I have a 1999 F150 5.4 V8, auto, 4 x 4. Can I drain the torque converter manually or does the fluid have to be pumped out?

Thanks

 

That converter probably does not have a drain plug in it. I would check before pumping it out.
Alan

 

I have a 5.4, F150 it has a drain plug on the torque converter. You have to pull the rubber plug on the bottom of the area where the torque converter is located. You should get a new plug from your Ford dealer after you have removed the old one. This is recomended in the Ford shop manual.

I understand some of the later F150s do not have a drain plug.

Warren

 

Some 99 up models did not have the drain plug. I never replace the plug I just put loctite 510 sealer on it. That stuff is hard to find ,but thread tape works as well. I have alot of guys bringing these trucks to me because they service the trans themselves and want the plug installed. I drill and tap them in the vehicle and insert the plug after I have serviced the transmission. BTW that is just a common 1/8 pipe plug if you really want a new one just go to the hardware store they are about $.15 each.
Alan
Alan

 

Where do you drill the hole? Wouldn't want to hit anything sensitive with the drill...

 

Locate it directly between studs(not critical but I do it anyway just like the factory) and 1.350 from the flexplate. You can be off .100 in either direction without hitting anything. It is very messy. Do it while the converter is full of fluid and tap it while the fluid is still running out. Doing it that way you can make sure you don't get metal in the converter.
Alan

 

Yes you do have a drain plug on the TC unless its been replaced. pop the black plug out the turn the flywheel around with a screw driver. draining the TC takes quite a while, so have a few beers handy. you can reuse the plug it you use some teflon tape or pipe dope on the threads.

 

My 03 Navi (4R100) doesnt have one. How can you install a plug without balancing the TC afterwards? I would think that a 0.5 oz imbalance would be a recipie for bad vibs at mis to high rpm with that sucker cooking at engine speed?????

 

Alot of 99 up converters don't have the plug. The imbalance would be about 3 grams and completely not noticeable. Vibrations occur when converters are more than about 20 grams out of balance. Ford balances them within 5 grams.
Alan