Transmission falling out of high gear

I can get in my truck back out and take off in drive and truck shifts fine an till I let up off the gas peddle and try to get back into the gas it feels like it's in neutral but I can push overdrive button in and it catches and drives fine? I can start with overdrive off and never have a problem with it ?

My car has 282654 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2004 Ford F-150. Check the transmission fluid level. Changing the fluid filter may help temporarily but it sounds like the clutch packs in your transmission may be worn to the point of needing replacement. Have a professional inspect the gear issue to verify the faulty component and have this taken care of properly.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as a bad transmission pan gasket, but it can also be faulty seals, ruptured fluid lines, a leak in the pan or a crack in the torque converter.
The fact that you feel the truck wanting to move (slipping) strongly suggests an internal mechanical/hydraulic problem, not an external control issue. The fault may be in the reverse clutch assembly, low/reverse band, low reverse/servo, or an obstruction in a number of hydraulic circuits.
The primary cause of slipping in a manual transmission is a damaged clutch. In an automatic transmission, including the Ford F-150 transmission, issues can be caused by; Broken gear bands. Gear wear and tear.
What is the fix for a slipping transmission? It`s simple. Just pop the hood of your vehicle, locate the transmission switch, and change the setting from “SLIP” to “STABLE” . . . If only it were that easy.
Possible causes of no overdrive include a faulty transmission range switch, valve body, faulty overdrive brake, or faulty ECM. Faults codes should be read out with a scanner, and statuses read.
In an automatic transmission, slipping can be caused by wear and tear on numerous different parts. These include damaged or worn clutch plates, transmission bands, and solenoid packs. If your automatic transmission has been slipping, it`s likely a technician will replace some or all of these parts to fix the problem.
The Turbine Shaft Sensor measures input shaft speed. The PCM uses the information provided by the TSS to determine whether or not the transmission is slipping.
Powertrain issues, problems, and complaints are some of the most common concerns that owners of 2021 Ford F-150 trucks have been experienced. Some of the most frequently reported issues include problems with the transmission, engine trouble, and difficulty with the four-wheel drive system.
However, just like buying any used vehicle—there are risks involved. Even in models that are well built and popular such as the F-150 model. One example of Ford F-150 models you should be wary of are those from 2009-2014 that are known for suffering from transmission cooler line fatigue and rusting.
This means that it is not shifting smoothly from gear to gear or that it is not staying fully in gear as you drive. This can be the sign of internal damage or it may just mean you are due for a standard transmission service to replace the transmission fluid, filter and pan gasket.
A slipping transmission means that it is struggling to shift between gears and/or stay in gear. It could be the sign of a major transmission problem or you may just need minor transmission maintenance.
This includes speed sensors that tell your transmission how and when to change gears. If your speed sensor is sending incorrect data, it can lead to hard shifting and other drivability problems.
With an automatic transmission, overdrive is most often an intuitive function initiated by the ECU when the vehicle reaches the proper speed. In the case of manual transmissions, overdrive is the highest gear of the transmission but has to be engaged by the driver.
This is often due to issues with the fluid, clutch, torque converter, gears or solenoid. Once you`ve checked your transmission fluid levels, bring your car in to a repair shop for further analysis.
An engine that is hesitating to accelerate is most likely dealing with a fuel/air mixture that is too lean. Engine`s that are running inefficiently will begin to show signs like hesitation which will only become worse over time.
The 2004 F150 4X4 transmission, 4R75W 3L3P LA..
Low transmission fluid will eventually lead to overheating, which can cause catastrophic damage. Overheating can also lead to a lack of hydraulic pressure in your transmission, which could cause your transmission to slip and struggle when it tries to engage and change from one gear to the next.
When there`s no speed signal coming from the sensors, shifting of gears will be a problem because the powertrain control module won`t control them correctly. This will make the transmission not work properly. It will either shift more quickly or roughly than expected.
Turn off your vehicle`s ignition and wait patiently for 5 to 10 seconds. Start the engine and allow it to idle for several seconds. Switch off the ignition and wait patiently for another 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times in order to reset your vehicle`s transmission control module.
Any time a battery is disconnected, or in your case a transmission is replaced, it can take up to 90 days for the engine and transmission computer to relearn your driving habits. It`s normal for an automatic transmission not to shift into higher gears until the engine coolant temperature is at a specified temperature.
What years did the 5.4 Triton have problems? Based on my research, 5.4 Triton engines from vehicles manufactured between 2004 and 2013 seem to have the most problems. The earlier engines didn`t seem to have as many issues, nor do the ones produced after 2013.
2015-2020 Ford F-150

Specifically, the 2018 F-150 is easily one of the best and most reliable models of pickup trucks, thanks to its high durability ratings and great mileage. The 2019 model is also a standout with excellent critics and user reviews.

