i've asked this before, but it's been a while ago. when i'm at lower speeds, 45-65/70 and i give it the gas or it just shifts on it's own there is a very short lived vibration. It's very noticable. any ideas?

 

I had the same thing on my 99 Expy 5.4, you feel the tranny sifting, but also a shudder through the vehicle. I did alot of research and found that this is called "Torque Converter Shudder", and it is easily fixed with a full tranny service. That means replacing the fluid in the converter also. It fixed mine up just great.

 

How much is it for that service?

 

here in Houston the dealers charge 175 for the full service, and this is a power flush to replace all fuids and clean debris out. I am sure with research you could get it cheaper other places. My Expy has the 4R100 Tranny, and this was the first service I know of for it (I just bought it), so I took it to the dealer and had mercon V put in. My mustang has a 4r70W and I take it to Jiffy Lube (one my friend runs) and they use the muli purpose stuff and it also works great, their normal price is 70 there.

I am telling you about both because i know alot of people always say "use what ford uses", but you really do not have to, you can take it to a place you trust and let them use an equivilent or better product. The mustang is an 01 with 55k, and I have it done every 20k, and have never used the merconV since it was drained the first time, and it works great, hell I run the stang hard and have never had a tranny problem usinf the multi-purpose stuff.

 

If you have the shudder, make sure you change the fluid in a timely manner. Some transmissions need the fluid changed more frequently to solve it. If you continue having shudder, you'll eventually get the big bill for a new torque converter due to converter clutch failure.

 

is mercon v the ford fluid? or is really heavy duty? just curious

 

very true. the mercon v is the ford stuff i think.

 

What fluid would suggest if i take it to someone besides ford?

 

Use the ATF specification that your dipstick and owner's manual calls for. In 4R70Ws, the spec is Mercon V. In 4R100s, the spec is Mercon. If you have to change often or have limited budget, any brand is fine. If you don't mind paying for synthetic, Redline and Amsoil are excellent. You will likely have to order it yourself and take it to your mechanic. If you have the 4R100, you can also buy Mobil 1 ATF at a number of auto parts stores. The Mobil 1 is lower in price and easier to find walk up.

 

i have never fixed this problem by just changing fluid
there are a couple of holes in the seperator plate that need to be drilled for lockup apply pressure
if it has gone too long the converter clutch is probably toasted

 

I have a 97 F-150 with 79,000 miles. I have been experiencing the shudder a lot lately.

I took it to Cottman Trnasmission and they drained the fluid and the converter, changed the filter fluid and put some type of anti-shudder fluid in it.

86.00 dollars later I have a shudder free tranny, money well spent I think. At first I couldnt even feel the tranny shift.

L8...
Alan

 

Talked with the ford dealer, they then put me through to the transmission guy. He suggested dropping the pan to ensure there wasn't any metal shavings then flushing the torque converter and the transmission. He said he had seen the problem before and described perfectly what was going on. This should fix it he said. I'll update after friday. there goes $300, but i guess it's better than a new tranny

 

I had a pretty bad shudder every now and then on my truck. On my way to work one morning on the hill that usually causes the shudder, I thought that the tranny was going to drop right then and there. So, I scheduled the appoint for that afternoon and they chanded the fluid and filter and drained the converter and put an anti-shudder fluid in the converter. When I left the tranny shop, I couldnt even tell when the tranny was shifting, it was shifting that smooth. I took mine to Cottman Transmission and when it was all said and done it was around 86.00.

I highly recommend them. It has been 2 weeks since I have had this done and the shudder is completely gone and everything seems to be working great.

Just thought that I would let you know about the 86.00 instead of sinking 300.00 at the dealer. You can get a rebuilt Tranny on eBay for a little over 600.00 with free shipping.

Hope everything works out for ya, post a reply and let us know how things go.

L8...
Alan

 

Don't think we have one here in Knoxville... i wish we did. I'm new to ktown and this dealer comes highly recommended, the other is supposedly a crook. Back home i have great mechanic that would probably charge me no more than $100

 

The closest one to you is in Chattanooga about 1hr 51min from Knoxville. There should be a Tranny place in Knoxville. Hell I live in a smaller town in West Virginia and we have atleast 2 Tranny places.

Hope you find something.

L8...
Alan