Ford F-150 4R70E 4R75E Transmissions Loss of 4th Gear Overdrive: The Most Common Cause and Fix 

These are the Parts and Tools I Recommend: Overdrive Servo- amzn.to/2OM4TKW Servo Snap Ring- amzn.to/2vYSn3F Separator Plate Gasket Set- amzn.to/2MANt6r Ford Check Balls- amzn.to/2Mogfbe Improved Aftermarket Check Balls- amzn.to/2PmH5yg Transmission Filter- amzn.to/2Pp2eYK Mercon V Transmission Fluid- amzn.to/2MrtI24 Transmission Funnel- amzn.to/2OLaAZs Check Ball Locations- drive.google.com/file/d/1JPhhwa-l6tWjZ4ZmD7xPBbZZuEpvzhlr/view?usp=sharing Valve Body Torque Sequence- drive.google.com/file/d/1FdiY4YQMYdZCOcYBuufSe6bQKfR06V45/view?usp=sharing Fluid Pan Bolt Torque- 10ft lbs

My OD gear is back in action and I look forward to an increase in my gas mileage! You made it easy and everyone I know is astounded that I did a transmission repair in my own driveway. LOL! Thank you sir!

Finally a transmission video that assumes I know nothing and tears down from the beginning

Just completed this repair today on my 2005 F150 4R75E. Absolutely perfect, thankyou! Something I did to make this a little easier was to pick up a fluid extractor (Harbor Freight $6.99) and pull about 5 quarts of fluid out through the dip stick tube. Really decreased the amount of mess when dropping the pan, does not completely eliminate the "waterfall" but sure makes it a lot more manageable. This is really easy if you take your time and pay attention to detail. Double check everything and you'll be fine. BTW, my snap ring was in about 15 pieces and the overdrive piston came down with the valve body just like in this video. Found about 4-5 little pieces inside by the regulator valve.

Best valve-body teardown & rebuild tutorial + transmission failure diagnosis &repair I've ever seen on YT!

I have to say the way you presented the repair on this transmission is the best I've ever seen. No trying to be cute for the camera, no flowered up music just straightforward instruction from a young man that knows his subject completely. I am now subscribed to your channel. Thank you very much.

Thanks! Videos are pure gold. My overdrive piston pounded a hole into the valve body circular stress plate and damaged the separator plate. Didnt ever fully lose 4th gear either! I think the piston rod was able to keep the overdrive band captured even though it was flopping around in there. The piston eventually bent. I inspected everything, cleaned it all out, put it back together, and it's back in the road for under $200. Saved me thousands. I'll see you for my timing chain and pump job man!

Great video! This happened to my 2004, except both the snap ring and e clip broke and force of servo spring broke a chuck out of OD plate. I changed all those parts. One tip - I traced around shape of my new snap ring on a piece of paper and then placed all broken pieces in the trace to make sure I had all broken bits. There was a small piece in a channel of valve body so make sure you get all pieces identified. Mine going strong after this repair.

Also Brian I absolutely love how meticulous you are. You take crazy time make sure everything is clean and your particular ways of things like letting the snap rings snap into place so you can hear the strong pop vs releasing the snap ring into place by the pliers. You truly work on every car like you're doing a repair on you own Mom's car. I certainly hope your able to make it financially with how proper you work and how slow you go to make sure it's all perfect and how honest you are. Thank you for doing all this right for people. In the short run, the other guys might get 3x the work done as you, but lots of those jobs will come back in with major issues, but you do such good and thorough work that eventually you'll build up an amazing positive equity on the streets that you'll have more work than you can handle.. In the end, you win bc you do the right thing. You're worth your weight on gold and it's so hard to find honest and meticulous mechanics these days. Thank you again.

you are legitimately a life saver man. my truck has been running poorly since 6 months after i got it. i searched everything matching my symptoms and couldnt find a thing until your 6 min video about the 4r70e and 4r75e transmission issues relating to low power, almost stall like noise and vibration at idle, and my funny shifting. you make the professional repairs something an every day average guy with know how can do. cant wait to get my hands dirty now!!!

