I have been researching this website for my 1993 F-150 shudder problem. I have had this for 5 years. Until the last 2 fluid replacements, the shudder seems to have gotten really bad. In fact, so bad that I went thru all the 'what is wrong with my truck' and fix it list, and have now come down to a major issue. I had a second hand tranny installed after believeing that the origional was shot. It got so bad, that I could not go over any incline or bridge without having to stomp the gas pedal for higher RPM's to get over the rise. I had mechanics tell me it was time for a new tranny (216,000 miles), and when I picked up my truck with the new installed tranny on it and drove 10 minutes from the shop (as it warmed up), that same old SHUDDER started and now I am at a total loss. I was really ticked to spend a lot of money for something that was probably still OK! Anyway........I took my truck to Goodyear and they ran a complete diagnostic and found nothing wrong. They even drove it and felt the problem and still no resolve. I then found this website and spent hours of research collecting the best replies and answers, and decided to use the "shudder fix" additive and now it is worse. I then called the tranny installer to ask what type of fluids he put in the tranny, and he said typeIII.

Now.....here is the big question.......WHAT DO I DO NEXT? If I change the fluids to typeV and this shudder still exists, what will I be looking for to fix this problem?

The last thing to do is replace the torque converter. All of the easier fix its have been done. The stunning news that I read on this website is that FORD has a major problem with this shudder thing and I can't believe that it is NOT FIXED yet!

I need some really good advice here..........other than why did I ever buy a FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily)!

BTW........the newer tranny does feel better in changing gears, but the shudder is so bad and the lower RPM and idle speeds still have that vibration too. I can still drive around, but I have to treat it like a NASCAR vehicle and floor the gas to get the tranny to even respond like it is supposed to do. I mean it really wants to run at full throttle just to get around without any vibration or shudder crap. The problem with that is it eats fuel and risking getting a traffic ticket. Any help out there?

Frustrated in Daytona Beach

 

It's a 93 the torque converter cannot cause shudder. You have an engine miss.
Alan

 

Hello dirtyd0g,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Just so you know, the computer diagnostics did not show any problems with the engine or electrical. I have a new JASPER engine in it with only 30,000 on it, but then again, the old superficial parts put back on it. That means the distributer and what ever else makes it tick. How about the ignition? I did have a bad ground to the battery that I replaced and the shudder went away for a day, but the next day it started back again. That one day just happened to be a record cold for Florida and I did read somewhere in the boards that the temperature hads a lot to do with some kind of sensor. Could there be some sort of module or electronic senso that is fluctuating to cause the BRAIN to kick out false output? The diagnostic mechanic said that his readings were 100% true, but for his experience and education using the diagnostics is questionable. I had the fuel pressure, injectors and just about every litte possible problem looked at. I still suspect the ignition and the distributor as suspects. I did have a few alarming cranks when I started the ignition, but that could be the starter (which is still only 6 months old). I have been thru 5 year warranty batteries like melted ice the past 4 years. I have had to replace them after about 12 to 18 months. The issue about that is too long to tell, but I did have a "Bug" on my truck somewhere a few years ago when a friend had a "Bug" finding device and the readings showed a frequency output. I never found the "Bug".

Anyway.......again....many thanks, but I will replace the fluids. It is possible the past few years that I serviced the tranny, that those shops used the Type III, and had never been informed of the newer version. I suspect that the fluids have a lot to do with it.



The Wiz

 

What about the most likely candidate, the egr.

Your converter does not have a lockup clutch therefore it cannot be shuddering. OD band slippage is possible.
Alan

 

I have a brand new drive shaft made. Just installed tranny (salvage), that goes thru the gears smoother and better than the original. All new cap/rotor/regulator with plugs and wires laid to specs (not touching and in factory layout/order). Explain the egr? Also, for better view of ignition key, it is a generic, quick replacement key socket that I have to make sure the socket turns all the way in both directions (because the key can be removed in ON position). The mechanic told me that it is rare, but sometimes the BRAIN will not record errors when that section of data rfrom the converter has slippage. The battery cable that I replaced caused the stress on the electrics, and I was told that not having a good ground during operation of the vehicle can cause the BRAIN to over or under correct the monitored output of volts to the entire spark and fuel system. However, the readout says NO! Could it be possible that the rotor and cap has already been burnt beyond specs? Got any more input?

ALL EARS

 

Okay maybe I am wrong maybe, Can you find out for sure which transmission you have? If you have a rare 93 4r70w transmission I am sure you have a converter problem. The first lockup pistons were JUNK.
Alan

 

Well, my nephew did drive it before I put the salvage tranny in, but this was before the shudder got worse than it is now. He works for a transmission service and repair, told me that it was not the tranny. After going thru all the eliminations of vibration fixes and ran out of options, I got the exchange. I have the automatic overdrive on the column. I think he said it was the A model tranny. Not for sure. If the model tranny determines what may be the problem, then explain to me the details of it so I can relay this to my nephew. I am starting to try and remember as far back as I can as to when this shudder began and such. I have had this truck since '96 and I traveled all over the country in my work field that demanded a lot of heavy hauling and eventually pulling a trailer. It has been my work horse for sure. It is not the tow package tranny, that, I know was determined. When I got rear-ended in '98 at a stop light by a small jap car, all the damage that I saw was a scratch on the steel tow add-on when the car ran up under my truck. Little did I know that my drive shaft got slightly bent. This was the time that I started having vibration problems and I always went to Pep Boys to get the tires rotated/balanced, and discovered that there was a flaw in the tires (or so I thought) and just replaced them on my warranty. it never occurred to me that the bent shaft was that problem. Even then, the shudder was not obvious. But, my truck does have that vibration on take off at low speed thru the gears and on the down shift coming to a stop. It is even more apparent now after the newer tranny was put in. At least the newer tranny does change gears better and without the hard thrust/push. As I said before, maybe the fluids are and have been wrong the past 3 times? I will replace that tomorrow and pray!

Thanks for your input.......it is a great feeling to know that I finally found a place to exchange info with my truck. I have been a Chevy man all my life and wish that I NEVER bought this FORD!


The Wiz