Scotty I have a question, I have 1995 Ford bronco with 5.8 liter. 4x4. The transmission has been rebuilt twice! At first I thought the first company didn’t do it right because first gear would shift hard. They told it would go away! But all the other gears would shift fine. So I had another company take a look at the transmission. They also tore down the transmission and rebuilt it. Replaced the torque converter. Replaced the transmission control module two times. Connected the computer to lower the idle. But they still could not fix the hard shift from first. They didn’t charge me labor because they couldn’t fix the problem.
What do you think it is!!!! Please HELP!!!
This is one of the reasons Scotty does not recommend rebuilding the transmission. You might need another company to check and possibly rebuild again which cost you a lot. I would live with it and if it goes out, swap it.
I don't know who rebuilt your trans but I would look into specialty companies like Monster Trans and TCI for deals on specifically purpose built transmissions.
Try talking to other Bronco owners (try internet forums, facebook groups etc.), and see where they go.
Problem is they are reusing a component that is causing the issue. Something that on visual inspection looks ok but isn’t. Best bet is get a swap. Order a completely different one and use yours as a core. All places that sell transmissions that way also require you install a new torque converter.
Best bet is don't rebuild. I blew $2800 on a rebuild for my 1999 Ford Ranger's 4-Speed. It started shifting really hard and jolting the truck shifting from 1st to 2nd when cold about a month after they touched it. It didn't do it every time, so it was hard to prove to them. The problem got better as the weather warmed up last year. When we got the first cold snap, it did its thing again, only it felt like being rear ended. They claimed it was a faulty valve body, and replaced it. That changed the problem from an off and on cold issue to a warm issue and it would noticeably thud coming down through 2nd into 1st every time after warming up. Out with that one and in with yet another one, and it cured most of the issue. I still feel a harder shift in the seat when it's warmed up in the same 2-1 shift, but it doesn't make the truck jump like the previous issues, the sensation is just annoying. It doesn't do the cold thing anymore.
Get a remanufactured transmission next time, I plan on it if mine blows before it should. A quality one will have a 4-5 year unlimited mileage warranty. All of that $2800 I paid only came with a 12-month, 12k mile warranty. I did all of it before finding Scotty's channel. If his feelings about "lifetime" transmission fluid and warranties carries over to 3rd party warranties as well, they don't put nearly as much effort into rebuilds as they sell them to you with. It's just gotta hit 12k or 1 year, then they can say, it's not in the warranty period anymore, not our problem.
