TR-3650 PROGRESS!!!

[smokin91']

I called Ford and they said that The parts for the TSB came in late today.

They told me they are also installing a new throwout bearing and pilot bearing also covered under warranty.

They are really hookin' me up! And all that its gonna cost me is my 100$ deductable as per my E.S.P warranty!

 

[smokin91']

Well I picked up my car from ford on monday buy only got to drive it 1/2 a kilometer as I was going on a road job for work and arrived back today.

So today I get home and look over my Receipt from ford and this is what was done.

1 3R3Z-7124-AD - TSB synchro kit
1 TA-24 - Adhesive
1 TA-25 - Adhesive
1 TA-29 - Sealant- SILI
1 CXC-66-A - Trans Shampoo (get all the gunk off before dissassembly)
1 F7ZZ-7548-AA - Throwout Bearing ASY
2 N811341-S101 - Stud (exhaust removal)
2 N800419-S301 - Nut Hex (exhaust removal)
5 CXT-5-LM12 - Mercon Trans Fluid

So i havent driven it more then 2 kms and back to the dealership I went to talk to the service manager about 2 things.

1. There is an exhaust tick now, meaning the exhaust didnt get bolted up tight during reassembly.

2. NOTICE THE TRANSFLUID, they USED 5, their bottles are quarts and 5 quarts = 4.73 LITRES. The dumb ****s overfilled the transmission and didnt put the new TSB amount of 3 liters.

So my car is at ford right now, the service manager is going to have the exhaust tightend and drain all that fluid and put exactly 3 liters in.

That is mind boggling to me that someone has the knowledge to take apart and rebuild a transmission but is dumb enough to overlook the details of HOW MUCH OIL to put in.

I only shifted into 2nd once and did a double clutch granny shift, becuase im scared from before, but it DIDNT grind, so hopefully all is well there.

It just angers me/pisses me off that they would do 2500$ worth of work and overlook the LAST and FINAL step which is filling the transmission to the correct level . On a good note at least they used the right fluid.

Anywhoo, I will have my car back sometime today and I will report back on this thorn in my side.

 

[rrl]

tr3650

i finally found a ford dealer that would do the tsb and after getting it back,there was no noticeable difference.before taking it in i changed the fluid to mercon with 3.4 liters and it shifted better than when i got it back from the dealer.my issues were not so much the grind as it felt like it was about ready to jump out of gear under hard acceleration.when the trans goes i'll probably change it over to one of the older styles which don't have the integrated bellhousing,i think either a t45 or t5.i'll check when the time comes.i'm really surprised ford dropped the ball on this one.i love my stang but i'll never buy another ford product again due to very poor dealer service as well as from fords hq customer relations.its no wonder people are buying other products.

 

[rrl]

tr3650

i finally found a ford dealer that would do the tsb and after getting it back,there was no noticeable difference.before taking it in i changed the fluid to mercon with 3.4 liters and it shifted better than when i got it back from the dealer.my issues were not so much the grind as it felt like it was about ready to jump out of gear under hard acceleration.when the trans goes i'll probably change it over to one of the older styles which don't have the integrated bellhousing.i'll check when the time comes.i'm really surprised ford dropped the ball on this one.i love my stang but i'll never buy another ford product again due to very poor dealer service as well as from fords hq customer relations.its no wonder people are buying other products.

 

[smokin91']

Had the TSB done, 3.0 Liters of mercon fluid. Still when cold 1-2 grind. Its the same as before except a little better. These transmissions are pieces of ****.

And now my exhaust has a tick/annoying sound to it that was not there before when I brought the car in. Bring it in for one problem and leave with another.

I guess ill wait till I have the 600km break in on it, but I doubt that will make a difference in shift quality.

My last and only resort which I have not tried yet is the Royal purple Synchromax fluid.

Once i put about 1000km on the car im going to have the tranny fluid changed to that.

If that doesnt solve the problem the car is going for sale in the spring, and some other sucker can deal with the worst manual shifting car that I have ever experienced.

I would LOVE my car if it werent for this transmission.

 

[hotmustang331]

Well that sucks man! Mine doesnt grind at all, but it was tough to shift with the stock fluid. I changed to RP synchromax and that made a WORLD of difference...shifts GREAT now for the past 30-40K.

 

[gsjohnson]

There is also a TSB regarding a clutch engagement problem. It causes hard shifting, especially when cold. The end result if the adjustments don't remedy the problem, is to replace the clutch assemby. I certainly would have had the dealer replace the clutch while they had the trans out. Additionally, it is next to impossible to over fill the trans as the fill plug also doubles as the level indicator. Meaning that any excess fluid would drain out of the fill plug. I submit to you that the amount of fluid on your repair order was a typo and they did nothing to correct a problem that really never existed.

 

[smokin91']

There is also a TSB regarding a clutch engagement problem. It causes hard shifting, especially when cold. The end result if the adjustments don't remedy the problem, is to replace the clutch assemby. I certainly would have had the dealer replace the clutch while they had the trans out. Additionally, it is next to impossible to over fill the trans as the fill plug also doubles as the level indicator. Meaning that any excess fluid would drain out of the fill plug. I submit to you that the amount of fluid on your repair order was a typo and they did nothing to correct a problem that really never existed.

