I just helped my boss figure out why his 99 5.4L was shifting oddly (tach spikes before delayed shift).

His 99 5.4L has about 100,000 miles. Runs great but had an intermittent shifting problem. The tach would jump to 3 or 4 grand then it would slam into gear. It also stuttered or should I say shuddered pretty harshly too.

He’s had his tranny serviced several times with a flush type machine at the Dealer. He also paid for the filter swap.

It sounded to me like the torque converter was starving for fluid. Mind you, I don’t know much about transmissions. Regardless, I had my doubts that the filter was changed during any of the services so I suggested he drop the pan and change the filter.

I told him to look for the assembly plug. If it was still in the pan, the Dealer most likely never changed the filter. Guess what the found in the pan? Yup, the plug.

So his truck is shifting great now and the moral of the story is to make sure you change your filter periodically. Either watch them change the filter or ask for the old filter. I guess they can always pull one out of the trash…

Another reason why I service my own vehicle.

 

Man, I agree with you 100%. I don't trust my local Ford Dealer because of a shoddy job they did on one of my trucks one time, and they charge top dollar too. They're nothing but rip-off artists. I do most of the work myself, like you. It's soooooo hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. You and I are lucky because we possess alot of the "know-how" to do alot of work ourselves, but what about the little old lady, or the single swinging chick that doesn't know a hammer from a screwdriver, these people are getting ripped off daily by less than honest dealerships and mechanics.

 

IMHO - The problem with dealers is, you are paying for a Master Certified Technician's labor rates, even though a "lesser" mechanic may actually be doing the work.

 

So all they did was that they replaced the filter for a new one.
You wrote it's shifting fine now but I like to know if the stutter/shudder is gone now also.
Is it as smooth as silk?

Is it possible to have a different type of filter in a 99 4r70w transmission or is there only one type fit only.
I mean, can you have a different type of filter that's not working properly causing shudder.

 

All the dealer did (several times) was replace the fluid with a machine. The dealer NEVER replaced the filter.

All my boss did was drop the pan, replace the filter and added about 4 or 5 quarts of Mercon V.

The tranny shifts smoothly now.

Not sure if it's possible to have the wrong filter. I think there is a different filter for 2 and 4 wheel drives. Anyway, the filter my boss pulled matched the filter he installed and the filter he installed was the correct one.

 

I agree we are lucky but we may not be forever. Say, when we get really old. But I guess when we're in our 80's we'll have more worries than quality car maint. I feel for the old ladies too.

One day I asked my father if he'd ever changed the tranny fluid in his 2000 expedition. He replied, "the dealer takes care of that." Knew immediately that it likely had never been done and if it had, it probably hadn't been done right.

People put too much faith in dealers. They think they’re getting top notch service because they sell new Fords.