Tremec 3650 TSB results

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SLY GT

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Oct 5, 2005

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Dec 19, 2005

#21

• Dec 19, 2005

• #21

fellamansteve said:

I have kind of the opposite problem. When it's really cold out, if I don't put some force into the shift from first to second, it will grind. After a few minutes, it's fine. WTF?

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When it is cold and you put some force into it will it crunch(as opposed to grind) or does it feel "normal"?

 

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SLY GT

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Oct 5, 2005

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Dec 19, 2005

#22

• Dec 19, 2005

• #22

DocG2828 said:

So...just to dumb it down for me a little...I have an 04 with a little less than year on my warranty. I've just started to notice that with the really cold weather, it doesn't like shifting from 1st to 2nd...takes some effort and I've heard the gear grind sound the first or second time I shift until warm. Actually...once warm, the tranny seems to like speed shifting at higher rpms...when I granny shift it, sometimes it clunks or feels notchy.

So is this what the TSB is for? Can someone explain exactly what they do to address the TSB? I wanna put a MGW shifter on...but not before I get this taken care of so they don't try to blame the shifter.

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Mine is exactly like you describe. I warm the car in neutral for five minutes and granny first to second a few times and no grind. But if I take off normal the first few minutes it will grind.
So my choice is to do this "adaptive shifting", if you will, in the winter and live with it (which is not so bad) or go for the TSB which may fix it for good, or fix it for a while or risk them screwing something else up. Since it is not grinding if I do my granny procedure for the first few minutes I think I will hold off since I have till April 2008 on my warranty. If it gets worse I can do it. If all else fails I will get a TKO 600. I don't want to sound like a mental case about it but it just seems that the TSB that everyone rejoiced over turns out to be... so so.

Also, to answer your question, the TSB calls for new 2nd and 3rd syncros ,shift fork and new fluid and new fill capacity.
I just installed the MGW and it is great. You can put the stock shifter back on in about 45 minutes if you decide to go to the dealer. As well as getting rid of your CAI, subs, tune,exhaust, shift light, and anything else the SOBs will try to use to void warranty work.crapola

 

DocG

5th graders > me. They're not bant

Sep 25, 2005

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Dec 19, 2005

#23

• Dec 19, 2005

• #23

Always a trade-off with a mechanic. I'd like to have mine fixed if that's what it is...but I'm not sure if I can trust the dealer I've used lately (its taken 2 months to get a cat converter in..still not in). I know I can try another dealer, but don't know anything about other dealers, so its still a gamble. But then again...I got almost a year on my warranty, you got more...if they screw something up, should show up within that time.

 

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fellamansteve

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May 24, 2004

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Seattle

Dec 19, 2005

#24

• Dec 19, 2005

• #24

SLY GT said:

When it is cold and you put some force into it will it crunch(as opposed to grind) or does it feel "normal"?

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If I shift fast enough, it feels normal.

 

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SLY GT

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Dec 19, 2005

#25

• Dec 19, 2005

• #25

fellamansteve said:

If I shift fast enough, it feels normal.

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Is there no end to the madness?

 

Mustang225

Founding Member

Jul 23, 2000

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Dec 19, 2005

#26

• Dec 19, 2005

• #26

SLY GT said:

It seems like a percentage of people who have had the TSB done see the problem return. Mine tranny is fine when the car is warmed up for 5 minutes. It is just that first shift from first to second that needs to be babied or else it will crunch. If I take it easy the first few shifts I have no problem except that it is notchy. Soooo, I feel that maybe I should put up with the peculiarities of the tranny instead of having them rip it apart. For those who had it done, how bad was your shifting before?

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Mine was so bad that you could actually hear the clicking sounds when shifting.

It's been 18,000 miles after the TSB and so far no problem.

 

lgndracer

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Feb 21, 2004

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Sumner, WA

Dec 19, 2005

#27

• Dec 19, 2005

• #27

Mine was "notchy", more so when cold out. Going into second would sometimes slightly grind, and sometimes I couldn't go into third at all without letting off and going back to second before going back to third.

Since the TSB, no grind and no issues into third. But this was done three months ago and I only have about 500 miles on the car since then.

The "notchyness" is still there, so I think I am going to change the shifter next to see if that gets rid of that.

Also, while they had it apart I had them put in a clutch for me. They only charged an additional $40 labor to resurface the flywheel and install it.

 

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Satin Silver GT

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Jul 12, 2003

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Sagamore Ma.

Dec 20, 2005

#28

• Dec 20, 2005

• #28

No issues since the TSB was done, and my dealer did not care that I had a Hurst shifter installed.

 

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trickyshadow

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May 17, 2005

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Dec 20, 2005

#29

• Dec 20, 2005

• #29

I had an 02 Gt and at 3000 miles had the tsb done, 1500 miles later problem was back. Took the car back to the dealer and they installed a new trans, 800 miles into it it started again. Car was sold, later I purchased a 01 Gt with the 3650, this car has about 50,000 on it and has the same problem, I have the extended warranty. I changed the fliud to Amsoil with a little friction mod problem is a lot better but there. Just saving my money for a tko or maybe a t56.

 

Pearl02

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Nov 27, 2004

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Kansas City

Dec 20, 2005

#30

• Dec 20, 2005

• #30

I had the TSB done. It hasn't grinded at all this winter. The noisy throw out bearing and whine in 5th gear is another story........ Pearl02.

 

DocG

5th graders > me. They're not bant

Sep 25, 2005

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Dec 20, 2005

#31

• Dec 20, 2005

• #31

Is the TSB for all 3650 tranny's...which is what...2000 up? Or did they ever get a clue and fix it after a certain year.