This man has read everything ford has released and damn well paid attention. What a smart man. I don't know him, but I'm very proud of him! I have so many questions for him! Wish he did a live q and a stream! I'd donate for information from him for sure!

By far the best/most knowledgeable mechanic I’ve seen regarding fords. Thanks brother

I’ve been watching your channel for a while now and I thoroughly enjoy it and I would like to say thank you for this video I was ready to change the transmission in my wife’s 06 f150 but decided to check this issue first. What I ended up finding was about half an inch of the O/D servo clip that was jamming a shift valve in the valve body. Keep up the great work!

I just watched the video before attempting the repair. It went perfect except I broke one of the clips on the harness. I figured I had done all this and there’s no way I’m putting in a broken part so I ordered a replacement from Amazon that was made in America for seventeen dollars. So far it’s working perfect!! Truly,you are doing God’s work. Thank you so much for these videos. I don’t know what I would do without you

Just did this exact repair about 5 hours ago. Didn't have the OTC tool but used a bottle jack and a piece of pvc pipe. I got very unlucky and had my snap ring break off BOTH ends so I had nothing to work with. Got it done and replaced though but damn am I glad there are RU-vidrs like you who show an exact step by step how to. I now have overdrive back, new check balls, new gaskets, filter and 11 quarts of fluid. Shifts like a dream and it's such a nice feeling knowing that I did it. You're the greatest

glad you put this video out, just got a customer with the same problem servo didn't come out but the ear on the snap ring broke, you made the job so much easier for me to do, thanks.

This excellent video gave me the confidence to attempt this repair myself. I have an '04 expedition with a 4R70W that worked fine in reverse, 1st, and 2nd, but would not shift into 3rd or overdrive. When I removed the valve body I found that my 2-3 accumulator piston was broken in half...two pieces, and the separator plate had micro cracks starting. I went ahead and replaced all 4 pistons, installed a thicker separator plate called a "tough plate" that had the little cup to go under the 2-3 piston retainer, and I replaced all the gaskets. The Tough Plate can be modified for performance by drilling certain holes out bigger, but I just put it in stock...which is also okay to do. I tested all the valves against their springs as he demonstrated, but where I screwed up was I pulled all the valves out to clean them and their bores. I photographed them as I took them out to make sure I put the pieces of them back in the bores correctly, but when I put it all back and started it up (follow oil installation procedure) it wouldn't shift into any gear. Finally I drained it and pulled the pan and filter. There's one valve you can clearly see on the side of the valve body while it's installed. It's the Main Pressure Regulator Valve. The end of it that you see on the side of the valve body is the piece of it that's called the Boost Sleeve and valve (the valve is the little carbon piece inside the sleeve). That part was missing from the bore. I looked into the bore and I could see the spring with the retaining clip in the hole and the pressure regulator valve is further up in the hole beyond the spring. The Boost sleeve with the little carbon valve inside it had sucked into my new oil filter. But the reason I wrote all of this is because when you install that valve you have to push it in way past flush before you put the retainer clip on it, otherwise you'll clip it onto the inward end of the boost sleeve which is the same diameter as where the clip goes, but there's no shoulder to keep the sleeve from sliding right out. Again...it will snap on and feel just like it's in the grove because that part of the sleeve is the same diameter of the groove. If you're wondering how I tested all the valves against their springs and didn't find this problem, it's because the clip was holding the spring in place behind the Pressure Regulator Valve but it was not clipped into the boost sleeve...but rather in front of it. The other valves do fit pretty much flush with the side of the valve body, but the pressure regulator valve will be recessed about 1/2 an inch if you have the retainer clip in its' groove. I could slide the sleeve and valve into their bore without pulling the valve body back off, but I wouldn't be able to pull that retainer clip out and reinsert it correctly w/o pulling the valve body!!! At least it makes since why it wouldn't go into any gear post rebuild when it would before. I'm excited that it's likely to work once I correct my mistake. Thanks for the lesson!

