2015 F150 transmission noise squawk **UPDATE WITH TSB FIX**

2015 F150 XLT 5.0L crewcab 4x4 with 9k miles has bad transmission sound when down shifting from 5th to 3rd

SOLUTION UPDATE! READ BELOW
Technical Service Bulletin
SSM 46494

SSM 46494 - 2015 F-150 - Squawk During 6-3 And/Or 5-3 Downshifts During Hard Acceleration -5.0L Engine - Built On 15-Apr-2015 And Through 15-Jul-2015

Some 2015 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine and built on 15-April-2015and through 15-July-2015 may exhibit a 6-3 and or 5-3 downshift squawk noise onhard acceleration. This may be caused by the overdrive clutch plate material. A revised clutch plate part number 9L3Z-7B164-E should be used to resolve this concern. Advise the customer that driving in a variety of city and highway settings and to limit towing for 1,000 miles after the repair will increase the chances for proper overdrive clutch plate break in. For claiming, use causal part 7B164 and applicable labor operations in section 07 of the service labor time standards (SLTS) manual.

[blakem.]

I just recently had my truck in for the second time on this same exact issue. First go around they did what the TSB suggested as well as new fluids and so on. Made it almost 2 years and 56K miles and then it began to do it again, more frequently this second time around, too. I luckily have a warranty and this time a complete Ford reman trans was put in…..only to have the noise happen on the way home from picking my truck up. We are now looking into maybe being a driveshaft noise from lack of proper lubrication (similar scenario on when it happens and common as well).

For those struggling to replicate the noise, these were the conditions I found to make replication easiest: Make sure you’re at operating temps (trans temp is 180° or higher). Get it into 5th and in between 36-45mph. Give enough acceleration to cause the 5-3 downshift, but not so much that it’s a hard acceleration. Do it in a way like you’re going to pass someone in town and not like a ricer fly-by on a 2 lane county road. Should be able to replicate it as much as needed for a tech to hear it.

[alltransobt]

Very good thread young man. The 6R80 is also prone for the E-Clutch drum cracking and causing 4-5-6 issues. We rebuild these units all the time. Currently I am doing a Raptor with this squawk concern. In addition to all of that the stator bushings that ride on the E-clutch drum were made of weak material. Sonnax has developed new bushings made of a better material to address that.

[TeddySimkins-glbi]

Same noise on mine…..i suspected a vacuum loss, sprayed a touch of silicone in vacuum control valve to test my suspicions. Noise went away. As a result I changed the vacuum control valve and hub vacuum solenoid for good measure. I suspect only the $10 control valve was the issue btw. Fixed. Part number Motorcraft YG429. You are welcome.

[lazyone]

Hey what’s up y’all, just dropped my truck off at the dealership for the same issue. It’s a 2017 5.0. Mines is doing it on 3rd going on 4th gear. I’ll keep y’all posted. Hopefully it’s not an arm and a leg lol

[SolSearcher]

I've got the same issue from 3rd to 4th in my 2015 Ecoboost

[flovatic]

TSB, XL16, Planetary gears and so on...I have a stack of work orders from two Ford dealerships. A claim to the manufacturer ended with the two girls in charge of my claim no longer answering or returning my calls. I traded the truck in around 2019-2020. I drive a Silverado now.

[davidu]

I have the same sounds but has recently changed. It only happened very sporadically. It now sounds like metal grinding or scraping just when cruising but got loud the other night on the way home. Sounds like it is coming from the front end more to me and not the transmission.

[sqdl]

just sold my f150, best day of my life

[kevinsingh]

does this tsb apply to older f150's? my 2011 is doing the same thing shifting from 5th.

[martyhartzog]

I have the same issue. It occurs at about 40mph while accelerating up a slight incline. Has anyone been able to get this problem diagnosed and fixed?

[ediemarcordero]

7 years later and my 2015 Lariat with 63k MLS is screaming between 4th and 5th acceleration.

[jasonphillips]

Mine does it very rarely. What is the cost to fix this out of warranty

[jasonphillips]

Does anyone have a quote on the shop to replace the part on the overdrive clutch? Mine does this very randomly

[KrisTheCodeManDude]

IWE, transmission or torque converter? Anyone know what’s causing this??

[manuelcarralero]

Is it mandatory to change it or would it damage or make it worse if not changed

[michaelbaker]

I have a 2016 ford f-150 with the 5.0 with the 6R80 in it. Has 212, 000 miles on it. Mine started doing this when it hit the 200, 000 mark. On the upshift from 3rd to 4th it’s doing it and also on the down shift when passing someone it does it louder. I took it to transmission shop and they put a new torque converter in it and it didn’t do it for a couple thousand miles than started doing it again. So I have a warranty on it from them now so took it back and there saying thrust washers and bearings. Hadn’t got it back yet but will let y’all know if it fixes the problem

[amood]

Is it 1 plate or are there multiple plates to be replaced ?

[LonckeGauthier]

What is the problem, are you fixin in ?

[lawrencecrowe]

Had the XL16 added to it, still making this noise. It's going back so they can try to make the noise for them selves god only knows what they can do to fix it.

[flovatic]

I have the same problem. They are replacing the planetary gears as of today. If I remember I will come back and let you know if this was the solution.