How to make your 4 speed xr6 turbo transmission shift harder for free (Btr 4 speed S5 Mod)

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

Advice. Instead of paying $38 for an oil pump bottle you can go to cheap as chips and pick up a weed sprayer pump bottle for about $10 & just remove the nozzle etc from the end and attach a 90 degree elbow (bent piece of tube) or even tap the plastic end fitting to take a nipple to attach to filler holes or sensor ports. It works great and they come in a few different sizes. Just put the oil/fluid in pump it up and pull the trigger. These are great for filling autos, manuals, diffs, transfer cases and even priming/pumping oil through an engine after repair/rebuild/cam change etc to get the oil pressure up and circulated before first startup. Just attach it to the oil pressure sensor port or similar and let it pump through the engine. I'm sure a lot of people out there know this & use it or hate it but for those how haven't tried it it's cheap and easy way to get the job done well. Plus I like to comment to help with the YT algorithm

[@stuff7853]

Good idea! i have considered doing this before but often wondered how well a weed sprayer would cope with a thicker fluid like oil.

[@Fishnut4eva]

I’ve got a cheaper way. I used an old Palmolive 1 litre shower gel bottle and just attach a clear tube about 50 -80cm long that fits snug over the nozzle then push the hose in the box as far as it goes.

[@Jaymz87]

I found some information regarding the S5 solenoid on the pcmtec forum, for those using pcmtec you can modify the S5 globle temperature table to anywhere between -20 to -500 depending on how hard you want it to shift, I used this method for powercruise on my BA NA+T that couple with a transcooler did a fine job and is still going strong.

[@stuff7853]

I've seen that some post as well. I want to get pcmtec and investigate further. Idealy i'd like to find a way where i could vary the pressure based on boost. The more power you're making the more slip you'll have so more pressure wont feel necessarily as firm as a lower pressure would at a lower boost level.

[@km-gi4lw]

Much appreciated re S5 Solenoid and the refill and top up proceedure on the BTR 4 speed auto. That turbo installation is spotless compared to the motor you started with , good to see the Journals in such good condition when you opened it up. Thanks for the brilliant Presentations. (both of them)

[@stuff7853]

Thanks mate! glad you enjoyed the videos

[@kiarnastoon6475]

Just watching your vid now to do this..I had previously commented in a Ford Forum asking same..for link to your vid. A BTR mechanic commented dont go more than 1/2 a turn, as sometimes you cam lose 1st gear..just adding comment for anyone else watching about to do it. After watching you change gears the difference is amazing...mine drags out in 3rd aswell as you were stating. Adding sub and will shae your vid far and wide :)

[@stuff7853]

I've also heard of the same issue with 1st gear. Each gearbox seems to behave a little different as well depending on how worn it is. Before the mod this one was so bad that under full throttle shifting from 2nd to 3rd the taco would visually flare and you would feel the car loose momentum briefly before it grabbed the gear. Afterwards it never slipped again. The cars actually getting a genuine low mileage turbo btr fitted tomorrow but i can say since filming the video the transmission has had no issues and continued to shift the same as in the video so it definitely helped squeeze some more life out of it. Thanks for the comment!

[@martynohara8101]

Thanks , you are a natural teacher. Keep them comming👍

[@JezzaWatson-kf8cl]

Awesome tip mate thanks as I've replaced 3 boxes in mine

[@wobblysauce]

Nicely done. OBD scanner also has the trans temp in it.

[@Fishnut4eva]

For the bottle use an old Palmolive shower gel bottle and find or buy a hose about 50cm that fits snug and push it in as far as it goes

[@konducta3095]

Awesome video, having bought a falcon in the last year I've found it pretty sloppy and attempted to resolve with dropping the pan and adding Penrite FS ATF (listed as compatible) unfortunately it didn't make any difference although I am happy I at least cleaned the magnets and replaced the filter. I will try later in the year to flush it completely with a 20L Castrol Transmax TQ95 and some lubegard ATF flush pumped in with a 12v pump. Will try and see if any of my other solenoids are behaving erratically and adjust s5 for firmer shift as well as stop slip from Lucas if it still feels sloppy.

