M35A3 Power/Tranny? issues

[RichBoston]

Hi all,
I recently acquired a 1999 M35A3 ...
I fired up the truck.. affectionally nick named 'Big Bertha' a few times, going through the TM's and such.
I took it for a short ride... and had some issues.

It seems to start fine... Accelerate out of first and second (and sometimes 3rd) then it wants to bog down, almost to a stop. Felt like it was running pout of fuel. But had just put 20 gal in. I noticed when the bogging down is happening, she's blowing some white smoke.
After I stop and it idles for a bit, it takes off fine... till we hit that 3 or 4th gear.
Any thoughts?

Rich

 

[AceHigh]

First thought is the transmission BUT have you replaced the engine fuel filter yet? That could do it. Also the transmission has a remote filter that could be clogged. After that, transmission linkage, then I got nothin... Good luck with Bertha!

 

[glcaines]

First thought is the transmission BUT have you replaced the engine fuel filter yet? That could do it. Also the transmission has a remote filter that could be clogged. After that, transmission linkage, then I got nothin... Good luck with Bertha!

Ditto on the fuel filter. Eliminate the simple things first. If you just got the A3, you need to change out the fuel filter anyway. I also agree on replacing the transmission external filter as it is extremely easy to do and very cheap.

 

[Floridianson]

Hope it's the filters. Does that model have the lock up TC.

 

[flyxpl]

If it is lacking in power that may be the only reason it does not want to shift . I really have to get the rpm's up on my A3 to get it to shift into high gear .

 

[treessw]

If it is lacking in power that may be the only reason it does not want to shift . I really have to get the rpm's up on my A3 to get it to shift into high gear .

Mine is very similar in the RPM's being high to shift. If you have not changed your fillters out, DO IT!!!! I had the same prob with mine when I first got it. Ran fine for a bit, but due to me not having the time to change out the fuel filter it clogged and lost all power, blowing smoke etc. Also check your air filter. Remember that you only have one fuel filter on this A3. It is on the driver side of the engine. The transmission filter is on the passenger side. The Trans if you didnt know already they run oil for the fluid.

Keep us posted

 

[Rustygears]

The clue is white smoke.

If there was a tranny problem, and the engine was laboring, you'd see black smoke from the loading.

White smoke suggests either a fuel or head gasket issue. Only really seeing the white smoke (volume, smell, how it disspates, etc.) can one tell.

I'd check for loose fuel filter, clogged fuel filter, etc. It could be leaning out due to air in system or starving due to blockage. Fuel related white smoke is unburnt fuel in exhaust stream/incomplete combustion. It happens with starvation, air in fuel system lines, injector pump fun, clogged injectors (poor spray pattern, obstruction).

 

[camp9]

It's your fuel filter. Change it out and you'll be good to go. Buy two and put the extra in the tool box to have when it happens again.

 

[RichBoston]

Thanks for the info.. Filters avail commercially?

Hi all,

Sounds like the fuel, trannie and air filters are the first places to look...

I assume these are avail commercially, has anyone spec'd out the commercial make and model ?

Thanks again,
Rich

 

[AceHigh]

Oil filter NAPA number 1791 price 10.68
Fuel filter NAPA number 3239 price 8.68
air filter is a fram ca 6645

Lots of info on this in the various threads. Standard Cat and Allison stuff. Can buy it all at NAPA

 

[mktopside]

All of you guys are wrong.......... his truck runs like poop because he's from Boston. No wonder the TM's don't help him, the letter "R" isn't in his vocabulary.















I'd change the fuel filter, drain the fuel water separator, and open up the drain on the fuel tank and drain out a few gallons to make sure there's no water in the tank. You should be able to pull the air filter out and have a look at it to see if that's the problem or not (if it looks like it's in good shape don't buy another one just yet). Actually, I would drain the water separator, drain the tank, then start the engine and let it warm up before changing the fuel filter. It's easier to purge all the air out of the filter when everything is all primed and warm.

 

[RichBoston]

Thanks all

Especially MKTopside ....

It was a quick (cheap) fix... the fuel filter

Thanks again,
Rich