Good news from Ford today. They drove my 2000 Expedition 5.4 4x4 (24k miles) and were able to verify the shudder/chatter problem that I was feeling through the floor while accelerating ( a miracle in itself). They said they performed some sort of program update to the torque convertor or transfer case. Whatever they did, it worked! Unfortunately, the tech was gone when I got there and the cashier couldn't explain what was performed.

Can someone familiar with Ford-anese translate this jargon from my work slip?

"FOUND SSM 15319 FOR HIGH SPEED VIRBATION AND VIBRATION ON ACCEL PERFORM SSM CHANGE FLUID AND CHECK PIDS MONITOR REPROGRAMMED GEM ROAD TEST OK"

 

None here!
JJ

 

SSM means Special Service Message. It is a notice Ford sends to the dealers with repair tips.

The changed the transmission fluid and reprogrammed the GEM, which is the General Electronic Module. The also checked the PIDs, which are the parameters in the computer.

Mark

 

I wish I would of seen this a few week's back,I could of saved $80.00 on a transmission flush,did thy change your filter too.Also Mark,should I take my truck back and let them reprogram the computer and PID's.
Thank's

 

I don't know what they did with the GEM. It isn't at all related to the transmission.

You can't program PIDs. Those are what a tech looks at to monitor how the transmission or engine are operating.

Mark

 

When I took my truck in for the shudder problem, the identified the torque converter shudder and scheduled me for a full tranny service. While I was in there, the tech updated the codes in the electronic module (computer?) that the tranny uses. He explained it as an update or service pack. They charged me nothing for it, so if you take it in and there is an update (mine is a 97) they may do it for free. The tech said that it wouldn't take care of the problem, but I may get better gas mileage.