Thanks for the schooling,I fix my overdrive problem and the transmission with 240000 miles on it works perfect

Saved me big time!!! Thank you FordTechMakuloco, Used this outstanding video to repair my 4R70W... Step by step, found my trouble, slipping in 2nd, no 3rd and, overdrive; broken 2-3 accumulator spring... All repaired, and on the road.. Best video for repair on youtube!!! A Grateful thank you, from a big fan!!!

Thanks so much for the video. It gave me the confidence to try to repair the transmission after an auto shop said I needed a replacement transmission for 4,000. The snap ring had the ends broken off and a small piece lodged in a valve inside the valve body. After removing it, overdrive works again!

Hello Bryan, 2002 f150 owner here Watched your video and I lack the confidence to do this job. I am a small engine mechanic and although your video is very thorough this is just way too technical for me. I've opted to take it into the shop. Dude is charging 1500 for a total rebuild with a one year twelve thousand mile warranty. I respect you transmission guys I'm afraid of auto transmissions. Godspeed Brother

I think any DIY folks should be encouraged to take A LOT OF DIGITAL PHOTOS during disassembly. A decent cell phone camera should work. There are so many places where a novice can go wrong.

This video is 5 years old, but I wanted to thank FordTechMakuloco for the great video and parts list. I almost have mine done. Ran out of daylight and I don't like working with just my crappy light under there. Now, I do have to let others know that at first I could only find one broken ear of my snap ring and the other broken piece was about an inch long......where did I finally look? I broke open the old filter and sure enough it had been sucked into it. Hadn't heard that one yet.

I really appreciate your expertise in all things Ford Brian! Hopefully you are doing well with your shop? I doubt you are ever slow given your attention to detail and commitment to great work! Thanks for your time 🙏

I don't even own an F-150 but I love watching you do your work!

That was a great job on instructing the viewers.....you made it interesting at midnight on July 4th....I'm going to have my transmission (same size) looked at on Monday....no 3rd or 4th.....just goes into neutral with high revving and rpm...Now, thanks to you, I am an educated customer....Well done young man.....well done!

Finally, I have been able to tend to this exact situation. I have an 04 XLT 4.6 with 158k on it, have had the truck for 6+yrs now and have had the basic issues associated with them. Driving down the road and just revved out when supposed to go in 4th. 1st thought, Shit there goes the trans, but being a DIY guy with everything I began researching and came across your video. Some time went by, but it was time this past Saturday evening to drop the pan as everything else was perfectly fine with it. Dropped valve body and there it sat! Awaiting the arrival of piston, snap ring, upper and lower gaskets, catch balls and confident she will be good as new when installed. Thank you for including the torque sequence for this task. Great video, very detailed. Hoping for many many more miles with my truck. Thank you much!!!

Another little tip is before you put the snap ring in make sure its right side up. In this case the sharp edge should be oriented down, the rounded side up.

I have been a professional transmission rebuilder for 40 years, semi retired now. I just rebuilt a 4R75W finished this morning. I have another one coming in the morning. they are my favorite OD to build. you did a good video brother. but, the bore will wear in that servo apply hole for the pin. that will also cause it to loose O/D they make one "a pin" that carry's an O ring. it seals and corrects the worn bore. I never build one without it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you for putting this information out there! My 9yr old son & I followed the steps & saved our family some $$. Great content!

As a life long rather well accomplished mechanic I have avoided automatic transmissions like the plague. Outside of electronics I have refused to dive deep in. I find myself intrigued now and I appreciate your videos and knowledge keep up the good work

Outstanding video Brian. Your attention to detail and instructions are easy to understand. Thanks for taking us along.

