F-150 XLT 4.6L V8

• Automatic transmission
• 143,000 miles

Transmission would not shift into 3rd gear until the engine rpm reached 4k and speed was @ 40mph. The problem showed up after a night of cold weather (@5F). Noticed that when vehicle was started the rpm's were @2500 and would not kick down even after depressing the accelerator. Drove for about 15 minutes and problem continued. Parked the car in Garage overnight and called the dealer for an appointment for the next day. Started the truck the next morning, rpm's were normal at idle and then drove and transmission shifting was normal.

Decided to go to dealer anyway to check it out and discuss the symptoms and how they had stopped. Discussed every detail with the service manager. After waiting for about an 1 1/2 hour service manager came out and said there was throttle position sensor fault code and the transmission was "fried". "We can give you a rebuilt transmission for $2900" I asked him how they diagnosed that the transmission was "fried" and he said "lets go out and talk to the Tech". Tech has transmission dipstick in hand and says "smell this". Smelled ok to me. They did not drop the pan and did not show any symptoms during test drive. Service manager then calls another manager over and he says there was a transmission fault code when the previous guy told me there was only the throttle position sensor fault code.

I told them I was taking the truck and going to drive to see if symptoms reappeared before I made any decisions.
Truck seems fine after 4 days. Spoke to someone else that had same problem and he brought his to transmission shop and there was a mechanical linkage that was lubed - free -fixed. O. K. for the last year and half. I believe the shifting problem was directly related to the high rpm's @ start. Ford dealership service are a bunch of weasels.
I am buying Toyota next time around.