but still had grind/clunk. When I got the car back, I put it on a lift and checked to see if tranny was really cracked open. I could tell that it was out (bolt scratches, new RTV around seams) and I look for the tag on side of tranny that comes with TSB stating new fluid type and new level. All signs showed TSB installed and as I said, tranny gears just felt different.

I am in the process of putting a letter together to Ford Motor Co. and I needed a couple tranny speicalists to give me their expert opinion. Two different manual tranny shops said my tranny "has internal issues relating to synchros and shaft play." I had the second guy put car on lift so I could check fluid level.....now you would think after attaching tag on side of tranny that reads 3 liters or 6.3 pints that the rebuild guy would actually listen to this....well....NO, I pulled plug and tranny fluid began to leak out the fill hole meaning that the tranny was filled to the top which means....yup 8.0 pints of fluid....Now seeing how lowering the fluid level seems to be a big deal and I specifically asked 10 times about this....(my theory on life prevales once again...people are stupid...live by it and you'll never be disappointed) Anyway, thinking in my head that this cannot make that much of a difference, we dropped fluid and put in brand new (as tag reads, dextron ATF) I went for the synthetic...well...because I felt like it I guess. I know people say use synthetic, don't use synthetic...who knows? Anyway, it was 30 degrees all day and believe it or not, car ran much much better. I noticed a difference right away but I didn't accept it until I put 150 miles on it today. Tomorrow AM will be the big test...cold overnight and wake up to 20's. I'll update tomorrow.

Conclusion- fluid level DOES make a big difference- not a cure all but certainly better.

Any thoughts on synthetic vs. regular ATF fluid for the 3650????? Maybe regular will work even better???

so all 2002 GT's have the 3650? I have a slight bump or grind from 1st to 2nd other than that the shift are clean. Had the car for 2 months got it with 42k miles previous owner must have had some long freeway drives. No prbs so far

'00 to '04 all have tremec 3650 (might be '99 too). Have you driving your stang in below 30 degree temps yet? That's usually the main factor...cold weather...

It is funny I have a 2000 nissan truck with a 5 speed and when it was cold it shifted like crap. But after changing the transmission fluid to a mixture of redline mtl and mt 90 the transmission shifts like butter. hot of cold. go figure. Now the mustang seems that no matter what type of fluid i put in it it shifts like crap cold and ok warmed up..

Did you have TSB done?
Did you run straight Synthetic?

drock01 said:

'00 to '04 all have tremec 3650 (might be '99 too). Have you driving your stang in below 30 degree temps yet? That's usually the main factor...cold weather...

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If I remember right it was mid 01 cars that went to the 3650. I know there were 2 diff trannies that went in mine cause the shop gave me the wrong tri-ax shifter when the first time i went to buy it and I had to exchange for the 3650 one.

alright that explains it, the cold weather. in southern california here and im crying becuase its 50 at night.

getting it done!

Well, i dropped of my 01 Cobra for 45k service yesterday and casually mentioned the TSB.
the service guy pulled my records, noticed the extended warranty w/$100 deductible and asked if I wanted them to address it. So i said sure.
Well, he just called and said we're going to do the TSB, we have the parts have done it before and it will be done today!
would I like an after market shifter or any clutch work done...etc.?
i can't believe it......Didn't think they'd notice any problems (mine was slightly notchy on 2-3) becuase it's 50 degrees in December!
......I'll let youse know how it all works out!

2003 GT I have just over 12,000 miles on it. 1st gear is stiff and 2nd gear is "unorganized" and crunchy. I have also experienced the mystical third gear **** block under high rpms.

My car is babied, never been to the track and only takes an occasional beating.

Oh btw I live in South Florida WHERE ITS 95 DEGREES EVEY DAY OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!

This from the January '05 copy of 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords.

"Does the 3650 five speed Transmission in your '01-03 Mustang make noise or feel rough during 1-2 or 2-3 shifts? Does it pop out of gear, especially when it's cold out side? Well you probably need to head for the dealer and have them investigate the TSB 04-15-6, which says your tranny needs a Syncro Kit installed...

I must be dumb, I can't find the page from the Jan 05 issue of 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords. Can you tell me page and section?

Well, if anyones' still reading after all these posts....
I picked my car up after the TSB, which right on the paperwork said it was a Synchro kit...
1st shift to 3rd was like butter....I've only put about 20 miles on it so far, the service guy said it will be "tight" for about 400 miles, but it doesn't feel that way.
The clutch feels better, and so far 9 of 10 shifts are very smooth, a definite improvement...and the notchiness is gone....

drock01 said:

I must be dumb, I can't find the page from the Jan 05 issue of 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords. Can you tell me page and section?

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page 38 under Short Times yellow box in letters

1 to 2 grind/clunk

I live in San Antonio, Texas. South Texas. I just got my 2003 GT in September for which the weather is like in the 90's. Now, it only has 16000 miles and the first cool to cold day it started the 1 to 2 grind/clunk, which was in November. It still has the 1 to 2 shift grind/clunk. I am so pissed off. My dealership wants me to drive it until it hits 21000 miles to see if it stops. But, I know now from this forum that it will never stop. And the dealership knows it too. I am so pissed off.

make the dealer feel your pain...keep calling and dropping car off for test drives, take you car to a tranny specialists and pay for a diagnostic. I call the GM at Ford weekly...I'm ready to shoot off a 4 page letter...well see what happens..Your 03 should still be under warranty...

sloppy shifter

my only problem with it is a very sloppy shifter even after i put a aftermarket steeda tri ax....