[@stuff7853]

I'd drop the pan and give the s5 solenoid 1/2 a turn first as a test and see how it goes. Unfortunately once they start getting lazy and slipping anything you do to them is just a bandaid fix that will only last so long

[@konducta3095]

@@stuff7853 Yeah I agree. I'm only needing another 60-70k out of it before I can afford to buy a newer car. ODO @ 169,700~

[@stuff7853]

@@konducta3095 can't hurt to try!

[@kiarnastoon6475]

I blew my transcooler hose off one day, fortunately the billowing smoke rfom behind the vehicle alerted me immediately, and I pulled over and refilled it on sideof road. I went straight to buy some Transmax and neither SUpercheap nor Autopro had any...couldnt believe it..so was forced to buy a litrre of product listed as compatible just to get home. Threw the OBD scanner on it and the codes it was throwing out from just half a litre of the other product was surprising. Drained it and codes gone when it was back to being filled with Transmax only..never ever use anything else in the trans.

[@akaitv6606]

I prefer Nulon ATF FS been using it for years , great stuff

[@valium4016]

Awesome tutorial! Doing this on my n/a 4 speed soon, just think its handy for towing. Want to buy a oil cooler kit too.

[@stuff7853]

What are you towing? my mate did this to his ute which he tows his race car with and for driving he rates it but for towing he says it makes the trailer knock around a bit on the hitch. Could go with less adjustment on the s5 though for a slightly less aggressive shift but still firmer then stock. Best things for towing is to stay out of fourth whenever hitting hills and a trans cooler like youve mentioned

[@stevanzaharic]

Great information about S5 solenoid about adjusment screw in the midle,but I think replace new or remanifactured solenoid will be better option to solved problem.I have made special tool and removing solenoid can be done without removing everything down.Solenoid S5 should have resistance 3.8-6.2ohms, resto solenoid resistance 23-45ohms and check for leking is another option, but Forcan sofware will show better with trouble code problem or live data.

[@stuff7853]

Thanks for the reply, if you had a faulty solenoid that would be the right thing to do however this video isn't about a faulty solenoid. Its about manually adjusting the solenoid to increase line pressure in the transmission for harder shifts to help prevent clutch slip in higher powered cars to help try and extend the life of the clutch packs

[@antoniosfares3888]

Love your work

[@jonathonbrisbane2350]

That looks like a "go thru socket" kincrome do a complete kit, the ratchet looks like a a ring spanner

[@stuff7853]

Certainly is a go through socket, mines part of a repco set. Didn't know kincrome do one. Its an excellent idea but the quality of the repco ones is pretty average.

[@mikehunt908]

Nice little trick .. good to know 👌

[@MrKrueger88]

Thanks for the really helpful and we'll done video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@stuff7853]

No worries! glad it helped

[@plumbs7199]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mahcooharper9577]

If that was your second try you did better than me... I tried for ages to get the hang of it and I never have so I've just given up and gave away my welding stuff lol And I didn't have the balls to fail and post it on KZbin haha

[@waynelaws595]

That is orsome bro im putting a manual in my au in the near future. Doing that to my auto in the meantime is a f#$%king bonus...BWAHAHA CHEERS BRO

[@stuff7853]

Glad it helped mate! little tip for you for the manual swap. If the thermo fans run 100% all of the time you need to install a 4.7k ohm resistor or the ecu thinks the auto is overheating when its unplugged. Its the tan-red stripe and yellow wire in the round transmission plug by memory but don't quote me on it.

[@waynelaws595]

Cheers bro

[@ReubenHorner]

Initally we did this on a 280,000km NA +t BA and worked a treat till the gbox got hot. Unfortunately a few laps at the track killed it but this mod helped out until the oil pump couldnt keep up with the temp. Ive just now bought a factory turbo and am wondering what the difference is between this mod and just trimming the s5 solenoid in the tune. I feel like this just changes how much effect the solenoid has, same as trimming it back in the tune right? My ones not slipping or anything but needs some care after the abuse its had in a past life

[@stuff7853]

