Repair 7

Trans Codes for the 1989 Ford F 150

The transmission, whether it be automatic or manual, is the heart of the drivetrain system and is responsible for creating a stepped link in power distribution between your engine and wheels. Depending on the options of your 89 Ford F150 at purchase, you could have either one of three automatic transmissions or a manual transmission. Each transmission has their own pros and cons, and were installed in the F150 depending on the overall purpose of the vehicle.

AOD Transmission

The AOD transmission is a four-speed fully automatic transmission that was improved on over the years for efficiency. In the AOD transmission third gear has a split torque path that provides 40 percent of the engines torque through the torque converter and the remaining 60 percent of torque is transferred through the direct input drive shaft. This transmission functions much like other automatic transmission of the era where manual first gear wont shift until manually shifted to second. As you use manual second the transmission will start and remain in second until manually changed by the driver. Third gear will shift from first to second and finally to third, but will not shift into overdrive.

E4OD Transmission

The E4OD transmission was the second fully automatic option for the 89 F150. With the general use of a torque converter in overdrive, torque converter slippage or wasted energy from the engine is about ten percent. The E4OD used a special torque converter, known as a lock-up torque converter, that implements a clutch disc with the torque converter. When deemed appropriate by the PCM, hydraulic pressure is applied to the clutch disc, locking the engine and transmission together; effectively transferring 100 percent of the energy from the engine without waste. With four fully automatic speeds and the lock-up torque converter, the E4OD was the most fuel efficient of the three automatic transmissions.

C6 Transmission

The C6 transmission was produced from 1966 to 1996 and has went through some changes over the years. The torque converter used had a stall speed of 1800 RPM and the transmission was capable of withstanding up to 300 horse-power of the production line. The C6 was also widely upgraded and used in drag racing and off roading. The C6 was a three speed automatic transmission that didnt feature overdrive or a lock-up torque converter; making it the least fuel efficient of the three available automatic transmissions.

Borg-Warner T18 Transmission

The Borg-Warner transmission wasnt widely used on the 88 to 89 F150 and was limited to a certain application. The T18 was a four-speed manual transmission and was only bolted to F150 trucks with a gross vehicle weight under 8500 pounds, with either the 4.9-liter or 5.0-liter engine. The other stipulation is that the transmission was offered with a slip yoke for two-wheel drive applications only. The T-18 transmission will likely have 13-01 stamped into the side of the case; however, if the transmission has been replaced earlier versions were stamped with T18-1E.