Fantastic write-up. I just did this on my 2005 e350. I did both the servo and the balls. Here's some pointers for you that have had problems after doing this. Transmission fluid. Five quarts was not enough for my e350. After measuring what came out was almost 10 full quarts. Remember the transmission is going to suck up and hold a bunch of fluid. So the dipstick might say it's full until you start it and run it through its system. The overdrive band, it has to be in the right position. I heard mine twang when I took out the old servo. It may have to be pushed over. Look for a little v and a shiny mark where the old plunger used to touch it. Once it's in it should be tight through the little window. My van made it to 193,000 miles before this went out. Good luck!

Thank you! You are fantastic teacher and presenter as well as, obviously, a master mechanic. Way to find your calling and then take it to the next level by sharing it with us. Ok I really just can’t give you enough kudos but I’m gonna stop before I take on stalker status. Keep it up! Please!

This was the best and most thorough video ever on fixing a transmission valve body and OD issue.

This helped me in so many ways, especially the bolt sequence for the valve body. Unfortunately, I still do not have overdrive, the servo was intact and nothing odd in the valve body. I tried pushing up on the overdrive servo, and there was plenty of resistance, so I will have to keep researching. Thanks for the help with the video

You my Good Sir are a Genius!!! Thank you soo much !!! After pulling the valve body down off a 04 F150 found a piece of the snap ring that broke off in the valve body !!! Got that buggah out and changed the balls #7 was so tiny . Put it back together exactly how you showed and she runs like a brand New Truck !!! Saved my Budd 3k at a shop here in Hawai'i!!! The hardest part was getting the black plastic connector off the solenoids without breaking it man that alone took 30 mins haha

While everyone and their gramas are watching the "VMAs" Im watching these informational/learning videos not loosing any brian cells !! I stay winning !! 💪

I just completed this job. Opened it up and found one of the snap ring ears stuck in a valve, and the 2-3 accumulator spring was broken. Anyway, I followed this video step by step, referencing it along the way and now everything works great! This is a fantastic video. Thank you!

Wish I would of come across this 4 years ago , over drive went out in my 05 , changed me for a complete rebuild and hear I am again having it rebuilt in 2 weeks because Iv lost reverse for the 2nd time owning the truck, when it’s gets rebuilt in 2 weeks it will be the 3rd rebuild Iv had done in 9 yrs of owning the truck

Hands down best video on how to get it fixed on my own. Great job!

Must be the same 2 people always Thumbing Down your vids Brian. Great Job, Keep it up.

Great job, Having problems with my 04 transmission. Rebuilt entirely 70k miles ago. Now shutters in overdrive. To the shop I go. Thanks for your allowing us to review repairs.

Man am I great full for content makers like you! thanks for the detailed video bro, give a diy guy like me the confidence to do jobs like this and learn from it!

I just finished replacing all my selenoids and changed the filter and and fluid, all thanks to your videos, I can't thank you enough, this is my first time doing this on my 2008 4.6 2wd f150

Thanks for another thoroughly comprehensive video with all your "tips and tricks" included. It is invaluable to the DIY community to have a pro that we can rely on for the straight poop on fixing our Fords!! You have saved me much time on repairs and routine service through your efforts!!

Thanks! , when you say push ‘ I like to hear snap ring ‘snap’ old school back yard mechanic 👍

THANK YOU...!!! I really appreciate you doing this video. I am going to change the valve body on my 2000 Crown Vic when I do the filter and fluid. I have shuddering in third gear which goes away if I accelerate or when the car warms up. I want to have a look at the infamous snap rings and see if they need to be replaced. I think I can handle this but I have been worried about where all of the check balls go.

Snap ring gap orientation is not important but it can be put in wrong! the ring has a cross section profile from being punched out of a sheet. sharp edges away from the load, or in this case down. the rounded edge has less holding surface and can be pushed out under certain conditions. Great tutorial, I'm dropping my transmission for loss of reverse tomorrow.

This man is bordering on genius!

This was so detailed, neat, simply great video. I watched the whole thing and I don't even own a Ford anymore. Awesome channel.

Great video Brian I see people talking about drain plugs in the trans pan, I remember when they use to install drain plugs in the trans pan but that's when common sense was still around.Once again great video so keep them coming.

Just did this, well the smaller e-clip had broken but same same.. Thanks for the help man!!

