After hearing about the transmission issues that have been floating around the boards lately, I think it has me a little paranoid but you guys let me.

This last weekend we went on a road trip to my bro and sis-in-laws house, and twice with the cruise set at 60 mph after coasting down 2 different hills I noticed a very slight "shake" right before the motor got under load again. The first time it happened I thought it was just a little wash board in the road, but after doing it twice I started to wonder. It never happened again after those 2 times, and I put over 80 miles on after those 2 times(15 more miles to his house and 65 miles back home a couple hours later). My tranny temps weren't any higher than normal, 138-144 range the entire time.

It could have just been bad spots in the road, but 2 in a row like that aren't very likely. The truck only has 46000 miles most of which are hwy miles running empty, maybe 4000 of the miles were while towing.

So what do you guys think?

 

Well I'm not sure I'll be much help for your concerns, but I too was on the fence about getting the transmission serviced for the last few months. Today I broke down and had it done and all i can say is WOW it is much smoother now! shifts are crisp and for the most part you hardly feel it shifting, whereas before it was kinda rough, had some vibes, etc, etc... My only concern now is the dealer and I argued about the trans fluid filter. They said it did not have one, I said it did...They ended up running the vin and it showed no trans fluid filter.. I'm still skeptical. They also said there was no need to drop the pan and I argued that one too... I'll have words with the service manager when they call to see if i was happy with the service. For 180 bucks they just flushed it and put in new fluid... I'm also skeptical they used the merc V fluid recommended cause the receipt lists some Valvoline maxlife crap..

Some of this concern could be my worry it will take a mega chit on me now that i broke down and had it "semi"-serviced IMO.. It was pretty much an argument between me and the service advisor over the filter, dropping the pan, and the fluid used..

 

I've been getting a little worried about mine too. Since new the trans would shift into 4th abruptly. Now at 51k miles it has started to shift smoothly into 4th like the rest of the shifts. I do like the new found smoothness but am concerned on what has caused the change as change like this is probably not a good thing.

 

I'll share here as I did on another post.

I too have been wondering about trans service as I now have 33K on my 07. So I called a local independent trans shop and asked questions. the man was very helpful and willing to share his knowledge.

He said that if you let transmissions go with out regular service even if the fluid looks red it breaks down over time. THEN if it is changed the new fluid can really work on and clean out the adhesive for the friction material in the clutch packs usually ending in quick failure.

Regular fluid changes every 30-40K greatly extend the life of the trans up to 200K as opposed to maybe 100-120K miles without changing. He said in the last few years there have been big changes in fluid technology. Ford Mercon has lots of friction modifiers that need to be renewed periodically.

I had mine flushed and changed yesterday. I think it is just good maintenance. But don't let them go a lot of miles and THEN change...you'll likely have trouble. Also don't wait till you are HAVING slippage to change the fluid.

 

Mine did the EXACT same thing about 3 weeks ago, I am sitting at 63k, I was pulling a boat and had the Edge set to 2. I figured that it was just something with the Edge, I was a tad concerned, it did it 2 or 3 times total, but after unhooking the boat I haven't had a problem since, if all they do at dealer service is change the fluid I can do that myself alot cheaper than 130.

 

If they flush it at the dealer, they run a cleaning fluid through it using a machine that pumps all your fluid out. It takes about 16 quarts of fluid to refill it. If you just drop the pan, what they refer to as a transmission service, change or clean the filter, you are replacing only 5 or 6 quarts.

 

That fluid breaks down over time. Get it ALL out or mix it with old fluid. They flushed mine yesterday and refilled it with 16 q of Mercon.

 

I cant replace 16 quarts for under 130, especially considering the work I would have to put in.

 

If you are not changing the trans fluid every 30k you are being foolish. That's like running dino oil for 15k miles because you don't want to strip out the threads in the drain pan from removing the plug too many times.

 

I just called a local performance tranny shop he said 150-160 to change the filter, and do a complete fluid flush with 14-18qts depending on if the truck has a tranny cooler or not.

Then I called a local mechanic who I have know of 10+ yrs. He said 75-80 for a complete flush, including the filter.

I am still waiting on a call back from another mechanic, who I have know for literally my whole life, to see what he has to say.

 

WTH?? Everyone else here gets a fluid and filter change, but My dealer argued with me for over an hour that I had no trans fluid filter, and the pan did not need to be dropped. I still stand behind my argument my truck does have one, and the pan needed to be dropped and cleaned. Can anyone give me some insight into this?

 

If the fluid breaks down then you need to change it pan drop or no pan drop. I think it is a horse a piece. It may seem nice to get everything out of the filter, but are you convinced you can get the pan off and back on without breaking anything loose that may cause a problem? What if your asking someone else to do it for you?

I think it is about the same either way. The machine pumps new fluid in as it takes old fluid out. The new fluid replaces the old fluid quart for quart. That means new fluid is entering the pan an mixing with old fluid.

The unit I've seen uses the transmission itself to pump the fluid.

 

I did call the dealership after I posted and they quoted me $140 for a flush/fliud change, but NO FILTER. I asked how much if I wanted the filter changed, the service writer said that they don't change the filters and said that if I did want the filter changed I would have go some where else.

Why Ford dealerships apparently don't want to change the filter is beyond me.. But every place else that I had called was more than willing to do it.

 

I assume they don't want to drop the pan.

 

Actually, there's merit to both arguments here. I've always dropped the pan and replaced the filter while I was at it. But, when you do that with our transmissions, you don't get all of the fluid out. In fact, I only had to add about 6 quarts last time. Why? Because you're not getting everything in the lines, the cooler and the torque converter. So which way is better? You tell me.