I haven't played with the s5 solenoid in the tune to see exactly what you can do. I actually no longer own any btr 4 speeds anymore, i've since converted the car to a 6 speed manual so i stopped experimenting. This just changes the base pressure of the solenoid and the tune still varies it resulting in the pressure being higher across the board. Changing it in the tune would have a similar effect but I'm unsure if you can adjust the solenoid as drastically in the tune as you can mechanically, you could definitely do both in combination as well but there would have to be a limit before things break. What i had planned to do next is fit an electronic shift kit and wire it into a boost pressure switch to allow the auto to function as normal and then engage the shift kit over a set boost pressure such as 6psi which would help retain shift quality off boost. I also have purchased pcmtec since filming this and have had a brief look at the tables available for the btr. They're hard to understand but it looks like it is quiet possible there is a lot more tunability besides just shift pressure that could help these boxes last.

[@keiracurro8407]

My au has the chip, Cooler adjusted solenoid and lucas additive and does 0-100 in 7.9 on 8psi but it could be faster with btr tune i think for 2-3 shift.

[@stuff7853]

The 2-3 shift really seems to be slow in these transmissions. What ever it is that engages the gear be it a band or clutches just doesnt seem to bite like 1st-2nd does

[@jessemiller1761]

You'd be surprised how many people don't know about this, even a few of the boys down at Ford thought I was geeing them up when I told them about doing this for the btr trans...

[@stuff7853]

For such a simple mod you don't see it talked about very often that's for sure.

[@nickprostizenovski6948]

Question ive gotta replace the BTR inhibitor switch 4 speed anything to know before doing this thanks

[@stuff7853]

Pretty easy job, not sure what car you're doing it on but if its a ba onwards check how tightly the shift cable clips on. If its loose buy a replacement bushing kit off ebay. Once you disturb them they have a tendency to fall off and stop the shifter working if they're already worn when you remove them

[@akaitv6606]

I think ion did some bad stuff to the BTR , AU has a much beefier pump to ba bf

[@stuff7853]

Ion definitely made them weaker but i think it was done more from a fuel economy and noise perspective. The ion 4 speeds are definitely quieter in 1st gear. The AU box appears to be stronger unit though and when serviced properly can last quiet a long time

[@kyrieeleison1905]

did u do 1/2 or 3/4 of a turn?

[@stuff7853]

1/2 turn, 3/4 is what ive heard a lot of people do but i wouldn't want mine shift much firmer then it already does or it would make it feel jerky when driving gently so just depends how you plan to drive the car really. Currently with 1/2 turn its a firm shift but still smooth

[@stevecvntniko8271]

What box you going to get next?

[@stuff7853]

For now just another low km na btr but with a xr6t btr's vavle body, this s5 mod and i'll be investigating what i can do electronically in the tune then seeing what it can cope with. Long term will either be a build btr or t56 manual conversion.

[@stevecvntniko8271]

@@stuff7853 well i got a xr6t and want to do this to my box did you turn the star nut half way? And do you have to turn it to the right or left? I will do this mod and then get the box tuned through the tune also but I might have to get a built btr for 4k not sure how long this mod will last for with big power going through it once done

[@stuff7853]

@@stevecvntniko8271 I turned that little grub screw behind the plug in half a turn. Screwing it in increases the pressure. 1/2 turn is all i used in mine, a lot of people go 3/4 turn. Just depends on how hard you want it to shift. Its not going to make a stock box magically hold onto 400kw but it will definitely help it at lower power levels last a little longer.

[@stevecvntniko8271]

@@stuff7853 thanks mate for the info and some guy got 11.4 quarter mile time on his stock btr he just did this s5 mod and he only turned it 1/4 turn of the S5 and it handled 353kw no issues he's got vids on yt of his quarter mile times too

[@stuff7853]

@@stevecvntniko8271 No problems! I'm interested to see how the new one will hold up long term when i do it. Ive seen a few hang on to the power levels you've mentioned now, no idea for how long though. I guess a lot of it will come down to how its driven as well.

[@ryanhoulder8516]

'yeah this here is the drain plug' as he proceeds to talk about the fill plug lmfao.

[@stuff7853]

It happens to the best of us at times lol

[@barraboy03]

Great vid mate. Is it clockwise you turn the s5? Cheers

[@stuff7853]

Thanks mate, yes clockwise to raise pressure, anticlockwise to lower it.