What a great video and instructions, found the same issue for my Expedition and ordered the parts. Also thanks for your service ! you rock Man !

Had similar defect but the snap ring was intact, the groove in the case was chewed out. Made a spacer for between the V body and the snap ring to keep the ring in place in the damaged groove. It worked great! No parts just a little time on my own truck.

Great video, as usual!! Taking the "mystery" out of trans repairs!!

I would suggest that when you get all the pieces of the snap ring together, after you drop the valve body, that you assemble all the pieces of the ring and then you can tell if any are missing. If you find them all then you don't have to keep looking. Great video, thanks

THANK YOU!!! This is going to help me immensely! Always appreciate the videos. Going to tackle this job this winter. Definitely will get the upgraded balls so I can be done with this one and for all.

The first time I removed the valve body off of my F150 all the balls fell out, I had fun trying to figure out where they came from. I did get it back together and the tranny worked fine, I wish this video was available at the time. Great video Brian , thanks !!!!

Excellent videos man, just the right info details and awesome video quality as always. You’re gonna find this kinda funny but while I attended the automotive courses at uti, I also took the ford dealer training and actually gained a better more clear approach to diagnose vehicles in many aspects. The instructors definitely had more real world experience knowledge and also combined with smaller class size.

Perfect timing I just got done doing my head gaskets on my 2000 ford F150 Harley Davison edition. every video you make has help me tremendously. moving on to the transmission now. Thank you so much for all your videos please keep them coming so I can keep my truck running. 🙄

I bet that owner is happy! Goes from thinking a gear blew out, to a trans in the vehicle fix!

This Gentleman, deserves a Million view, by now.... Thank you....

Very informative. I like the step by step process. The tech tips is what makes your videos better than the rest.

By far you are the best at this to where it's so wonderful to actually be able to understand everything your doing and to be able to actually follow and understand your directions. I wish I could reward you for your help because you actually are the best at teaching this bless your life. Thank You! Definitely the best ever!!❤

Excellent work sir. Great detail, and great cautionary statements about what not to do. Well done!

I know as a teacher you wouldn't make near as much as you do now but you would make a great teacher.

Awesome video as always Brian. Fingers crossed I never need to follow these instructions. :) Thanks!

It's probably extremely expensive recording equipment that makes this look like a informative direct and near perfect better then a college class not a complete waist of time video...I bet you tube had to put you on the payroll after this upload lol... But in all seriousness thank you I have yet to start the repair but with watching even a fraction of this video I'm almost certain I won't have to do the whole repair as I was previously thinking and you saved me money since I won't need to overnight a bulk supply of exedrine again... 5 stars all day thank you again for making RU-vid useful again all thumbs up!

Great instruction. It's like a magician teaching us his magic tricks.

First, thank you so very much for teaching me how to fix this problem. When my servo dropped out it broke the reinforcing plate below it. That plate seems to be made with pot metal. So yes I found all the earring parts thought everything was great put it back together and sure enough it did it again. I pulled the pan again this time even though the Pistons all move fine I took out the overdrive piston and ran a magnet up through its channel. Sure enough some very small chips and pieces of the reinforcing plate were there. Followed your instructions but the whole thing back together and it is working just fine. Again thank you!

This is the absolute best video EVER !!! Thanks so much !!

Bought an '04 with 200k on the clock. Did all the engine stuff to get it on the road. Now at 207k, i just dropped the pan. It was the first time ever. Trans shifted fine. I think i have a torque converter seal going, but no other issues. It still had the factory yellow plug in the pan. The servo clip was barely holding and only about 1/2 was remaining. I found all the pieces and now ready to put it back together. 207k on factory fluid with no leaks and shifted great.

Practice makes perfect. Nice job Brian.

Great video, I was able to fix the same issue on my pickup thanks to you! Much better than paying $1600 for a shop to do it. Thank you

Great video Brian, Thanks. Looks like ford could/should reengineer these valve bodies to accept a beefier snap-ring.

