Official Tremec 3650 Issues Thread

#961
Too bad there isnt an easy way to get the problem out in the open like on the news lets say if it was a safety issue. How about a headline like "faulty transmission kills family of 4". I think Ford needs more pressure or the threat of bad publicity to actually get them to do something about it.
 

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#962
2001 Geee T,
Months ago I had sent letters to Blue Oval News, Motortrend, Car and Driver, and Consumer Reports? with no response except BON. BON said they heard of the problem before and they knew of no fixes.

TSB or not, just go there with the part listed in this thread and insist that the dealership call their Tech Hotline. They know of these parts and will probably authorize the warranty work.

Remember, end of first quarter was the TSB target according to Ford Corporate contacts. ~2 weeks.
 
#963
jrc_03_gt said:
Good news Today. It has been confirmed that there is going to be a TSB out soon. I got this information from my service manager, who is real confident that they will be able to fix it! He has been in contact with the field engineers from ford and parts are few and far between. I think once the parts are readly available they will issue the TSB. He also confirmed that there will be some additional parts used that were not out when they tried to fix my car the first time. Hang in there everyone, there may be a solution after all. Its just too bad it takes so long for a solution.
Click to expand...

I got the same info from my service rep today. I told him that either I need to know there IS a TSB coming out soon or they will fix it with the parts that are currently out and that I would take my chances on doing it that way. He said that there is a preliminary package right now and the TSB will be out soon. I asked him what that meant? What is soon? He said it could be a week. It could be a month. He didn't know but the fix is coming "soon". I'm starting to wonder if they are just blowing smoke and nothing more. I am tired of waiting! It's always "coming soon". I was told last November from Tremec that a TSB would be out soon. I'm still waiting Tremec!!! I just don't understand why Ford is being so slow in fixing this? Because of this, I will NEVER EVER buy a Ford again. I have enjoyed my 2002 Mustang GT and the ONLY thing I dislike about it is the crappy transmission. Even if it is fixed sometime soon, the day I pay it off, which will be in about 3 years, it's gone. I'll be trading it in for a Honda Accord Coupe with the HFP package, or a Mitsubishi Eclipse or an Eagle Talon. Anything but a Ford.
 
#964
I will tell you why its not out yet. The so called "fix" did not fix everyones cars that they tried them on. My car had the so called "fix" and it still rakes and grinds. I was told that there are even newer parts out now. I think ford wants to be sure they have all the necessary parts to fix the problem 100%. I have been told that Im not the only one with the attemped fix that has failed. There were some others in some of the northern states. I do believe ford is trying to make it right and fix the problem. :shrug: .
 
#965
at the dealership where i work, they don't even tear the transmissions down, the basically just call up ford and have them send a full transmission out, which my service advisor said are remanufactured. I have to take my car in, its getting worse.. I'm going to yank the short throw shifter tomorrow night and try to get my car in asap.. i have an almost brand new car and It shifts like a pile of junk.. that is not right! :mad:
 
#966
Well I'm in the same boat as all of you all. Took my '04 in a week ago last tuesday. Picked it up this past thursday and drove it approx. 250 miles. When I took it in the first time it would grind into 3rd every time. Now it is back in the shop.......with 5th gear problems. I was coming home from work fri. night, got off the interstate (after about 40 miles in 5th gear @75mph) accelerated thru the gears and shifted into 5th, nothing there. you talk about one irate mustang owner. I am up in arms with this car. It hasn't even had it's 1st oil change yet and it has been in the shop twice for tranny troubles!!!! AAARRRRGGHHH!!! :bang: :bang: :bang: :bs: :bs:
didn;t even have the car 48 hrs........ :nonono: :fuss: :fuss: :fuss:BTW, i guess i need to update my sig..... :banana:
 
#968
I drove my brother's 00 GT this past weekend with the T-45 in it. I have to say, that tranny wasn't exactly butter either. The 1-2 and the 2-3 have a two-step shift motion, just like my 3650. In fact, I'd argue that in WARM weather, the T-45 and the 3650 are almost equally notchy. I'm starting to think that this IS "just the way they are" (notchy). However, in cold weather, I'd say the 3650 is much notchier until it completely warms up. So, I shift extra-slowly until the car/tranny warms up when it's cold.

I'm not saying that the 3650 is a great-shifting tranny - far from it. However, I haven't had any major problems with it so far in 25K miles. I'm guessing that some people in this long, long thread do indeed have a very poor shifting/extra notchy 3650, but I'm willing to believe my tranny is just exhibiting normal operating characteristics from this poorly-executed but strong tranny. I'm buying into "that's just the way they are" and moving on. I need to believe this anyway, because I seriously doubt we'll ever see a TSB from Ford on this fix IMO!

