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Hello - great forum - I could use your help.

I have a '96 Ford E350 Box truck (351 motor, gas not deisel)- that the transmission (E4OD)went out - doesn't respond in any gear. Never had a problem before - slippage or any indication there was a problem - was driving slow in snow storm and engine revved as the transmission quit and acted as it was in neutral, tried low 2, and 1, - then reverse - nothing. After my highly advanced diagnostic test which consisted of pulling my hair out and cussing it out - I checked the fluid levels - was low 2 quarts - refilled, - nothing. Had a plow truck push me off the road and looked at the linkage underneath - was opperating correctly it seemed. Thought i must be an electriacl issue or line got disconected - everything looked like it was still in place. Any Ideas? I recently had to replace the alternator - don't know if that related or coincidence.

I disconnected the drive shaft and bungeed it up as somone told me that it was necessary to be towed. Had a friend tow me while my truck was running and in park. Friend ran out of gas in his Ford F250. Another friend that I got the towstrap from from offered to Pull the truck pulling my truck to the gas station - but I couldn't take a chance that someone with a Chevy and a camera would see A Ford towing another Ford while towing another Ford.  

I called tranny shops and got differnt causes from each - 10 ppl - 10 different possibilities. Am broke as a crackhead loking for a used tranny - but also trying to figure out why mine left me stranded. Don't have any diagnostic equpment to hook to anything - but was told that if it electrical I would still have reverse. Is there a step by step trobleshooting guide somewhere online that I can do from most likely cause or better still cheapest to most costly soulution? Diagram with wiring case I missed something and a wire broke somewere?

Was told could be torque converted by one, the pump by anothers, planetary gears by another - and most just say we'll have a look and charge you more than you paid for th entire truck to fix it. What would you check first? and then? If I bought one of those code readers would it be a waste of $$$ since the transmission isn't hooked up and test as trucks runs? rehookup drive shaft and test? (No more hair to pull out - and my truck doesn't want to tell me what's wrong reguardless if I sweet talk her - or call her the bi.tch she is for leaving me straded in a snowstorm)Help    

Related qustion - found a used E4od for $350 in salvage yard, and another for $450 that trany shop said they rebuilt 3 years ago and got back anfter a year when they guy totaled the truck - It it worth $100 more to get one that was rebuilt 3 years ago? Any questions I should ask the shop before buying if I can't figure out what's wrong with mine?  

There is no way to be 100 percent sure from here but it sounds to me like your overdrive planet cracked. But it could be the pump or torque converter. Where are you going to have the trans removed and replaced? If it is a trans shop you should have them pull your trans and open it up so they can give you a price on an overhaul. If you plan on keeping this truck your probably better off getting it done right.If they hit you with a ridiculous price you can always buy the junk unit and have them put that in.But then that trans is going to have to be resealed and if there is a problem after the trans is in then your really screwed. The used trans installed is gonna run $1100 or $1200. If you can get yours overhauled for $2000 your better off.

PS: If you get the overhaul make sure they put in a steel forward planet not aluminum