The clutch was fine, there is only 50k on it and does not need replaced.

You dont fill it until it runs out of the hole, if you read the TSB you would see the proper level is 3.0 liters and it is .75" below the fill hole.

They filled it until it did run out of the hole (tech set the gun for 3.75 liters. They drained out .75 liters and it has 3.0 in it now.

It is possible to overfill these transmissions. AS PER tremec they take 3.0 liters but hold 3.75-3.8.

 

[smokin91']

Well that sucks man! Mine doesnt grind at all, but it was tough to shift with the stock fluid. I changed to RP synchromax and that made a WORLD of difference...shifts GREAT now for the past 30-40K.

I see you live in Texas....

I live in ontario it was -10 here yesterday. I think most of you people with "good working" tr-3650s never see the cold. Give it some -10 weather and your problems will rear their ugly head.

 

[jivepepper]

I bought a used 3650 about 4 years ago for 350. It has always grinded just a little between 1st and 2nd when it's cold. But as soon as it warms up it's nonexistent. It has never really been bad enough to bother me.

I beat on this tranny at the track all year this year, and it still feels the same.

 

[mustang50v8]

Well that sucks man! Mine doesnt grind at all, but it was tough to shift with the stock fluid. I changed to RP synchromax and that made a WORLD of difference...shifts GREAT now for the past 30-40K.

how much did you put in? 3liters? my 04 stang is my DD and i live in chicago....so its going to see some cold weather.

 

[Pearl02]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I drove my car to work this moring. The temp was 19 degrees. It shifted fine. If the temp was -10 then it may not of proformed as well. Hope they get it worked out for you. Pearl02.

 

[smokin91']

well here is my last and hopefully final update.

Switching from 3.75 liters to 3.0 Liters MADE NO DIFFERENCE. I think this is complete bull**** as it had no effect on my transmission.


I brought the car to my regular mechanic today, Ive had enough of the dealership. Also I brought with me 4 bottles of royal purple synchromax fluid.

I was there with my mechanic talking to him while he changed the fluid. We put all 4 bottles in, since i figured I have no use for a 1/2 bottle in my garage so in it all went.

4 bottles = 3.78 liters, Minus the little bit left in the bottom of each bottle and the little bit left in the pump plus the small bit that dripped out of the pump I think its fair to say that there is 3.4-3.6 liters in my transmission.

From my personal experience (yours may differ) the fluid level MADE NO DIFFERENCE what-so-ever to the shift quality/operation hot or cold. 3.0 liters to 3.8 liters. Doesnt matter pick a number in between and use it.

HOWEVER since putting in the royal purple fluid the transmission its noticbly much much smoother, and it fixed the grinding/cold clash that umpteen trips to the dealership AND the tsb could not correct.

Its amazing to me that a particular fluid can make such a huge difference on the operation of these transmissions. Also im surprised that in their fluid recommendations the royal purple appears no where on tremecs list when it clearly is the best fluid for these transmissions hands down.

The ultimate test will be tomorrow morning when i cold start my car after a night of sitting, but i assume all will be well. Not one nibble/clash/anything odd from the tranny in the 120km's since the royal purple was put in.

Anyone and everyone should switch to the RP Synchomax fluild in ther tr-3650 EVEN IF you have no problems. I guarantee a smoother/quieter/less notchy tranny will be the result.

Funny how my last resort and the one thing I thought wouldnt do a single damn thing made the most difference out of everything.

 

[gsjohnson]

The clutch was fine, there is only 50k on it and does not need replaced.

You dont fill it until it runs out of the hole, if you read the TSB you would see the proper level is 3.0 liters and it is .75" below the fill hole.

They filled it until it did run out of the hole (tech set the gun for 3.75 liters. They drained out .75 liters and it has 3.0 in it now.

It is possible to overfill these transmissions. AS PER tremec they take 3.0 liters but hold 3.75-3.8.

You da man!

 

[1low03gt]

Good to hear that the R.P fluid helped out so far.Come spring,mine is getting pulled and checked again(Stang is in storage right now)as i went to my dealer and had my mechanic look at it last month.Not matter what,mine got worse,no matter the climate,hot or cold.Plus i had mine already repaired under the tsb .

 

[hotmustang331]

how much did you put in? 3liters? my 04 stang is my DD and i live in chicago....so its going to see some cold weather.

Right about 3.0L. Works great and the coldest we see is around 20*s and I havent noticed much of a difference....maybe a bit stiffer as would be expected.

 

[2013 Geee T]

I changed my fluid recently and have a new problem. I had the TSB done and it was fine. Now after changing the fluid with DexronIII/Mercon combo fluid it makes a metallic sound when cold in 5th gear. Kind of like a windy metal sound if that makes sense. I can downshift into 4th and it goes away but if I put it in neutral its still there. I put in 3.25 quarts.

Then I went to the dealer and got the Mercon VI (I think) and changed it again with 3.5 quarts just in case it was a low fluid thing and it still having the same problem. I have no clue whats going on. I guess Ill just wait until it blows up rather than go crazy worrying about it.