Questions and Answers

Ford F450 Box Van Not Pumping ATF Q. I have a 1996 Ford F450 Box Van. I changed the front transmission seal and reassembled everything. It is a diesel. I started it up and it will not go into gear. I have checked the fuses and wiring and don't know what else to do. I've done this many times, but never on a diesel. It won't pump transmission fluid into the cooler to make it go. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. 1996 Ford E450 van 8 cylinder Diesel engine Automatic transmission Thanks, Robert

A. A problem of no cooler flow can exist due to a mismatch between stator shaft supports and bodies. Some shafts have a slot machined in the step at the base of the shaft for converter charge.

Others, however, charge the converter through a slot in the casting. The mismatch occurs when a non-slotted casting and a non-slotted shaft are used. This will result in no exhaust port for the converter. The exhaust port feeds the cooler.

To diagnose, remove the front cooler line and start the engine. If no oil comes out of the case at the front cooler fitting, the pump may have a mismatched stator shaft and casting.

Remove the transmission and then the pump. Disassemble the pump and inspect the stator casting for a mismatch. Also inspect the pump gasket for alignment to the case and pump.

Another place to check is the bushing at the converter end of the stator shaft. If this bushing has moved toward the front or was not installed deep enough the converter will not fill. The proper depth should be approximately .860".

When the bushing is properly installed the grooves inside the shaft will be seen protruding past the bushing approximately .160"