Engine stalls when in reverse 1 out of every 2 times?

Tiny
MIKE KRUEGER
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD F-250
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
I have a 2000 F250 Diesel 7.3L engine with about 85,000 miles on it. When running at normal temperature and engaging reverse, the engine sputters and dies about 1 out of every 2 times. The Ford Dealer told me to replace the transmission as the torque converter and tranny pump were bad. So I did for $3,000 and I still have the exact same problem. Stalls in reverse. Any idea what may be causing this problem?
Monday, June 2nd, 2008 AT 10:58 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Look real close for anything that may be rubbing when the engine is loaded a certain direction. Try wiggling the wiring harness while it is idling. Does the PCM have any codes in it or does it just die? Does it start right back up? Does it sputter and die like fuel or does it just shut off like electrical?
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
MIKE KRUEGER
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In response to your questions, I am not sure what the PCM is, but we have had the compuer diagnostics run and they show nothing is wrong. It always starts right back up as you need to put in park and in park or drive you have no stalling issue. It sputters and dies like fuel, or lack of rpms, or too low idle in reverse, does not feel like an electrical issue to me.
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
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Have you tried wiggling the wiring harness while it is running to see if it makes a difference? The trans does come to mind first, there isnt really anything different from D to R other than the engine is loaded the opposite direction.
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 12:36 PM
Tiny
MIKE KRUEGER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Apparently the issue is in the transmission cooler radiator, which is attached to the engine radiator, so I have to replace the whole thing. It supposedly gets restricted flow. The tranny tech bypassed the tranny radiator cooler and just ran it in a straight loop and the stalling problem has gone bye-bye. Sound possible?
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+2
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
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I dont specialize in transmissions, but if it fixed it. The thing I dont like is that the cooler should have been checked when the trans was done, now the debris that was restricting the flow is in the new trans. Might want to hit them up about that.
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
EZRIDERF6C
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had the same issue on my 2002 F250 Long bed Extended Cab Dually with 7.3L Diesel. Not a fluid issue or transmission filter issue. Ultimately figured out it was the fuse to the security system. Apparently, there was high-resistance, and it was acting funny. Eventually the fuse failed and disabled the truck. Replaced it and immediately the backup problem went away. Look in your manual for the fuse that goes to the security system and replace it.
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Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 AT 12:10 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to use 2CarPros anytime!
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Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 AT 12:39 PM

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