Besides, I'm thinking when they see my DRs and safety loop, they just might void my tranny warranty work! :) Rightfully so, I guess!
 
#970
2001 Geee T said:
When I had my 01 it had the T-45 and it did the grind when cold but not nearly as bad as my 03. Ill take a T-45 over a 3650 any day!
Click to expand...

My 96GT had a transmission that was a smooth as butter. After about 160,000 miles, 2nd gear started grinding ever so slightly...
 
#971
well, I took my car in this week and they gave it back to me unrepaired with the ticket saying this :


" Customer states grinds going into 3rd gear
test rode with customer.
Test drove with customer-verified concern called hotline-was advise a TSB recommending new style parts is forthcoming-hotline recommends waiting if possible before repairing"
 
#972
What I want to know is how Ford got in bed with such a crappy transmission supplier? What is Tremec saying is the fix? I didn't get to talk with them in Nashville a few weeks ago. Are they able to identify the part or parts that are failing? This e-mail thread is testimony to the defective equipment we all have. I hope Ford is reading this. Mine is an 04 Mach 1 and it's been grinding during upshift and downshift since the get-go. The mechanic at the dealer said to let it break in...the tolerances are super tight at first. Baloney...this is a bigger problem than an occasional noise.
My '90 Probe GT has been an outstanding performer. Its only tranny problem was an occasional tough reverse, but is easily solved by nudging forward an inch first. Never any grinding and gnashing like the Mustang's Tremec.
I'm going to keep on driving until the Tremec grinds away to sludge, or a verifiable fix is discovered. I'm NOT going to let Ford experiment with my car when they don't have a real fix on tap.
Sad to have to live with this defective tranny on a brand new car.
 
#974
still no tsb I called today and had a dealer check. ............S.O.S. ,but at this point Im realy not surprised. Im not counting on it even though I have heard it is comming anytime. I hope everyone has a good dealership they can use to get this thing resolved. Im confident I will eventually get mine fixed one way or another. I have a good dealership that is working on fixing the problem for me. Good Luck to all.
 
#977
I have a question for you guys:

Is this grind/clunk something that just appears one day out of nowhere or is it something that starts out small and gets worse and worse?

I have about 700 miles on my car now and I've been noticing that the shift from 1st to 2nd is not as smooth as I remember it to be. At this point I don't hear anything but I definitely feel something in my right hand through the shifter like it's catching on something. It's subtle. Usually I just fanagle it until it feels like it's clear for the shift to 2nd. Or am I just imagining things? Tell me I'm being paranoid because the last thing I need is a bad tranny. :shrug:

Is this grind/clunk problem something I can avoid by granny-shifting from 1st to 2nd every time? :(
 
#978
MustangJunkie,
It starts small and gets worse. In the begining temperature made a huge difference, but as time went on it just did it all the time. Shifting extremely slow is a way deal with it, but you shouldn't have to granny shift a new car.

Good Luck.
 
#979
2002 GT Cont Tremec 3650

Well, after owning my GT for about 2 years now I'm finally taking it in tomorrow for service on the tranny. I've been putting up with the 1-2 cold temp grind/clash since about 3500 miles. My dealer in Wisconsin claims their only knowledge of a problem is a suit filed using our lemon law here after two new transmissions were installed on this particular Stang, but they said bring it in and let us look at it.
I didn't realize the extent of this problem untill I stumbled across these threads last week. Will let you know how it turns out. By the way, living in Wisconsin, I won't feel too sorry for you guys in Arizona or Georgia.
Pat Murray

[email protected]

2002 Mustang GT Convertible
K&N FIPK
Borla cat-back
Steeda Tri-Ax
Various interier upgrades
 
#980
Tranny Fluid!!!!!!!

OK! I've read a couple of dozen posts, maybe 4
DOZEN. If cold effects the shifting from 1stto2nd or 2ndto3th
and the short term fix is change the fluid, which fluid is the best?
I did read dextron III is much better then the OEM fluid used by FORD.
I was thinking Royal Purple virsus Texaco or some other brand
Mercon/Dextron fluid! Also it was stated not to fill to the fill hole
only use 3.5 Quarts not 4! Has anyone tried this and does it work.
Seems that changing Tranny or replacing parts is just a waste of time.

01' GT Coupe
6,900 Miles
Silver
 
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