I gotta 99 without reverse. Well it lagged for months. It started over the winter kinda felt like it wasnt engaging, or it would take a minute, or it would just slip in reverse. Now none, but. All my fw gears are great I drove it 175 miles in 2 days didn't offer to slip or anything just had to pull through everywhere. Vehicle 99f150 316xxx miles 4x4 4R70W trans Thanks bud

What is the purpose of only giving 7 check balls when they know you need 8? Give you something to worry about? Awesome job with the video ..btw.

Best video ever! Can't thank you enough! Went step by step and everything was just as you said. Found the ear of the snap ring just where you said it would be. Happy to have my truck back! Thank you again!

I watch a a lot of transmission tear downs and love precision transmission because he is also professional and informative! Just don't see a lot of Ford tear downs loads of GM!

Excellent job Brian

Found this video and was able to pull my transmission apart and found the exact same problem. Thank you thank you thank you so much for making this video!

The repeat business this guy must get from ford owners must be astounding. He knows everything about these trucks!

This guy knows his stuff.

Never understand why Ford don't give us drain bolts for our transmissions sigh love you videos Brian

i got all my parts and hopefully this weekend i'm gonna tackle this. Thank you for the valuable info!

I gotta hand it to you!! You know your stuff!!!

Man thanks for the videos …. You make it seem so easy.. Sad to say that my truck started having shifting issues and I’m convinced that this is the problem…. Those rubber balls!!!!

Great video of replacing overdrive servo, I have lost my 4th gear, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear ok. I dropped my valve body and the overdrive servo still in place. Got a video of checking a servo?

My 06 expy just started the upshift thing but I didn't have the 4th gear issue. Followed this vid. Snap ring was perfect but one of the balls was bad. R&r balls, filter, fluid, & gaskets. Shifts like a peach. Thank you for making this video!

I love your attention to detail...Is the owner going to let you do that passenger side exhaust manifold? Haha

Man, these are the best videos of anything on RU-vid. So understanding, step by step with explanations. Awsome.

Can you share the part number or link to the electrical leaf?

Thank you so much my guy for the videos you make, you're so thorough and informative I have made many fixes to my 2004 f150 saving me tons of money, I was told by a shop I needed a rebuild on my transmission after doing this fix my truck is back to normal I am very grateful I hit the like button and am subscribed

Hello, very nice video. I want to ask about the snap rings used in the repair. Most all "C" clips, "E" clips or snap rings have a flat side and the other side a rounded outer edge. I was taught that the flat side goes to the outside or away from the spring pressure. In theory, the flat side will lock in the groove with a better fit. Do you have a preference on which side of a snap ring you put to the outside? Just curious OK, I worked autos and jet engines for 40 yrs. Thanks Jim

Turned out the c clip from the overdrive servo was broken and the pieces were stuck on the overdrive valve, awesome video tech.

Wow..this is really a great job... thank you for your information..this is what I want to know.....thank you so much..............👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Great vid. I did a similar job on my old 2006 F150 where one of the plastic check balls literally “pac manned” through its hole. Think it was jumping into OD when it shouldn’t. There was a TSB for it. $5 worth balls, a few gaskets and case of fluid and all was well. Messy job. Thanks for your vids. Did the Mrs 16 Fusion PTU fluid chg thanks to your other vids. 👍🏼

Lol'd when you said snap rings come in a pack of 8. Maybe you can melt one down to fix up the 7 pack of check balls

Fantastic video. My '06 Lincoln Mark LT has the 4R75...174k miles...never been opened. This takes all the fear and mystery out of what's inside that pan. Luckily I don't have any problems with my transmission, as of yet, but if and when I do, I'll certainly refer to this tutorial as I work my way thru it. First step for now is to do a fluid and filter change - and to clean out that pan and magnet. So many people and shops discourage fluid changes by giving horror stories and disclaimers about tranny failure afterwards. Yet Ford obviously expects the service to be done periodically by the fact that the gasket is reusable and they stamp notice right on the pan.