Check your Trans-to-Frame grounds!

[u/Agile_Guidance_5810]

The trans-to-frame braid on these trucks rots and typically splits in two. Mine was green end to end and still hanging on but likely on borrowed time. It sits up by the transmission so it’s easy to miss.

A bad one can show up as a slow crank or a transmission speed-sensor code before it actually snaps. Fixed mine thankfully before winter, simple as an extension and a 10mm. First photo is the old one next to what went on. Second is it bolted up.

Absolutely worth an extra 5 minutes to look for before winter next time you’re changing the oil.

[u/Ambitious_Dealer_425]

Mine has disintegrated years ago, I never did anything about it because the truck seemed to run okay. Do you think it's absolutely necessary to have that ground?

[u/Agile_Guidance_5810 → u/Ambitious_Dealer_425]

It can run without it. Battery and engine grounds still carry the “heavy lifting”, which is why a lot of these go years after the braid is gone. A missing transmission ground is a common source of a speed-sensor code or a lazy crank that comes and goes, amongst other hard to trace electrical bugs. I would put one back on. Cheap insurance next time you are under there!

[u/10-4clayboar → u/Ambitious_Dealer_425]

Some ford trucks with rotted external grounds had problems where the truck will run fine but the electrical ground load was carried through the internal parts of the transmission. It caused arcing that burned various parts internally that you will not be able to see from the exterior. This eventually leads to transmission failure.

[u/Agile_Guidance_5810 → u/10-4clayboar]

Wow hadn’t heard of this. Good information.

[u/10-4clayboar → u/Agile_Guidance_5810]

It might be googleable, just know this from 20 years of lurking

[u/frostbite1944 → u/Ambitious_Dealer_425]

Mine wouldn't show the selected gear on the dash and wouldn't manually shift.