 

40th GT

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Apr 7, 2004

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Lawrenceville, GA

Dec 20, 2005

#32

• Dec 20, 2005

• #32

DocG2828 said:

Is the TSB for all 3650 tranny's...which is what...2000 up? Or did they ever get a clue and fix it after a certain year.

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There's a code that you look on your VIN. Mid-01 and up cars have the 3650.

 

sgarlic

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Apr 21, 2001

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Dec 20, 2005

#33

• Dec 20, 2005

• #33

I haven't read the TSB in a few months, but I believe it specifically says "Some 2001-2003 models equipped with the Tremec 3650 blah blah blah." I specifically asked a connection of mine at my local dealer if it applied to my '04, and was told the issue was corrected by the time the '04 models were being produced. I've never had the same problems the TSB addresses in my 04, so I believe them for now.

Also, whoever above said you have to have a valid warranty to get the TSB, that's only true if you want the TSB performed for free. A TSB can be performed at any point in the vehicles life, so long as the dealer can still acquire the parts and the information, and you're willing to pay for it all.

 

todd4566

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May 24, 2000

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California

Dec 21, 2005

#34

• Dec 21, 2005

• #34

I had the TSB done. When I got the car back it shifted pretty rough, and 3rd gear was grinding. I wasn't happy. A day later I checked the tranny fluid.. removing the fill plug, nearly a half quart of fluid came out of the tranny. I've read in a few places that Tremec now recommends 3.2qtrs to fill; I filled the tranny to about 3.5 with regular ol Dexron III, and the tranny has shifted like butter ever since. I was pissed at first, but I'm happy now.

 

jrc_03_gt

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Jan 1, 2004

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Dec 21, 2005

#35

• Dec 21, 2005

• #35

I had the Tsb done early on when it first came out. It did not fix my problem.
After 2 transmission replacements its good now. I think they added new parts to the TSB after mine was done. So it may be ok now.

 

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SLY GT

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Oct 5, 2005

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Dec 21, 2005

#36

• Dec 21, 2005

• #36

Thanks for all your replies. I posted the same question on some other forums and I have gone through about a hundred results. About forty percent of the answers said that the problem was either not corrected or was corrected for a short time and returned. Of the other 60 percent I can't say they were all good because many were low miles since the repair and many did not drive in cold weather. So my half ass analysis is that if you get the TSB done you have a 50/50 chance of solving the problem. Since I can solve the problem by adapting my driving for the first 10 minutes in the winter I will wait. The following quotes are from someone else but they sum it up nicely.

“I took mine in due to the 3rd gear Synchro going bad on me. Dealer tried to fix it, but broke the transmission in the process. It took 3 weeks to get a new transmission. This new transmission has held up good, but finally the input shaft split in half on me. “

”Tranny never got the rebuild with the proper parts, but those who have gone, for some reason go back. Tranny is stronge, and id just shift like a granny when the tranny is cold. Not worth the effort to take it in, IMHO. “

”The Mach1Registry has countless of members who had the TSB on the TR3650. Some have been lucky & some...well, it never fixed the grind when the transmission is too cold.”


“Had the TSB done on the Mach Xmission. Was better for a while but eventually went right back to the same BS. Took it back and they put a new "upgraded" 3650 in and it's starting to do the same thing. Think I'll pull the Lemon Law thing on Ford and make them give me a GT500 since they don't make the Mach anymore.

”3650s just plain suck. Had one in the Bullitt and now one in the Mach and they were both a POS from square one. If you want a decent tranny, put a TKO in it. (BTW, Not a T56 lover here either.)”

 

DocG

5th graders > me. They're not bant

Sep 25, 2005

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Dec 21, 2005

#37

• Dec 21, 2005

• #37

sgarlic said:

I haven't read the TSB in a few months, but I believe it specifically says "Some 2001-2003 models equipped with the Tremec 3650 blah blah blah." I specifically asked a connection of mine at my local dealer if it applied to my '04, and was told the issue was corrected by the time the '04 models were being produced. I've never had the same problems the TSB addresses in my 04, so I believe them for now.

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Mine's an 04...and I'm not really sure if its a TSB thing I have going on or just normal mustang 5 spd. Today is really cold, and although I didn't really warm up the car, before starting I rowed it through all the gears, and then drove off...no grinding from 1-2. Still a little rough at times from 1-2 and 2-3...but from everything I've read...I'm thinking that's really common...and it seems like its normal for this tranny, and not actually a problem if its minor. So who knows what actually constitutes a problem and what doesn't. The way it drives doesn't really bother me...but thinking something might break down the road because something is damaged worries me a bit. Also, other 5 spds I've had were hard to shift when cold, so that is somewhat normal too. ANyways, I would think they would have fixed the problems before the 04's since the TSB came out so early...but like you said...I'll believe it for now.

 

03GTvert

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Nov 2, 2003

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Dec 21, 2005

#38

• Dec 21, 2005

• #38

I had the TSB performed on my car at 35K miles after they replaced the tranny and then the shifter. My 3650 still grinds and now they refuse to do anything else to it because it is out of warranty. NEVER take your car to North Central Ford in Richardson.

 

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SLY GT

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Oct 5, 2005

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Dec 21, 2005

#39

• Dec 21, 2005

• #39

03GTvert said:

I had the TSB performed on my car at 35K miles after they replaced the tranny and then the shifter. My 3650 still grinds and now they refuse to do anything else to it because it is out of warranty. NEVER take your car to North Central Ford in Richardson.

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Seems like the warranty should still apply since it was a preexisting condition. Threaten small claims court.