Ford`s PowerShift dual clutch transmission was used in 2010. Vehicles impacted are the Ford Fiesta (model years 2011-2016) and the Ford Focus (model years 2012-2016) equipped with a PowerShift transmission.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Loose gearbox that won’t find 2nd or 5th gear, sometimes hard to differentiate between 1st and 3rd.
ANSWER : There are a couple of possibilities. The first thing that comes to mind is of course the shifter itself. There is a nylon ball and socket joint at the base of the gearshift lever that sometimes falls apart, making the feel of the shifter very vague. Additionally, there are links to the transmission shift linkage that involve nylon bushings and joints that can fall apart. Both problems are very common on your car. The other less common possibility is that you have a bad motor mount that is allowing the transmission to move around too much when you try to shift gears. either way, it’s not a big deal to fix, and probably won’t require expensive transmission work. If you contact Your Mechanic, they can send a technician to your home or office to check out you shifting issue and let you know what repairs it will take to correct it.

My manual gear box is starting to get a little bit "clunky" as i change gears, is there an additive i can add to the gear oil?
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to drain and check the oil to see if it has any broken chunks of metal or a lot of brass metal pieces that indicate the gears and synchronizers for the gears are bad. If no metal is found then replace oil with recommended oils for transmission. If metal is found then an internal transmission repair is needed.

My manual car won’t go into gear, it turns on and the clutch goes down perfectly fine. It happened after my gears grinded, the car
ANSWER : If the clutch mechanism is releasing properly, and the shift linkage is not malfunctioning, your transmission will have to be removed from the vehicle and inspected. Once a transmission has been removed from a vehicle, if the problem is a broken or worn part or parts, and the transmission has 100,000 miles or more, the most cost effective approach is to just simply rebuild the whole transmission. There are transmission rebuild kits that are sold just for this purpose. Rebuilding a transmission is no big deal and is indeed easier in many respects than rebuilding an engine. You can rebuild your transmission right in your own garage. You can NOT rebuild an engine in your own garage due to the highly specialized, and extremely costly, machine shop equipment required. Occasionally, mobile mechanics will take on a transmission rebuild job especially as once the mechanic removes the transmission from the vehicle, it is just simply a modular unit that can be easily transported to a mechanic’s shop and rebuilt right there and then returned to your vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Transmission switches gears but doesn’t engage in any gear. 1996 Geo Metro
ANSWER : Hi there – first thing to check is the fluid level in the transmission. If the fluid is low (if the axles are out, is the fluid very low also?!), the transmission will not engage gears correctly. Check for problem codes, even if the Check Engine light is not lit, this being the first year for OBD II diagnostics – anything here is helpful. If these steps do not yield any guidance, I recommend a transmission inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

Transmission falling out of gear, hesitates to shift.
ANSWER : Hi. There is a definite problem with your transmission. Its sounds like the valve body or the shift solenoids are bad and the clutches of the transmission are worn out. The fuse for the dtc connector could be blown and thats why the scan tool will not read the codes in the computer. I suggest you have the fuses checked and your transmission diagnosis by a highly qualified technician. YourMechanic would be pleased to complete this repair for you.

transmission not catching gears and over revs
ANSWER : Hello and thank you for your question. It seems that the 3rd and 4th clutches inside the transmission are slipping. This is the reason why you are hearing a ticking noise under the transmission and it seems to not shift correctly. The lower gears and 2nd gear tends to work good for it was probably not used as much for when driving.

Most of the time when people drive their vehicles, they put the shifter into drive and leave it. When driving in town, this can cause problems with the 4th gear clutch and also the 3rd and 4th clutch for when towing something. If you’d like to have this taken care of, I recommend having a qualified professional inspect the slipping issue and pinpoint needed repairs.

Kia Optima 2004 v6 LX new engine old transmission no problems before with transmission now my transmission is shifting a high rpm
ANSWER : Hi There,
This may be an issue related to the communication of the PCM and the TCM (Transmission control module). As you may know, the TCM relies on the PCM to transmit information related to RPM’s, which the TCM then uses to determine when to direct the transmission to shift. The transmission control module has various sensors such as vehicle speed sensors, wheel speed sensors, throttle position sensors, turbine speed sensor, and transmission fluid temperature sensors that all direct information to it in order for it to perform it’s function. Other functions controlled by the TCM are components such as a kick down switch, traction control system, and cruise control module. Any of these may also affect the way the transmission control module performs and controls the transmission and the shifting of your vehicle. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your transmission problem.

car hesitation in 1st and 2nd gears , its totally fine in higher gears . hesitation means light jerks , what’s the issue?
ANSWER : Hi there. You may be having an engine misfire since it is only when you are accelerating. The misfire may be due to worn spark plugs or the ignition system coil failing. The ignition system includes the spark plugs, wires, and coils which need to be checked for signs of failure. I recommend having the engine completely diagnosed and scanned for codes to see what is causing the misfire in the engine. You may only need a tuneup or may need more ignition components. I recommend having a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect for trouble codes and replace any failing components.